The final dissemination event of the international TNE LEGO Project, held in Venice on May 14, marked an important moment to reflect on the long-term impact of academic mobility and international scientific cooperation between Italy and East Asia.
Among the keynote speakers was Prof. Riccardo Polosa, founder of the CoEHAR – Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction and Professor at the University of Catania, who presented the results of the mobility programme developed between CoEHAR / University of Catania and Universitas Padjadjaran (Bandung, West Java) within the broader framework of the LEGO Project coordinated by Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR).
During his presentation, Prof. Polosa highlighted how the initiative transformed academic mobility into a concrete and sustainable platform for scientific collaboration, education, mentoring, and institutional development.
“The real success of LEGO will not be measured only by activities completed, but by the partnerships strengthened, the knowledge shared, and the opportunities created for the future,” said Prof. Polosa.
The mobility programme carried out in Bandung in June 2025 involved six university faculties and reached more than 1,100 students through seminars and academic activities focused on respiratory medicine, tobacco harm reduction, public health, oral health, nursing, replication science, and sports medicine.
Beyond teaching activities, the collaboration generated measurable scientific and institutional outcomes, including: two joint grant applications submitted; co-supervision and mentoring activities for PhD candidates; development of research protocols and collaborative projects; dissemination plans for conferences and scientific publications; four peer-reviewed publications already published; activation of a new mobility programme supported by the Indonesian Government and completed in January 2026.
One of the most significant achievements of the initiative was the official launch of CoEHAR Padjadjaran, conceived as a strategic hub for research, training, and public health impact in Indonesia.
The programme further strengthened bilateral cooperation between Italy and Indonesia, reinforcing a shared vision of evidence-based public health and international research collaboration in harm reduction science.
As emphasized during the concluding session of the event, the LEGO Project demonstrated how international mobility can evolve into a lasting scientific legacy capable of creating new opportunities for future generations of researchers and healthcare professionals.
Italy and Indonesia: stronger together for global health.
Presentation slides from Prof. Riccardo Polosa’s lecture at the final dissemination event of the TNE LEGO Project (Venice, May 14, 2026).
