SOTACARBO

By project REWARD

Published on 20 December 2024

Italy

Sardegna

About this good practice

Sotacarbo, founded in 1987, is a key public research center focused on attracting and retaining talent in sustainable energy and low-carbon technologies. With strong support from the Autonomous Region of Sardinia and collaboration with ENEA, it has become a hub for innovation, drawing young researchers, international experts, and highly skilled professionals.
Since 2008, it has operated in Carbonia within the revitalized Serbariu coal mine, transforming the region's industrial legacy into a cutting-edge research environment. Sotacarbo fosters talent through advanced training, career opportunities, and strategic collaborations with universities, research institutions, and companies worldwide.
Its flagship initiative, the Sotacarbo Summer School, offers PhD students and young researchers specialized training in low-carbon technologies. By providing a dynamic research ecosystem, Sotacarbo plays a crucial role in preventing brain drain and creating a sustainable, competitive knowledge economy in Sardinia.

Expert opinion

The Sotacarbo experience offers a compelling model for regional policymakers aiming to prevent brain drain and promote industrial transformation through investment in research and innovation. By converting a former coal mining site in Sardinia into a dynamic centre for clean energy R&D, Sotacarbo exemplifies how traditional industrial regions, particularly in islands or remote areas, can be repositioned at the forefront of the green and digital transition. What makes Sotacarbo particularly transferable is its ability to integrate research excellence with regional development objectives, turning local challenges into opportunities for innovation. Its structured engagement with international networks, universities, and businesses, combined with initiatives like the Summer School for young researchers, not only builds local skills but also retains and attracts talent to building a competitive, knowledge-based economy. For regions at risk of depopulation or economic stagnation, the Sotacarbo model demonstrates the power of strategic public investment, long-term vision, and place-based innovation ecosystems in reversing brain drain and supporting sustainable industrial renewal.

Luc Schmerber

Works at Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform

Resources needed

Sotacarbo currently has 50 employees, 35 of whom are researchers, including 9 with Ph.D.s.
Sardinia Region allocated €1.5 million for 2023-2025 to expand research activities, strengthening skills and attracting new experts.

Evidence of success

Since 2014, staff increased from 22 to 50. This growth paralleled the award of significant contracts and the need to create a structure ensuring excellence, essential for survival. Excellence is pursued through international collaboration with top clean energy research institutions, featuring researcher exchanges, continuous training, and participation in international conferences, thereby consolidating knowledge and retaining talent.

Potential for learning or transfer

The Sotacarbo model is replicable and offers a reference for other regions due to its integration of research, talent attraction, and training. Key success factors include collaborations with international research institutions, universities, and European networks like ECCSEL-ERIC. These elements have supported the development of green hydrogen and waste valorization technologies.
Transferring this model requires investment in human resources and adequate infrastructure, as well as an environment that promotes research and technological innovation. Sotacarbo provides a concrete example of how support policies can attract and retain strategic expertise for sustainable development.