ICSC changes location and moves within DAMA

Yesterday, Monday, March 3, the press conference presenting the new name and logo of the Bologna science district, now called “DAMA – Tecnopolo DATA Manifattura Emilia-Romagna,” was held. The name recalls the historic Manifattura Tabacchi in Bologna and emphasizes the transformation of the area into an international hub for supercomputing and advanced data analysis, also thanks to significant investments by the Government through the Ministry of University and Research (MUR). The event, attended by the President and Vice President of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Michele De Pascale and Vincenzo Colla, coincided with the beginning of the relocation of the ICSC – National Center for Research in HPC, Big Data and Quantum Computing to one of the iconic buildings designed by Pier Luigi Nervi. The completion of the relocation, scheduled for mid-March, marks the entry of the ICSC National Center into DAMA, joining other important research institutions already present, including ECMWF, CINECA, and INFN.

The choice of DAMA as the headquarters of the ICSC Foundation was already planned during the design phase of the National Center and is part of a broader strategy that has made Bologna’s Data Valley Hub one of the most advanced global centers for supercomputing. Between the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026, the capacity of the Tecnopolo will further increase with the installation of an Industry-Grade supercomputer and one of the seven European AI Factories, strengthening DAMA’s role as a key hub for technological innovation at the local, European, and international levels.

“Thanks to the high concentration of computing resources, the Data Manifattura in Bologna is the ideal place to develop and grow ICSC’s activities,” stated Antonio Zoccoli, President of the ICSC Foundation. “Our advanced HPC cloud infrastructure, which includes the Leonardo supercomputer and the INFN-CNAF Tier-1 hosted at DAMA, represents a strategic asset for the competitiveness of Italian research and industry, as well as a reference point for international partners. These achievements would not have been possible without the support of the Government, the MUR, and the Emilia-Romagna Region, which have made Bologna a center of excellence for high-performance data analysis. The arrival of the Industry-Grade supercomputer and the AI Factory in 2026 will provide further momentum to DAMA, consolidating the investments and work carried out so far.”

The entry of ICSC into DAMA represents a key milestone in a strategic path shared between the MUR and the Emilia-Romagna Region. The National Center will continue to be a leading player in the technological development of the Data Valley Hub, helping to strengthen DAMA’s role as an international reference point for supercomputing and data analysis.

“We are proud to take part in the presentation of the new visual identity of the Data Manifattura in Bologna, a project of great significance for the Emilia-Romagna Region and for the entire country. Our presence at DAMA demonstrates the success of a forward-looking strategy promoted by the Government and the MUR. We look to the future with the aim of increasing the visibility of this hub and raising public awareness of the strategic impact of its activities, generating positive outcomes for research, industry, and public administration,” commented Daniela Gabellini, Director General of the ICSC Foundation, on the sidelines of the press conference.