SYNERGY

Systems and Sensors for a Resilient and Energy-Sustainable Agri-Food Sector

What is SYNERGIA?

SYNERGIA is part of an integrated initiative under the 2021–2027 National Research, Innovation, and Competitiveness Program, coordinated by the SAMOTHRACE Foundation in its capacity as a hub. The three actions—SYNERGIA (Action 1.1.2), TESLA (Action 1.1.3b), and RISALI (Action 1.4.3)—cover the entire innovation value chain in the agri-food sector: from advanced research to technology transfer, through to training and the regeneration of human capital in Southern Italy. The initiative represents a strategic evolution of three PNRR projects—SAMOTHRACE (Innovation Ecosystem, ECS22), NQSTI (National Quantum Science and Technology Institute), and MUSA (Multilayered Urban Sustainability Action)—consolidating and amplifying their results, with a focus on the agri-food, environmental, and energy sectors in less developed regions.

What is proposed

SYNERGIA (Systems and Sensors for a Resilient and Energy-Sustainable Agri-Food Sector – Action 1.1.2) integrates advanced technologies, smart sensors, and sustainability to drive the digital and ecological transformation of the agri-food supply chain, advancing solutions from TRL 3–5 to TRL 6–7. The project is divided into five Work Packages: development of quantum, optical, and electrochemical sensors for real-time monitoring of contaminants and crop quality (WP1); sensor platforms for monitoring abiotic and biotic stress in crops and edge computing and AI systems for classifying agricultural conditions (WP2); sustainable water resource management with mobile systems, smart membranes, and integrated sensors (WP3); food safety and quality with predictive technologies and advanced diagnostics (WP4); energy sustainability and the bioeconomy (WP5). EHT participates in SYNERGIA through the SATLab4MABS-models activity (WP2), extending the technological infrastructure of the Sensors and Algorithms Test Lab (SATLab)—already developed in SAMOTHRACE—to the agritech domain. The activity consists of studying and defining models and tools for monitoring abiotic and biotic variables in agricultural environments using edge computing and artificial intelligence. In particular, EHT is developing a conceptual model for classifying crop stress conditions—integrating environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, pollutants, solar radiation) and biological parameters (presence of insects, leaf spots, vegetative anomalies)—designed to adapt to different crops and environments with a focus on scalability and interoperability. In parallel, EHT studies and defines detection algorithms for edge architectures in agricultural contexts, both indoor (greenhouses) and outdoor (open-field crops), designing the distributed execution of AI algorithms and the interfaces for communication between modules within an open, flexible, and adaptable architecture. The SATLab platform is being developed as an open and modular technological environment, capable of integrating contributions from project partners and external stakeholders, promoting interdisciplinary experimentation and the leveraging of diverse expertise.

Project type

PN RIC 2021–2027 MUR Ministerial Decree No. 307 of March 18, 2025 Action 1.1.2

SYNERGY

Information

Area

Research and Development

Period

June 1, 2026 – May 31, 2028

Total value

€ 19.990.012,96

Total value for EHT

€ 379.800,00

Status

At the start

Partners

SAMOTHRACE FOUNDATION

AGRIGEOS, LLC

AQUASOIL LLC

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL

MUSA S.C.A. R.L.

NATIONAL QUANTUM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE - NQSTI

SMARTME.IO

UNIVERSITY OF BARI

UNIVERSITY OF CATANIA

UNIVERSITY OF MESSINA

UNIVERSITY OF NAPLES FEDERICO II

UNIVERSITY OF PALERMO

UNIVERSITY OF SALERNO