On September 29th, 2010, the Scientific Attaché from Italy, Dr. Emanuele Fiore, made a visit to TRIUMF, Canada’s national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics. He met with TRIUMF Director, Nigel S. Lockyer, and almost twenty more TRIUMF staff and scientists to discuss technology transfer and research relationships between Canada and Italy. Dr. Fiore also met with Advanced Applied Physics Solutions Inc. (AAPS) CEO Jack Scott, and visited MDS Nordion, a leader in the global provision of medical isotopes and radiopharmaceuticals used in molecular medicine. 
Dr. Fiore also presented the TRIUMF director with a surprise gift! A book he authored in English on one side and Italian on the other, entitled ‘Technology Transfer’, or ‘Trasferimento tecnologico’: An International Open System Model. It was an appropriate gift, since the topic of the day was the transfer of technology and knowledge between Canada, Italy and the private sector. After the introductions, Nigel Lockyer gave a short overview of TRIUMF and its business plan, highlighting the fact that accelerator development is changing the way we produce rare isotopes compared to almost two decades ago.
After the overview, other Italian-Canadian scientists and other technical staff at TRIUMF took turns detailing the research programs they work in, and highlighted correlations between Italian and Canadian science. Paul Schaffer spoke about TRIUMF’s nuclear medicine program and proton therapy; John D’Auria introduced EURISOL (European Isotope Separation On-Line Radioactive Ion Beam Facility) and rare-isotope beams around the world. AAPS CEO Jack Scott spoke on the application and commercialization of TRIUMF’s research and isotopes. Nigel also detailed Super B factory and TRIUMF’s role in the ATLAS project at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).
Nigel Lockyer, Franco Mammarella, and Marcello Pavan then led Dr. Fiore on a tour of laboratory during which TRIUMF staff and scientists were able to showcase their research activities and their potential for practical application to our guest. It was a special tour for the Scientific Attaché, including stops at MDS Nordion, and the Proton Therapy facility where people who suffer from a particular type of eye cancer are treated and cured with a 95% success rate.
During the light, Italian style, luncheon that followed, TRIUMF staff and scientists had the opportunity to talk about what brought them to Canada and the opportunities at TRIUMF. Dr. Fiore shared suggestions for research collaboration with Italy to support common interests in subatomic physics, exotic nuclear reactions of the stars, and the commercialization of isotopes to stimulate the economy and connect Canada and Italy. Dr. Fiore also expressed an interest in facilitating opportunities for top Italian scientists to visit and work at TRIUMF. The sentiment was echoed by TRIUMF Director Nigel Lockyer, who said, “Dr. Fiore is championing the idea of international cooperation in research and innovation. His visit illustrates an interest and desire to connect our research and innovation community at TRIUMF to that of Italy. We will certainly follow through on his suggestions.”
-- Jessica Coccimiglio, Communications Assistant