Vittorio Solina is a Researcher at the Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering (DIMEG) of the University of Calabria, specializing in industrial systems simulation and digital twin technologies. His work spans Industry 4.0/5.0 applications, supply chain optimization, and human-robot collaboration. Affiliation: University of Calabria Academic Role: Researcher (Legge 240/10) Research Focus: Digital twins, simulation modeling, sustainable manufacturing His research emphasizes advanced simulation tools for decision support, including applications in Industry 4.0 , Smart Manufacturing , and Agri-Food Supply Chains . Recent work explores adaptive simulation optimization for Industry 5.0 and 5G-enabled robotics. Key publication trends include: (1) Digital twin integration for supply chain resilience (2024-2025), (2) Simulation automation methodologies (2025), and (3) Human-robot collaboration frameworks (2024).
Roberto Navigli is a Full Professor in the Department of Computer, Control and Management Engineering at Sapienza University of Rome, where he leads the Sapienza NLP Group. He has held academic positions at Sapienza since 2007, progressing from Researcher to Associate Professor, and now Full Professor. Navigli is internationally recognized for his groundbreaking work in multilingual natural language processing and computational semantics. His research spans multiple areas within Natural Language Processing, with a particular focus on multilinguality , lexical semantics (Word Sense Disambiguation and induction), sentence-level semantics (Semantic Role Labeling and Semantic Parsing), and Large Language Models . As the leader of the Minerva LLM project, he pioneered the development of the first pretrained LLM in Italian. His creation of BabelNet, the largest multilingual encyclopedic computational dictionary covering 271 languages and about 14 million concepts, represents a landmark achievement in computational linguistics. Professor Navigli's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on advancing multilingual capabilities of language models, addressing challenges in semantic understanding across languages, and developing robust evaluation frameworks. His work on Italian LLM optimization, lexical ambiguity in machine translation, and cross-lingual safety gaps reflects his commitment to building more accurate and reliable language technologies that work effectively across diverse linguistic contexts. AAAI Fellow (2025) EurAI Fellow (2024) ELLIS Fellow (2024) ACL Fellow (2023) Outstanding Paper Awards at ACL 2024, ACL 2023, and NAACL 2021 Best Resource Paper Award at ACL 2022 Prominent Paper Awards from the Artificial Intelligence Journal (2023, 2017) META Prize 2015 for BabelNet Professor Navigli has successfully secured substantial research funding, including two prestigious ERC Grants (MultiJEDI ERC Starting Grant 2010-2016 and MOUSSE ERC Consolidator Grant 2017-2023, totaling around 3 million euros), PI of PRIN 2017 and PRIN 2020 projects (overall 1.4 million euros), and a Google Focused Research Award (around 300k$). He has mentored over 30 PhD students, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in academia and industry. His leadership extends to major international conferences, serving as General Chair of ACL 2025 and Program Co-Chair of ACL-IJCNLP 2021. As the director of the Sapienza NLP Group and co-leader of the Transversal Project on Large Language/Multimodal Models in the FAIR (Future Artificial Intelligence Research) project, Professor Navigli oversees a vibrant research ecosystem focused on advancing the state-of-the-art in natural language understanding across languages. His spinoff company, Babelscape, translates academic research into practical applications for industry.
Elena Maria Baralis is a Full Professor at the Department of Control and Computer Science (DAUIN) at the Polytechnic University of Turin. She serves as Pro-Rector, member of the Board of Directors (without voting rights), member of the Academic Senate (without voting rights), and coordinator of the University's Permanent Observatory for Monitoring the Academic Sector. She chairs the Control and Computer Engineering Department and previously chaired the Computer Engineering School from October 2012 to October 2018. Her research interests focus on database systems and data mining, specifically explainable AI, bias detection in data analytics, and machine learning algorithms for big data. Her work spans various application domains including predictive maintenance, Industry 4.0, and healthcare. Recent publications demonstrate her expertise in speech processing, bias mitigation, and innovative neural network architectures like Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks. Her research output shows a clear trend toward addressing fairness and explainability in AI systems while exploring novel approaches to speech and language understanding. Professor Baralis has received significant recognition including becoming a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences of Turin in 2017. She has served as Editor-in-Chief for IEEE Internet of Things Journal (2016-2019) and Knowledge and Information Systems (2014-present). She actively mentors doctoral students including Claudio Savelli (researching Machine Unlearning), Eleonora Poeta, Giuseppe Gallipoli, Alkis Koudounas, and others. Her research is supported by numerous projects including AI4CTI (Artificial Intelligence for Cyber Threat Intelligence, 2025-2028), Smart manufacturing driven by Machine Learning in Industry 4.0 (2019-2020), and I-REACT (2016-2019).
Michele Zorzi is a Professor of Telecommunications at the School of Engineering, University of Padova, Italy, where he has held a faculty position since 2003. He leads the SIGNET (Signal processing and Networking) Research Group, focusing on cutting-edge wireless networking challenges including mmWave communications and underwater networks. His extensive publication record exceeds 600 papers in top-tier journals and conferences, reflecting significant contributions to the field through both theoretical and experimental work. He received his Laurea Degree (1990) and Ph.D. (1994) in Electrical Engineering from the University of Padova. Prior academic appointments include Politecnico di Milano (1993-1996), University of California San Diego (1995-1998), and University of Ferrara (1998-2003), where he progressed from Associate Professor to full Professor. His educational trajectory demonstrates deep roots in Italian academia with international exposure. Professor Zorzi's research spans wireless communications and networking, with current emphases on mmWave networking for vehicular systems, underwater acoustic/optical communications, non-terrestrial networks, and AI-driven networking solutions. His group conducts experimental validations including at-sea trials for underwater systems and testbeds for vehicular networks. Key projects include PRATA for predictive QoS in autonomous driving and IoT-based environmental monitoring of the Venice Lagoon, demonstrating practical applications of theoretical work. Analysis of his 2022-2025 publications reveals strong trends in applying artificial intelligence to networking challenges across diverse environments. There is significant emphasis on vehicular networks (predictive QoS, teleoperated driving), underwater systems (acoustic/optical communications, AUV swarms), and satellite networks (Starlink integration, NTN security). Experimental validation in real-world scenarios like the Venice Lagoon monitoring project and underwater sea trials characterizes his applied research approach. His scientific accolades include: IEEE Fellow (2007) IEEE Communications Society Best Tutorial Paper Award (2008, 2019) Stephen O. Rice Best Paper Award (2018) Multiple best paper awards at IEEE conferences (2005-2020) As principal investigator for numerous European and US research projects plus 20+ industry-funded initiatives, Professor Zorzi has mentored over 35 PhD students and post-docs. Graduates now hold prominent positions at institutions including Stanford, UCSD, CTTC, and Huawei. His SIGNET group maintains active international collaborations and contributes to open-source networking tools via GitHub, demonstrating commitment to community engagement. The SIGNET Research Group, housed within the Department of Information Engineering, operates specialized experimental facilities for mmWave and underwater communications. Current initiatives include AI-based predictive QoS frameworks for vehicular networks, underwater optical communication systems using ultraviolet light, and large-scale IoT deployments for environmental monitoring. The group's GitHub presence indicates strong open-science practices, while recent sea trials confirm hands-on experimental capabilities beyond theoretical work.
Matteo Sonza Reorda is a Full Professor at the Polytechnic University of Turin, affiliated with the Department of Automatic Control and Computer Science (DAUIN). He holds roles such as Partnership Agreement Coordinator with SMAT and has served as Vice-Rector for Research (2021–2024). His research focuses on fault tolerance, hardware reliability, and AI acceleration, with contributions to GPU/CNN reliability, self-test libraries, and defect-oriented testing. Education: M.S. in Electronics Engineering, Politecnico di Torino (1986) Ph.D. in Computer Engineering, Politecnico di Torino (1990) Research Interests: His work spans automatic test equipment, circuit reliability, GPU fault tolerance, neural network hardening, and embedded systems safety . He leads the Electronic CAD & Reliability Group and collaborates with institutions like the ISI Foundation and the National Research Council (CNR). Publications & Impact: With over 180 publications, his recent work emphasizes AI accelerator reliability, fault injection techniques, and safety-critical systems. Key trends include GPU resilience for CNNs, self-test library optimization, and radiation fault modeling in neural networks. Awards & Recognition: IEEE Fellow (2016–) Multiple best-paper awards at IEEE conferences (DDECS, DATE, etc.) Grants & Collaborations: Coordinator of EU projects (RESCUE, TUTORIAL) Partnerships with EDF, Marelli Europe, and SMAT Lead on National HPC/Quantum Computing Spoke 1 (2022–2025) Labs/Teams: Leads the CAD Group and collaborates with the French-Italian LIA LAFISI lab on hardware-software integration.
Andrea Bonfiglio is an Associate Professor at the Department of Naval, Electrical, Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering (DITEN) within the School of Engineering at the University of Genoa. His work focuses on power systems, smart grids, and renewable energy integration with a particular emphasis on innovative control strategies and energy storage solutions. Teaching areas: Electrical Systems, Industrial Measurements, Energy Security Key research themes: Smart distribution networks, synthetic inertia, microgrid control, vehicle-to-grid technologies, battery energy storage Recent work explores virtual energy partitioning, load flow optimization, and inertia allocation in transmission networks Contact: a.bonfiglio@unige.it His publications highlight advanced control methodologies using machine learning and sliding mode control for both transmission and distribution networks, with applications to renewable integration and grid stability challenges.
Francesco Pilati is an Associate Professor at the Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Trento, where he serves as local coordinator for the scientific field ING-IND/17 (Industrial Plants and Logistic Systems). He chairs the research group on Industrial Plants, Production Systems, and Logistics, and teaches courses in Industrial Plants and Design of Digital Production and Assembly Systems. As coordinator of the Master's program in Management and Industrial Systems Engineering and University Coordinator for the EIT double degree in Zero-Defect Manufacture, Pilati bridges academic leadership with advanced manufacturing research. He has also served as Invited Lecturer at universities in Vienna and Göttingen. His research focuses on integrating environmental sustainability with technical-economic criteria through multi-objective optimization and impact assessment. Key areas include: Distribution networks and warehousing systems Manufacturing and assembly line design Hybrid energy production systems Digitization of manual production processes using depth cameras Recent publications highlight applications of Industry 4.0 technologies to pandemic safety, logistics optimization, and smart manufacturing. Pilati has received significant recognition including the Philip Morris Italia Empowering Research Award (2016) and Autostrade per l'Italia academic recognition. His editorial contributions include guest editing special issues on Digital Twins and Smart Factories in Q1 journals.
Giuseppe Carlo Marano is a Full Professor at the Department of Structural, Building and Geotechnical Engineering at Politecnico di Torino. He is also a component of the SISCON Interdepartmental Center for Infrastructure Safety. With expertise in civil and structural engineering, his work focuses on machine learning applications, seismic risk reduction, and sustainable structural optimization. Education Graduated cum laude in Structural Engineering from Polytechnic University of Bari PhD in Structural Engineering from University of Florence (2000) Research Interests Marano's research spans structural optimization, seismic engineering, and machine learning applications in civil infrastructure. He develops advanced computational models for: Seismic retrofitting of existing structures Optimization of steel and masonry structures Recycled materials in concrete production AI-driven structural health monitoring Multiobjective design methodologies Publication Trends His recent work emphasizes: Machine learning for concrete mix design and damage assessment Optimization of gridshells and arch structures Seismic isolation systems and vibration control Sustainable construction practices with recycled materials Multiobjective genetic algorithms for structural design Scientific Recognitions National Scientific Qualification - First Band (2013, MIUR Italy) Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Lecture (2012, China) Academic Contributions As an educator, he teaches: Consolidamento Strutturale (Structural Consolidation) Dinamica delle Vibrazioni Random (Random Vibration Dynamics) Progettazione Generativa (Generative Design) He also leads Challenge@PoliTo initiatives and contributes to national infrastructure safety regulations. Research Projects ADAPT4CE - Adaptive Digital Systems for Circular Economy (2025-2028) AI-ENVISERS - AI for Seismic Retrofit Environmental Impact (2023-2025) ADDOPTML - Additive Manufacturing Optimization (2021-2025)
Stefano Rossi is a Full Professor of Finance at Bocconi University's Department of Finance, serving as Chair of the Department. He holds affiliations with the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) and the European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI), and serves on editorial boards for journals including Journal of Law, Finance, and Accounting and European Financial Management . His research focuses on corporate governance, bankruptcy, debt financing, sovereign borrowing, and quantitative trading, with publications in top journals such as The Journal of Finance and Journal of Monetary Economics . He has received international recognition, including awards for his work on ownership evolution. Prior to Bocconi, he taught at institutions including the Stockholm School of Economics and Cornell University. He earned his BA/MSc from Bocconi and a PhD in Finance from London Business School. Prof. Rossi's research explores intersections between corporate finance and public policy, with recent work analyzing credit cycles, municipal bankruptcy law, and liquidity shocks in insurance markets. His articles frequently address systemic financial risks and institutional frameworks governing corporate and sovereign debt. Awards include the ECGI Best Paper Prize for his collaborative research on ownership dynamics. Teaching spans corporate finance, valuation, and financial markets at undergraduate, graduate, and executive levels. He has developed courses at Bocconi's undergraduate, MBA, and PhD programs, emphasizing practical applications of theoretical finance models. His comprehensive curriculum includes mergers & acquisitions and private equity strategies. Key contributions include studies on shareholder voting mechanisms, sovereign default dynamics, and the impact of tax policies on corporate behavior. His work often bridges academic rigor with real-world policy implications, influencing both academic discourse and regulatory practices.
Rita Cucchiara is a Full Professor at the Department of Engineering 'Enzo Ferrari' of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. She leads the AImageLab research laboratory, part of the Artificial Intelligence Research and Innovation Center (AIRI) in Modena. Her research focuses on Computer Vision, Pattern Recognition, Machine Learning, and Multimedia, with applications in video surveillance, medical imaging, human-centered AI, and generative models. She is actively involved in interdisciplinary projects like ELIAS (European Lighthouse for AI Sustainability) and ELSA (European Lighthouse on Secure AI). Her recent roles include being elected Rector of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in 2025. She has organized and participated in major AI events, including workshops at NeurIPS, CVPR, and ECCV, and has contributed to advancements in multimodal models, deepfake detection, and trustworthy AI. Education details are not explicitly provided, but her extensive academic and research experience at the University of Modena underscores her expertise. She collaborates with institutions like NVIDIA, CINECA, and industry partners such as Digital Design and NVIDIA's AI Technology Center. AImageLab's projects include developing systems for medical imaging, ethical AI, and generative adversarial networks (GANs) for design surfaces. She co-organizes initiatives like the ELLIS Summer School on Large-Scale AI and contributes to policy discussions on AI ethics and societal impact. Her work spans from foundational research (e.g., vision transformers, continual learning) to applied projects (e.g., DDGan system for surface printing). Key grants and collaborations include the FAIR project and PNRR-M4C2 initiatives. She advises students and researchers in AI, with 7 PhD positions funded under national programs. Her leadership roles in AIRI and AImageLab highlight her commitment to bridging academia and industry, fostering innovation in AI-driven solutions for sustainability and healthcare.
Giorgio Grisetti is a Full Professor at Sapienza University of Rome within the Department of Systems and Computer Science, maintaining active research roles in the RoCoCo lab at Sapienza since November 2010 and the Autonomous Intelligent Systems Lab at Freiburg University where he previously served as a Post Doc under Wolfram Burgard starting in 2006. His educational background includes a M.Sc. in Computer Engineering from the University of Rome (2001) and a Ph.D. from Sapienza University of Rome's Intelligent Systems Lab (2006), supervised by Daniele Nardi. His doctoral thesis focused on SLAM using Rao-Blackwellized particle filters. Dr. Grisetti's research centers on mobile robotics with emphasis on robust solutions for autonomous navigation systems. His work spans theoretical and practical advancements in Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM), robot localization, path planning, and sensor fusion, particularly leveraging LiDAR and multi-sensor configurations. Recent publications demonstrate strong focus on optimization techniques, sensor calibration, and real-time performance for autonomous systems operating in complex environments. His publication trends reveal deep specialization in LiDAR-based SLAM (7 of 15 recent articles), bundle adjustment methods (4 articles), and sensor calibration/perception (3 articles), with consistent contributions to top robotics venues like IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters and ICRA. Key recognitions include: Nomination for the best IROS paper award (2010) Open Source achievement award from Willow Garage (2010) Best paper award at the International Conference and Exhibition on Unmanned Areal Vehicles (2010) Best Paper award at ICRA 2009 (2009) His research is conducted through the RoCoCo lab at Sapienza University of Rome and the Autonomous Intelligent Systems Lab at Freiburg University, focusing on developing foundational algorithms for mobile robot autonomy. Current projects emphasize robust perception systems, optimization frameworks for sensor fusion, and practical implementations for real-world navigation challenges.
Oswald Lanz is a tenured full professor at the Faculty of Engineering of the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano , leading the Visual Computing Lab . He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science and a Mathematics degree from the University of Trento. Prior to his current role, he was a researcher and head of research at FBK Trento. He is an endowed professor collaborating with Covision Lab , an AI hub in Bressanone, and coordinates the board of professors for the PhD in Computer Science program since 2025. His research focuses on Computer Vision, Deep Learning, and Video Analytics , with applications in sports technology, medical imaging, and industrial automation. Key achievements include the Amazon AWS Machine Learning Research Award (2020) , ACM Multimedia Best Paper (2015) , and Best Student Paper at ICIAP (2007) . He co-organized the ELLIS-VISMAC Winter School (2025) and chaired ICIAP 2019 . His work spans novel view synthesis, action recognition, and anomaly detection, supported by patents in video tracking and detection. He teaches courses like Deep Learning and Artificial Intelligence in undergraduate and graduate programs. Recent projects such as 5VREAL integrate 5G, edge computing, and AI for sports analysis. His collaborations bridge academia and industry, exemplified by his role in Covision Lab and multidisciplinary initiatives like DSS4LCO for food supply chains. Lanz’s publications emphasize spatiotemporal modeling, neural architecture search, and hybrid machine vision systems.
Gian Antonio Susto is an Associate Professor at the Department of Information Engineering , University of Padova . With a Ph.D. in Information Technology and post-doctoral experience at National University of Ireland, Maynooth, he leads research in Machine Learning , Semiconductor Manufacturing , and Industrial IoT . His work bridges Anomaly Detection , Continual Learning , and Algorithmic Fairness with applications in Hydroelectric Power Plants , Particle Accelerators , and Smart Mobility . B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Controls Engineering, University of Padova (cum laude) Ph.D. in Information Technology, University of Padova (2013) Post-Doc at National University of Ireland, Maynooth (2012-2013) Assistant Professor at University of Padova (2013-2021) His research focuses on Explainable AI , Virtual Metrology , and Deep Learning for manufacturing and infrastructure monitoring. Recent projects include the AIMS5.0 (AI for Manufacturing Sustainability) and MICS (Circular Economy in Italy) initiatives. His publications span Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence , IEEE Transactions , and Information Processing & Management , with 15+ recent papers on topics like Fault Diagnosis , Continual Learning , and Fair Ranking . Key scientific awards include: IEEE CCTA Best Student Paper Award (2021) IP&M 2020 Ph.D Paper Award Best Industry Paper Award, European Workshop on Advanced Control and Diagnosis (ACD 2019) He has supervised Ph.D. students on projects involving Particle Accelerators , Plant Behavior Modeling , and Explainable AI , with alumni now at institutions like Max Planck Institute , IBM , and Scripps Research . Current teaching includes Reinforcement Learning and Explainable Machine Learning at graduate and Ph.D. levels.
Marcus Herrmann is a Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at Arizona State University's School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy. He is also affiliated with the Center for Negative Carbon Emissions. His research focuses on fluid mechanics, multiphase flows, atomization processes, and numerical methods for discontinuous interfaces. Herrmann holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from RWTH Aachen University (2001) and a Diplom (1995). His career includes a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University's Center for Turbulence Research (CTR) and a visiting scientist position at the University of Technology Eindhoven, Netherlands. He has secured major grants from NASA, NSF, and industry partners like Honeywell, focusing on atomization modeling, supersonic crossflows, and turbulence simulations. Research interests span computational fluid dynamics, multiphase flow simulation, and LES/DNS methodologies. His recent work emphasizes high-fidelity numerical techniques for particle-resolved simulations and phase interface dynamics. Teaching includes courses like MAE 561 (Computational Fluid Dynamics) and MAE 384 (Advanced Math Methods for Engineers). He actively advises students through research and dissertation roles. Notable projects include modeling wax deposition in pipelines and developing novel approaches for interface dynamics in turbulent flows. His work bridges fundamental fluid mechanics with industrial applications like combustion systems and porous media modeling.
Gaetano Valenza is an Associate Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Pisa, Italy, where he leads the Neuro-Cardiovascular Intelligence Lab at the Enrico Piaggio Research Centre. He holds affiliations with the Neuroscience Statistics Research Laboratory at MIT and has served as a Research Fellow at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. His academic work spans bioengineering, computational physiology, and affective computing. His research focuses on statistical and nonlinear biomedical signal and image processing , cardiovascular and neural modeling , and physiologically interpretable artificial intelligence . He develops wearable systems for physiological monitoring, with applications in autonomic nervous system assessment, brain-heart interactions, and mental health. His work has led to novel metrics such as the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic activity indices derived from ECG. The 15 most recent publications reflect a consistent trend in brain-heart interplay , complexity analysis of physiological signals , explainable AI in healthcare , and virtual reality applications in mental health . His work integrates advanced signal processing, nonlinear dynamics, and machine learning to decode emotional and cognitive states from physiological data. Dr. Valenza is a Senior Member of IEEE and serves on several technical committees. He is an active editorial leader, currently serving as Associate Editor for IEEE-EMBC , Plos One , Complexity , and Scientific Reports , and has guest-edited special issues in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A and IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics . He has led or participated in numerous international research projects, including FP7 and H2020 initiatives such as NEVERMIND and EXPERIENCE. He teaches courses in Biostatistics, Probability & Biostatistics, and Advanced Image Processing at the University of Pisa. As lab head and project coordinator, he leads a multidisciplinary team working on neuro-cardiovascular intelligence, wearable systems, and AI-driven mental health interventions.
