The IT4LIA project, one of Europe’s first AI Factories, is launched

IT4LIA AI Factory is one of the first platforms in Europe dedicated to artificial intelligence. Today, 5 September, at the DAMA Tecnopolo in Bologna, it officially entered its operational phase. The launch was marked by an important event for the entire national community involved in the field of innovation, attended by European Commission Vice-President Henna Virkkunen and Minister of University and Research Anna Maria Bernini, together with Regional President Michele de Pascale and representatives of the institutions involved in the project. The event was preceded by a visit by the institutional delegation to the Tecnopolo rooms managed by Cineca and the National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), which house the machines that will provide the computing resources for the new project: from the Leonardo supercomputer to the Gaia cloud computing machine, from the upcoming Quantum IQM quantum computer to the INFN-CNAF data centre. The visit was followed by in-depth presentations on national development strategies and the most current issues related to computing, such as supercomputing, cybersecurity, quantum computing, and the presentation of specific experiences by those involved in public research and those working in the private sector.

“With IT4LIA AI Factory, Italy confirms its leading role in artificial intelligence and supercomputing in Europe and worldwide. This is a new addition to the beating heart of innovation that is the Bologna Technopole, home to the Leonardo supercomputer and its upgrade Lisa, the National HPC, Big Data and Quantum Computing Center, and two of the most advanced quantum computing systems in Europe,” emphasizes Minister of University and Research Anna Maria Bernini. “This process is accompanied by efforts to bring to Italy one of the gigafactories that the European Union will build to promote the development of AI, strengthening our country’s role as a strategic hub for innovation.

An integrated infrastructure system, in line with the national strategy for artificial intelligence and quantum technologies, capable of generating concrete transformations for SMEs, startups, and public administration in vital sectors such as agri-food, cybersecurity, and manufacturing. It is proof that when Italy works as a team, it can drive change,” concludes Minister Bernini.

“The National Cybersecurity Agency continues its intense work to enhance the security of digital services, pursued also through the creation of an artificial intelligence ecosystem at Italian and European level,” commented Bruno Frattasi, Director General of ACN. “The IA Factory project, which benefits from substantial dedicated funding, will enable extraordinary new opportunities for growth and development for administrations, businesses, SMEs, and start-ups, thanks to the Factory’s services and computing power,” continued Director Frattasi. “This is part of an ambitious plan, cultivated with a view to facilitating the most favorable conditions for the country’s strategic autonomy goal to gain new momentum, following the activation of the Megaride supercomputer in Naples.”

IT4LIA AI Factory represents the evolution of a strategy launched with vision in 2017 and implemented thanks to decisive national and European contributions, with the aim of making Italy one of Europe’s key hubs for technological innovation in the field of advanced computing and artificial intelligence. At the heart of the project is a supercomputer optimized for artificial intelligence, which will be installed at the DAMA Tecnopolo in Bologna, already a European reference point for supercomputing, big data, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing. The advanced infrastructure of IT4LIA AI Factory will be one of the first in the world and a leader in Europe in terms of AI processing capacity.

“It was an honor and a pleasure to welcome, together with Minister Bernini and the President of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Mr. de Pascale, the Vice-President of the European Commission, Ms. Henna Virkkunen, and accompany her on a visit to DAMA Tecnopolo, home of the new project dedicated to artificial intelligence for society, IT4LIA AI Factory,” commented the President of the National Institute of Nuclear Physics and the ICSC Foundation, Mr. Antonio Zoccoli. “With Vice President Virkkunen and Minister Bernini, we discussed projects already completed, thanks to European and national investments led by the MUR, as well as upcoming initiatives, such as our national strategy on quantum technologies, a sector that will be revolutionary. Thanks to the great joint commitment of all parties, Europe, Italy, the Emilia-Romagna Region, the institutional world, research, and business, today we can truly say with satisfaction that our country is one of the European hubs of reference for supercomputing, big data, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence,” concludes Zoccoli.

“IT4LIA AI Factory marks a milestone in Europe’s digital innovation strategy, consolidating Italy’s position as a leader in artificial intelligence. We are very proud of this achievement, which is the result of a strategy that began with the Leonardo supercomputer, inaugurated in November 2022, and which in recent years has led to extraordinary infrastructure development with unprecedented investment,” comments Cineca President Francesco Ubertini. “A virtuous model of collaboration between institutions, the world of research, industry, SMEs, and start-ups, which strengthens our country and places it at the forefront in Europe and the world. Special thanks go to European Commission Vice President Henna Virkkunen for her visit today and to Minister Anna Maria Bernini for strongly supporting this initiative. I would also like to thank all IT4LIA’s partners for their valuable contribution, starting with the Director of the National Cybersecurity Agency and the President of the Emilia-Romagna Region. The Technopole is the engine of this ecosystem and, increasingly, a catalyst for the development of advanced skills,” concludes Ubertini.

Promoting the adoption of AI solutions in key sectors, such as agri-food, cybersecurity, Earth science, and manufacturing, is one of the objectives of IT4LIA AI Factory. Through a “one-stop shop” organizational model, IT4LIA AI Factory will make it easier for many users, both public and private, to access data of interest and a wide range of services, thus encouraging collaboration between the world of research, the information technology development sector, startups, and SMEs.

IT4LIA AI Factory benefits from a total investment of approximately €420 million, with equal contributions from the Italian government and the European Commission. The initiative was promoted by the Ministry of University and Research (MUR) together with the National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN), with contributions from Austria and Slovenia and other important institutions: the Emilia-Romagna Region, the Cineca Consortium, the National Institute of Nuclear Physics, the ItaliaMeteo Agency, the AI4Industry Foundation, and the Bruno Kessler Foundation. Other strategic partners are also participating in the initiative: ICSC – National Research Center in HPC, Big Data, and Quantum Computing, four universities (Modena and Reggio Emilia, Bologna, Turin, and Sapienza), Confindustria, ART-ER (Attractiveness Research Territory Emilia-Romagna), and the International Foundation for Big Data and Artificial Intelligence for Human Development (IFAB).

The launch of the IT4LIA AI Factory project represents a strategic milestone for Emilia-Romagna and for the entire country. The Bologna Technopole, with its cutting-edge infrastructure such as the Leonardo supercomputer, confirms its position as the beating heart of European innovation in the fields of supercomputing, artificial intelligence, and advanced research. This unique infrastructure is now enriched with a new fundamental element, the result of collaboration between institutions, the scientific world, and businesses.

IT4LIA AI Factory is a concrete model of technological development at the service of the community and businesses, capable of generating knowledge, opportunities, and skilled jobs.

It is a system of excellence in which the Emilia-Romagna Region will continue to invest in order to address the challenges of innovation and digital transition and drive competitive, inclusive, and international development,” comments Michele de Pascale, President of the Emilia-Romagna Region.

DAMA Tecnopolo is a space dedicated to digital innovation, created and managed by the Emilia-Romagna Region. This international and European hub for supercomputing and big data will be home to the most important national scientific organizations. Thanks to European, state, and regional funding, it was created from the restoration of the former Manifattura Tabacchi tobacco factory, designed by architect Pier Luigi Nervi, and the urban redevelopment of the area.