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Exploring the application prospects of biocomposites in industry, and highlighting the strategic role that research and innovation can play in their development. This was the goal behind the final seminar of the MAGISTRA (Next Generation Innovative Sustainable Technological Recyclable Advanced Composite Materials) project, promoted by (ACS, Tortoreto, Italy) and funded with the support of the Abruzzo Region under the Abruzzo ERDF Regional Program 2021-2027.

The initiative, under the patronage of the Confindustria Abruzzo Medio Adriatico Association, aimed to present the results achieved by the project, which ACS carried out in collaboration with the University of Catania (Italy) through a research pathway focused on biocomposites. These are composite materials in which at least one of the two main components — matrix or reinforcement — comes from renewable, natural or recycled sources. 

The final MAGISTRA project seminar took place at ACS’ new plant in Tortoreto (Teramo). After the opening remarks by Paolo Battista, LEAN systems designer and HR director of ACS, contributions followed from Fabio Fazzini and Romualdo Paino of the ACS technical department, who illustrated the manufacturing process of biocomposites and their integration using out-of-autoclave techniques. This dialogue was followed by Gianluca Cicala, professor of materials science and technology and deputy director of the Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture (DICAR) at the University of Catania, recently elected president of the Italian Association of Materials Engineering (AIMAT). His contribution, delivered online, focused on the role of research in the development of biocomposites and on the added value that the MAGISTRA project represents for industry.

At the end of the presentations, a debate and discussion with the audience took place, followed by concluding remarks.

“With the MAGISTRA project we confirmed our commitment to sustainable innovation,” says Roberto Catenaro, CEO of ACS. “Biocomposites represent a bridge between academic research and concrete industrial applications, capable of combining technological performance and environmental responsibility. We are proud to have contributed to building more competitive and sustainable value chains.”