JRP Sustainable Fuels: research and industry working together to accelerate sustainable fuels

Collaboration between research institutions, businesses, and public bodies to support the development of a sustainable fuels market was the focus of the talk “Joint Research Partnership (JRP) Sustainable Fuels”, held during the third day of the Sardinia Boat Show 2026. The meeting, moderated by Andrea Gianotti, Head of the Il Sole 24 Ore Research Center, explored the role of strategic partnerships in the development of low-carbon fuels for the nautical and maritime sectors.

The project was introduced by Ivano Ciceri, Chief Technology Transfer Officer at the Politecnico di Milano, who described the JRP as an alliance built around three key elements — research, incentives, and dissemination — with the goal of connecting scientific expertise, industry, and regulatory tools to accelerate the sector’s growth.

During the panel, Roberto Sancinelli, President and CEO of Montello S.p.A., illustrated the opportunities offered by low-carbon fuels derived from recycling processes, while Domenico Bagalà, President of the Port System Authority of the Sea of Sardinia, focused on the role of the port system within the partnership.

On the regulatory side, Salvatore Deidda, Member of Parliament and President of the IX Committee on Transport, Post and Telecommunications of the Chamber of Deputies, analyzed the regulatory framework within which companies involved in the development of alternative fuels currently operate.

The panel also featured contributions from Paolo Bonetti, Managing Director of Chimitrade S.p.A.; Flavio Manenti, Full Professor of Chemical Plants “Giulio Natta” at the Politecnico di Milano and delegate of the Ministry of the Environment to the Technical Advisory Committee on Biofuels; Giovanni Perrella, President of the Technical Advisory Committee on Biofuels at the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE); and Pierluigi Zambelli, Head of LCQ at Sadepan Chimica S.p.A.