The Western Living Lab was born in Sfax (Tunisia), a permanent laboratory for the facilitation of technology transfer between research and industry players of the Techlog project. The project is coordinated by Cirem (Interuniversity Center for Economic Research and Mobility-University of Cagliari).

Techlog (Technological transfer for logistics innovation in Mediterranean area) was launched in 2021 and closed in December 2023. It is financed by the European Union (Eni.Cbc Med programme) with three million one hundred thousand euros to which are added 400 thousand euros of co -financing.

The Cagliari university is leading the work with Gianfranco Fancello, scientific director, and Patrizia Serra, technical coordinator, both professors of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture. The Cagliari team also includes Nicola Nieddu (assistant project manager), Emanuele Cabras (financial manager), Matteo Mauri (communication manager) and Carla Piras (administration). Also for Sardinian ports, from Cagliari to Olbia, the project is strategic and synonymous with economic, social and technological development.

"Techlog establishes a permanent cross-border space aimed at facilitating the development of technology transfer initiatives between academia and business in the field of advanced training for personnel in port and road haulage communities," explains Professor Fancello. "We are working on innovative training programs in logistics, based on the use of advanced driving simulators for eco-driving and safe driving and making operators' performance more efficient" , adds Professor Serra.

Among the beneficiaries: transport bodies, port authorities, terminal operators, research and training centers that deal with advanced simulation for transport and logistics, transport companies and port operators. The trial supports port and road haulage communities in Italy, Egypt, Spain, Lebanon and Tunisia and aims to involve at least sixteen entities/authorities/stakeholders in the sector, to create two permanent Living Labs, one in Lebanon (presented in Beirut on 19 October last) and the other in Tunisia.