In this issue of "Behind the scenes" we have interviewed Dr Nicola Tucci, vice-president of the Italian SME INNOLABS, whose main role in the NEX-LABS project is to identify strategies and actions to bridge the gaps among Water, Energy and Food NEXUS stakeholders.

Nicola, tell us more about your organization

INNOLABS is active in IT-FR Maritime Program, Horizon 2020 (H2020), PRIMA, ERASMUS+ and ENI-CBC MED projects. Thanks to its members, INNOLABS has cooperated with International Cooperation Service Facility of the European Commission, providing training services for Information Days with focus on Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Countries and, recently, has been involved in activities coordinated by Joint Research Centre and Union For the Mediterranean aiming at seeking examples of best practices in Water, Energy and Food NEXUS in Mediterranean Partner Countries.

My company has been partner in several projects and is currently partner in two projects focused on NEXUS: PHEMAC, "Participatory Hub for Effective Mapping, Acceleration and Capitalization of EU-MPC NEXUS best practices" and NEX-LABS, "NEXUS-DRIVEN OPEN LABS FOR COMPETITIVE AND INCLUSIVE GROWTH IN THE MEDITERRANEAN" 

What is your role in your organization?

I am currently vice-president of the company.

What is your background and how does that background contribute to NEX-LABS?

I’m Team Leader for INNOLABS srl for H2020, PRIMA program and ENI-CBCMED projects. In these projects we are mainly responsible of: Knowledge and technology transfer, from research to industry and SMEs; Consortium building, drafting and designing of projects (ENI-CBCMED, PRIMA, H2020);  Education and training, communication: delivering of training modules on H2020 (designing, financial and legal aspects) in North Mediterranean Countries (Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon) and Latin America (Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Costa Rica, Haiti, El Salvador, Panama);  Policies, legislation, standardization, and sustainability strategies in ICT and environment (focus on water and energy); Support to business plan for ICT commercialization of Research and Development results.

What is your role in the NEX-LABS project, what are you currently working on?

We are engaged in several activities under Work Packages 3 and 4, related to the landscape identification for clustering scenarios evaluation based on a NEXUS Joint Action Plan (WP3) and to bridge the gap among NEXUS stakeholders based on supporting actions to face NEXUS challenges (WP4). Under Work Package 4 we are leading some tasks to support the implementation of Research to Business to Research (R2B2R) fact-finding missions.

What are your expectations in the NEX-LABS project? What do you think will have major impact for the Mediterranean community?

We hope to contribute in creation of the 2 Nexus Driven Open Living Labs and to effectively support the implementation of clean technologies for sustainable and resilient increase of agri-food sector production in EU and, moreover, in MENA Countries.

What are your interests outside the project and your work?

I love reading and running: I like to run in every country I am visiting. For this reason, in my suitcase, there is always room for a good book and for a pair of running shoes.