FORGE is committed to community interest activities in the field of scientific research that have relevant social outcomes.
Our scientific mission has several goals:
- study the genetic basis of relevant traits for agriculture, food safety and security, human health, and environmental safety
- expand the understanding of evolutionary mechanisms and processes
- develop algorithms and predictive tools for untangling the complexity of biological systems
- disseminate knowledge and raise public awareness in the fields of genomics and epigenomics
FORGE was founded in October 2023 by the Institute of Applied Genomics, the University of Udine and Formazione Avanzata, Ricerca, Editoria srl.
FORGE is located in the Science Park 'Luigi Danieli' on the southern outskirts of Udine.
FORGE owns the subsidiary company IGA Technology Services srl that offers customized services for NextGen Sequencing and Data Analysis in all living organisms and biological systems.
FORGE is taking over previous research activities of the Institute of Applied Genomics, and it expands into new fields.
FORGE has received public funding from the Friuli Venezia Giulia Local Government for renovating and expanding the research infrastructure.
The Friuli Venezia Giulia Local Government has approved funding for 3 M EUR (Decreto n° 61590/GRFVG del 15/12/2023, Prenumero 63418) to FORGE for "Finanziamento straordinario per l’acquisizione di infrastrutture di ricerca a favore della Fondazione per la Ricerca Genomica ed Epigenomica (FORGE) - contributo straordinario anno 2023 – CUP n. D27F23000670002" in support of a three-year investment plan (2024-2026) in technological upgrade. Expenditures started in the second semester of 2024.
As of now, FORGE has an Illumina NovaSeq X Plus sequencer with next-level sequencing output, brand new platforms for sample preparation in single-cell analysis and spatial transcriptomics, a comprehensive suite of specialized benchtop instruments for nucleic acids preparation, and a high performance computing facility.
FORGE is seeking partnerships with scientific organizations to apply for research project proposals in calls issued by EU, national and regional institutions, agencies and bodies.