FBK Advisory Board: Third meeting in Ravenna hosted by Marcegaglia

The event was hosted by Antonio Marcegaglia—President of Marcegaglia and member of the FBK Board—and served as a strategic forum for an exchange of views among key figures from industry, finance, and research.  In addition to FBK President Francesco Resta and Secretary General Andrea Simoni, the meeting was attended by Board members Antonio Marcegaglia, Matteo Lunelli, and Donatella Sciuto. Vittorio Colao and Francesca Pasinelli joined remotely.

Key new developments

Opening the session, President Resta shared two major milestones recently achieved by FBK:

• The first qubit manufactured in Italy, developed within FBK laboratories—marking a significant advancement in national quantum research.
• €80 million in new investments allocated to expanding FBK’s cleanroom facilities, focusing on scaling and industrializing technological production.

Another significant achievement relates to the1st place obtained by FBK’s Technologies of Vision Unit in an international competition (BOP Challenge 2024) in the field of artificial intelligence for image recognition algorithms without previous training: an important recognition of FBK’s positioning in the field AI for Imaging that led it to place first among 50 competitors, overperforming teams of leading companies including Naver Labs, NVIDIA, Meta.

President Resta also presented FBK’s impressive results in securing EU strategic project funding for the 2023–2025 period, particularly through major programs such as IPCEI and early Factories.

Strategic Projects and System Vision

Secretary General Andrea Simoni outlined the Foundation’s strategic direction, with a focus on several IPCEI-related initiatives:

• Microelectronics and AI: Aiming to build robust industrial partnerships and seize emerging opportunities.
• Hydrogen Hub in Rovereto: A €26 million infrastructure dedicated to experimentation and innovation for companies.
• IPCEI Cloud-to-Edge: Supporting the development of a resilient European digital infrastructure.
• AgriTech (AI4Factory): A new frontier where FBK will lead the implementation of AI solutions to support agricultural enterprises.

Toward Europe 2028: Emphasizing the Research–Business Alliance

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the upcoming European funding program (2028–2035). he Board stressed the importance of early strategic positioning and reaffirmed the critical role of the research–business alliance as a driver of innovation and competitiveness at both national and European levels.

People, Talent, and Entrepreneurship

President Resta also updated the Board on FBK’s efforts to foster talent and entrepreneurship:

• The new PhD Program, which saw a 60% increase in scholarships in 2024 compared to the previous year;
• The strengthening of the Talent Development Program
• Ongoing initiatives such as the Ambassador Project and the introduction of ERC Pioneers.

Additionally, the meeting featured a detailed presentation of FBK’s “Test Your Ideas!” Proof of Concept (POC) program, designed to help researchers transition from innovators to entrepreneurs. The discussion also explored ways to address the challenge of declining entrepreneurship in Italy. The possibility of making the program more open nationwide was discussed, including involving high-profile testimonials and mentors.

The meeting concluded with strong consensus on FBK’s strategic role in boosting national competitiveness, underlining the importance of investing in technology, talent, and industrial alliances to generate lasting impact.