UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI SALERNO

Their core work

The University of Salerno is a southern Italian research university with strong capabilities in advanced materials — particularly graphene and nanocomposites — and in energy systems including fuel cells, hydrogen technologies, and solid oxide electrolysis. Their applied research spans from computational materials design and electromagnetic metamaterials to diagnostics and monitoring of energy conversion systems. They bridge fundamental materials science with industrial applications in transport, manufacturing, and clean energy, contributing both modelling expertise and experimental validation to European consortia.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early H2020 period (2015–2018), the university focused heavily on graphene-based materials, nanocomposite design, electromagnetic properties, and foundational energy research including renewable energy conversion and storage. From 2019 onward, a clear pivot emerged toward applied hydrogen and fuel cell technologies (solid oxide electrolysis, degradation prediction, port applications), combined with growing work in cyber-physical systems, machine learning-driven diagnostics, and industrial monitoring. The shift signals a move from materials discovery toward systems-level integration and predictive maintenance of energy infrastructure.

Moving from fundamental materials research toward applied hydrogen energy systems and machine learning-based monitoring — expect future proposals combining these strengths.

How they like to work

With 30 projects as participant versus 9 as coordinator, the University of Salerno primarily operates as a strong technical partner rather than a project leader, though they are capable coordinators when the topic aligns with their core expertise (fuel cell diagnostics, membranes, aeronautics). Their network of 637 unique partners across 42 countries indicates they are a well-connected hub that integrates easily into diverse consortia rather than working with a fixed circle. This makes them a flexible and experienced partner for new consortium builders.

With 637 unique consortium partners spanning 42 countries, the University of Salerno has one of the broadest collaboration networks among Italian universities in H2020, with strong ties across the EU and beyond through MSCA mobility actions and the Graphene Flagship.

What sets them apart

What sets Salerno apart is their rare combination of deep graphene/nanocomposite expertise with applied hydrogen and fuel cell system knowledge — few universities bridge these two domains. Their participation in the Graphene Flagship gives them access to Europe's premier materials network, while their fuel cell diagnostics work (HEALTH-CODE, INSIGHT) provides direct industrial relevance. For consortium builders, they offer a southern Italian university with genuinely global reach and a track record of delivering across both fundamental and applied research.

Highlights from their portfolio

• MACBETH
  Largest single EC contribution (EUR 845,000) — catalytic membrane reactors for industrial process intensification, running through 2025.
• HEALTH-CODE
  Coordinated project (EUR 483K) on embedded fuel cell health monitoring — represents their signature intersection of energy systems and diagnostics.
• GrapheneCore2
  Part of Europe's largest research initiative (Graphene Flagship), confirming their standing in the continental graphene research community.