BOLOGNA (ITALPRESS) – The Institute for Artificial Intelligence of the University of the United Nations (UNU-AI), where AI and big data will be used to analyze how climate change and the great global transformations affect community life and social and economic balances, providing solid foundations for effective decisions and interventions. The Institute was established today within the DAMA, the Tecnopolo Data Manifattura of Bologna, with the signature for the Italian Government of the Minister of the University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini, and the Rector of UNU, Tshilidzi Marwala, in the presence of the President of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Michele de Pascale. The arrival in Italy of UNU-AI is the result of the close collaboration between the Ministry of University and Research and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), led by the Vice-President of the Council and Minister, Antonio Tajani, who accompanied the entire negotiating path with the United Nations and will finance its creation.
United Nations University is part of the UN global network dedicated to the study of sustainable development, environmental resilience and international cooperation. Bologna is the 14th academic centre of the UNU network globally and is the first Italian headquarters and the entire Mediterranean Europe of the United Nations University. In support of the initiative, the Italian Government has allocated 40 million dollars, through the MAECI, for the fund of endowment of the Institute, ensuring the start and sustainability in the long term. Moreover, for the first 10 years of activity, Government and Region will support the Institute with a contribution of 2.5 million euros per year.
“We are proud that the United Nations have chosen Italy – and in particular Bologna – as the seat of the new institute dedicated to artificial intelligence. The decision to place the UNU-AI in the Tecnopolo – says Minister Bernini – fits into a path that is transforming this district into one of the most advanced European poles for supercalculum, big data and artificial intelligence. Here, in fact, investments like the Leonardo supercomputer, the European weather center ECMWF and the AI Factory have created our ‘Data Valley’, today recognized internationally. “The arrival of UNU-AI is an important result for the system of Italian knowledge and confirms the vision we are carrying forward confirms the direction we are tracking: an IA at the service of people, able to reduce inequalities, support sustainable development and strengthen international cooperation. For Italy this means a strategic space in the global governance of intelligence and new opportunities for our universities, young researchers and innovation centers. It is an investment on the future of the country and on our ability to lead technological change,” concludes Minister Bernini.
“With the signing of this morning of the agreements between the United Nations University and the Italian Government – says the President of Pascale – officially takes shape a reality of extraordinary scientific and institutional relevance to the Tecnopolo DAMA in Bologna. This is one of the most significant projects in our region, destined to further enrich one of the most valuable assets that Emilia-Romagna can boast, that university. And it is no coincidence that the University of United Nations has chosen Bologna – adds. Here, the theme of artificial intelligence is no longer the subject of study or experimentation, but it is part of a European strategy that has found in Emilia-Romagna an advanced point of reference that looks to innovation as a development lever and as a tool to respond to concrete needs of people and enterprises. The arrival of UNU-AI is an exciting challenge that we want to share and face together with the entire scientific and academic, national and international community. A challenge with a strong symbolic value, at a time marked by instability and fragmentation: strengthening the role of the United Nations means that the great challenges of our time, beginning with environmental and social challenges, can only be faced together. The Emilia-Romagna Region will be at the same time a welcoming place, an effective organizer, but above all a strategic partner to meet any global challenge.”.
The DAMA, polo of the Emilia-Romagna Region born from the recovery of the former Tabacchi Manufacture designed by Luigi Nervi, is becoming one of the main European districts of science and advanced technologies. It is a strategic infrastructure made possible thanks to the joint financing of the European Union, the Italian Government and the Emilia-Romagna Region: Here are already home the supercomputer Leonardo, the Data Centre of the European and Cineca Meteo Centre and, in the coming years, will find the main national research bodies. At the heart of UNU-AI’s activity there will be the use of artificial intelligence, big data and supercalculum to study climate change and the great transformations that are redesigning contemporary societies, especially in developing countries. These are processes that affect the economy, health, the environment and migration and that the Institute will analyse with the aim of anticipating its social impacts and making available tools useful to public decisions.
The UNU-AI will also network Italian skills with those of the UN system and the international scientific community, contributing to the production of independent analyses and the support of global policies for sustainable development, consistent with Agenda 2030.
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(ITALPRESS).
