“Programming the Future”: an afternoon at Villa Durazzo Bombrini focused on education and the professions of tomorrow
On Friday, April 11, 2025, the splendid halls of Villa Durazzo Bombrini in Genoa hosted one of the most significant events in the Robot Valley Genova 2025 calendar: the conference “Programming the Future – Education and Career Paths in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence”, a valuable orientation opportunity for students.
From 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., the audience had the chance to listen to talks and personal stories from those who are already shaping the present of robotics and artificial intelligence. The afternoon opened with a presentation by Professor Armando Tacchella from the University of Genoa, who introduced the academic offerings in computer science, robotics, and engineering, emphasizing the importance of preparing new generations to meet the challenges of a constantly evolving field.
Among the conference speakers were Giulia Bodo (IIT), engaged in e-health research and Alberto Carlevaro (Aitek S.p.A.- CNR IEIIT), an expert in artificial intelligence. They shared their personal journeys from university studies to careers in industrial research. Joining them were Brunella Guida, a specialist in coastal modeling, Gaia Lorenzoni, a PhD candidate in Digital Humanities, and Rosanna Turrisi (CNR), a researcher active in neuroscience and the automated diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases.
The afternoon included a dedicated segment on the gender gap in STEM, with female participation in Italy still at just 16% in the ICT sector. Floriana Ferrara (IBM), promoter of the “NERD?” project, opened a dialogue on strategies to encourage girls to pursue scientific studies.
The event concluded with a presentation by Matteo Nazzario, who introduced the Robotics Lab at Intesa Sanpaolo’s Innovation Center—a space where experimentation in AI and automation is directly aligned with the needs of the banking and service sectors.
The meeting also offered an overview of the RAISE – Robotics and AI for Socio-economic Empowerment project, funded by Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). The initiative connects research, business, and institutions to develop technological solutions aimed at social well-being and regional development. Within the Robot Valley framework, the audience had the chance to explore some of the most advanced applications developed by the University of Genoa, CNR, IIT, and local companies—part of a vibrant and innovative ecosystem.
“Programming the Future” was not only a moment of discussion about the opportunities offered by robotics and artificial intelligence, but also a concrete invitation to actively participate in shaping a future where technology can be a tool for inclusion, creativity, and sustainable growth.
The meeting was attended by the Fermi Scientific High School of Massa, the Colombo Classical and Linguistic High School, the Fermi Scientific High School, the IIS Gastaldi-Abba, and the IIS Majorana-Giorgi of Genoa.
