Spoke 5 Eng Archives - RAISE Innovation Ecosystem

Applications Open for P3 – OFFICINAE RAISE 2024/2025: Become a Leader in AI and Robotics Innovation

Posted on 4 December 20245 December 2024 by admin

Applications are now open for the 2024/2025 edition of P3 | OFFICINAE RAISE, an immersive training program designed to equip participants with the skills and methodologies needed to operate in the rapidly evolving fields of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.
This program is part of the RAISE Training Program, coordinated by Spoke 5.

This initiative offers not only cutting-edge technical knowledge but also an interdisciplinary and entrepreneurial experience, preparing participants to tackle challenges in the most innovative sectors. The program aims to foster creativity and entrepreneurship among students while promoting interdisciplinary collaboration. Industry experts, academics, and professionals from various fields will participate, sharing their experiences and providing practical guidance on navigating complex and fast-changing ecosystems.

Program structure and educational content
P3 | OFFICINAE RAISE consists of three Toolbox Courses and a three-day Intensive Bootcamp, offering comprehensive training in both technical and soft skills.

Toolbox Courses
Scheduled from March to May 2025 at Talent Garden in Genoa, the Toolbox Courses will provide students with essential skills to excel in rapidly evolving technological fields such as robotics and artificial intelligence.
Each module will last 8 hours, divided into two half-day sessions:
– The first module will focus on Design Thinking, a user-centered problem-solving methodology for developing innovative solutions.
– The second module will cover Business Model Development, with an emphasis on sustainable strategies to turn technological ideas into successful businesses.
– The third module will concentrate on Storytelling and Public Speaking, teaching how to present projects effectively and engagingly.

Speakers such as Danilo Rolle (Avanade), Francesco Boano (Next 14), and experts from the University of Genoa and IIT will enhance the courses with practical business insights.

Intensive Bootcamp
The program will culminate in an Intensive Bootcamp from June 4 to 6, 2025, at the Campus in Imperia. Participants will be divided into teams to tackle real-world cases proposed by local companies in sectors such as the blue economy, floriculture, agri-food, healthcare, and tourism. Guided by mentors from IIT, Talent Garden, and the University of Genoa, teams will develop innovative solutions to address specific business needs.

Bootcamp Schedule
Day 0
During the Toolbox Courses, participants will be introduced to the business needs identified in the Ligurian region and potential solutions suggested by Scientifica. Teams will be formed and asked to prepare a brief abstract of their entrepreneurial idea for the competition.

Day 1 – Transfer to the Imperia Campus
10:30 AM: Presentation of abstracts and start of group work.
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM: Lunch Break.
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Group Work. Teams develop their business pitches with guidance from selected mentors.

Day 2
9:00 AM – 12:30 PM: Group Work.
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM: Lunch Break.
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Pitch Test – Each group presents a 3-minute pitch and receives feedback from mentors and peers.

Day 3
9:00 AM – 12:30 PM: Final adjustments based on feedback.
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM: Lunch Break.
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Final Presentation to the jury and announcement of the best project.

The final projects will be evaluated by a jury from the RAISE ecosystem based on three criteria: solution validity, business model sustainability, and presentation quality. The winning team members will receive exclusive prizes, including a one-year membership at Talent Garden Genoa and a #RAISE4Students kit.

How to apply
Applications must be sent via email to formazione.raise@unige.it by January 20, 2025.
More Information | Call

RAISE’s Training Program at BioRob PhD Day 2024

Posted on 2 December 20244 December 2024 by admin

The BioRob PhD Day 2024, held on Friday, November 29, at the Palazzo della Borsa in Genoa, featured significant collaboration with RAISE as part of the Training Program, coordinated by Spoke 5.

The event, dedicated to PhD students from the Bioengineering and Robotics program at the University of Genoa, coordinated by Professor Paolo Massobrio, provided an important platform for integrating advanced training and applied research in the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence.

A key moment of the day was the talk by Professor Laura Gaggero, who presented the P8 project – Boosting PhD Students, one of the training paths within the RAISE Training Program. This project aims to enhance the skills of PhD students by offering them innovative tools and new perspectives to tackle the challenges of contemporary research. Her talk sparked a discussion on the multiple opportunities offered by RAISE, highlighting how the program not only provides technical support but also promotes a strategic vision for the personal and professional growth of researchers.

In the second part of the day, a practical demonstration was presented to show how RAISE effectively meets the needs of the PhD program by integrating training requirements with the latest innovations in robotics.

The lecture by Professor Giorgio Cannata from the University of Genoa focused on recent advancements in robotics, emphasizing the significant impact these innovations have on RAISE’s areas of interest. His presentation highlighted the integration of developments in the sector with PhD research activities in Bioengineering and Robotics, showing how the collaboration between the PhD program and RAISE is contributing to the growth of the sector at both the academic and industrial levels.

The BioRob PhD Day was a unique opportunity for PhD students to present their work through poster sessions, engaging with colleagues, professors, and expert researchers. In particular, many of the posters addressed topics related to the RAISE spokes, highlighting the importance of a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to tackling future challenges.

“As never before this year, the deep connection between research and the training paths that the PhD program in Bioengineering and Robotics has always promoted was evident. RAISE has certainly enhanced this fundamental aspect. As I always tell the PhD students, they are the true protagonists of research,” commented PhD coordinator Paolo Massobrio at the end of a long day, which concluded with celebrations for the new graduates of the 36th cycle.

Thanks to RAISE’s participation and the contribution of its Training Program, the event demonstrated how the integration of research, training, and innovation can serve as a winning model for the development of skills in the robotics and bioengineering sectors. The day confirmed the shared commitment to creating a stimulating and open research environment capable of promoting advanced technological solutions and addressing the needs of an ever-evolving sector.

Market Meets Research: the second event of the RAISE up Mentorship Program

Posted on 27 November 20243 December 2024 by admin

The second event of the RAISE up Mentorship Program took place at the PwC Arena in Piazza Piccapietra, reaffirming itself as an important opportunity to connect innovation and the market. Titled Market Meets Research, the event was promoted by Spoke 5 with the support of PwC Italy and I3P – the Incubator of the Polytechnic University of Turin.

The 12 participants selected for this first edition presented their innovative solutions with the goal of consolidating their business models. Through interactive sessions with an audience of companies, funds, and other community stakeholders, participants received valuable feedback to refine their strategies.

An Introduction to the Innovation Ecosystem

The day opened with welcome talks by Andrea Manchelli, Partner at PwC Italy, and Vincenzo Tanania, Innovation Ecosystem Leader at PwC Italy. Both emphasized the importance of creating targeted connections between market needs and research-developed solutions, highlighting how multidisciplinarity is crucial for technology transfer and innovation.

Following this, Andrea Pagnin, leader of Spoke 5, and Miriam Molinari, Project Manager for Technology Transfer at RAISE, presented the RAISE up program, which has already monitored 172 innovations with market potential. They outlined the four main phases of the journey:
1. Tech Lifting to enhance technological potential;
2. Strategic Acceleration to consolidate business models and plans;
3. Specialist Boost with industry experts;
4. Pitch Deck for direct engagement with key stakeholders.

Success Stories

Key moments included talks by Andrea D’Aietti, Co-founder and CEO of Underdogs Group, and Kseniya Lenarciak, Co-founder and CEO of SLY.

D’Aietti shared Underdogs’ experience in developing personalized strategies for companies, e-commerce platforms, and brands across various sectors, managing all stages of the sales funnel. He urged participants to focus on market problems rather than solutions, stressing the importance of deeply understanding the challenges faced by clients.

Lenarciak presented SLY, a startup using advanced AI technologies for early detection and monitoring of wildfires. By employing innovative air quality sensors, SLY has achieved significant results in fire prevention, positively impacting agriculture and environmental safety.

Team Focus

During the plenary session, moderated by Luca Passoni, Director at PwC, the 12 teams had the opportunity to showcase their solutions to a qualified audience of entrepreneurs, investors, and specialists. The direct interaction provided targeted feedback, helping improve business models and develop more effective market strategies.

Networking and Conclusions

The event concluded with a networking aperitif, offering further opportunities for connections between innovators and stakeholders.
With this second event, RAISE up is confirmed as a strategic program for technology transfer and innovation enhancement. For more information and to participate in upcoming initiatives, visit the official project channels.

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BASIC AI & ROBOTICS APPLICATIONS4SMEs: the RAISE Training Project for SMEs

Posted on 22 November 202422 November 2024 by admin

On November 21, 2024, the launch event for the training program “P2 – BASIC AI & ROBOTICS APPLICATIONS4SMEs” took place at TAG Giardini Baltimora in Genoa. The program, part of the RAISE Training Program coordinated by Spoke 5, will open for registrations starting November 22.

The initiative focuses on the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Liguria, aiming to provide essential skills for adopting advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics, enhancing the competitiveness and innovative capacity of the region’s entrepreneurial landscape.

The event opened with an introduction to RAISE and its role in promoting the competitiveness of Ligurian SMEs, presented by Cristina Battaglia, RAISE Program Manager, and Andrea Pagnin, Coordinator of Spoke 5. Battaglia and Pagnin emphasized the importance of the RAISE training plan as a strategic tool to facilitate the transfer of knowledge from the research sector to businesses, thereby strengthening the region’s economic competitiveness.

This was followed by a detailed presentation of the training program by project coordinators Nicoletta Buratti and Giorgia Profumo.

The “BASIC AI & ROBOTICS APPLICATIONS4SMEs” project is specifically designed for SMEs that have not yet initiated structured digitalization processes. The program consists of four mandatory basic modules to provide fundamental knowledge of artificial intelligence and robotics technologies and seven customizable specialization modules, selected by participants based on the specific needs of their businesses.

The event also featured contributions from representatives of trade associations, who highlighted the needs and expectations of local SMEs regarding the training program. Speakers included Matteo Camia (CNA), Daniele Pallavicini (Youth Entrepreneurs Group of Confcommercio), Paolo Piccini (DIH Liguria), Mattia Rossi (Legacoop Liguria), and Claudia Torre (Compagnia delle Opere).

The event concluded with a networking light lunch, offering participants the opportunity to engage with the RAISE team, SME representatives, and trade associations, fostering the exchange of ideas and the formation of new collaborations.

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New courses available on the RAISE Platform: an opportunity to enhance digital skills

Posted on 20 November 202420 November 2024 by admin

The educational offering of the P4 | Basic AI & Robotics Skills at University Level project has expanded with the addition of five new courses now available on the platform, bringing the total number of courses currently accessible to 15.

The P4 | Basic AI & Robotics Skills at University Level project is one of the training pathways included in the Training Program of RAISE, coordinated by Spoke 5. It is addressed to UniGe students and created by university professors with the support of experts in innovative teaching.

Course Features:
– Online and asynchronous: Courses can be followed independently, at your own pace.
– Free and interactive: They foster engaging and personalized learning.
– 1 ECTS and Open Badge: Each course grants 1 European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credit, which will be included in the Diploma Supplement, as well as an Open Badge certifying the acquired skills. The ECTS credits may also be recognized as part of your study plan if they align with your educational objectives.

New Courses Available:
– Digital Revolution in Public Administration: Future Scenarios and Challenges in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (Basic Level)
– Facial Recognition Technologies: Legal Profiles and Practical Challenges (Basic Level)
– Ocean Data & Machine Learning Procedures: Observing, Analyzing, and Using Ocean Data (Basic Level)
– Energy Harvesting (EH) and Internet of Things (IoT) (Intermediate Level)
– AI in a Nutshell (Pilot Course)

Full Educational Offering:
In addition to the new courses, the platform offers a catalog of 23 courses plus 3 pilot courses, divided into basic, intermediate, and advanced levels, depending on prior knowledge.

Among the available courses are:
– Algorithms and Public Administration: Civil Protection (Basic Level)
– Technologies and Robotics for Inclusion in Schools and Universities (Basic Level)
– Introduction to Cognitive Dynamic Systems (Intermediate Level)
– Synergistic Approaches Between Marine Weather Modeling and AI for Improving Marine Weather Forecasts (Advanced Level)
– Simulation, Prediction, and Control in the Analysis of Energy Systems: Methodological Aspects and Applications (Intermediate Level).

Participation and Enrollment
Approximately 900 students have already chosen to take a RAISE course to enhance their academic journey and their CV.

To view the full catalog and register, visit the page “RAISE Digital Citizenship Training Courses | UniGe”

For further information: formazione.raise@unige.it

A new online tool to support technology transfer: the RAISE Net platform

Posted on 14 November 202415 November 2024 by admin

From November 2024, the RAISE Net platform is active, a new service that represents a single point of access to technology transfer services and tools, to competitive tenders and calls and to initiatives in the territory. It is made not only for all the actors involved in the Ecosystem, but also for other ecosystems and territorial and national entities.

RAISE Net offers advanced tools such as:
1. Area dedicated to Ecosystem partners and messaging tools;
2. Community: possibility for users to profile themselves (as an individual or as an organization), specifying tags and useful/peculiar information on the basis of which the system will be able to: “customize” information and resources (e.g. news, collaborations, tenders, etc.), involve the user in a relationship/information process, create user communities;
3. Showcase for assets and information: possibility for users to share products and news or request technologies, skills or collaborations. The other users, also possibly by cluster, receive the related content also in “push” mode (supported by a user-facilitator);
4. Opportunity showcase: possibility, for subjects internal and external to the Ecosystem, to ask questions, express needs for skills and/or technologies, launch challenges, promote cross-fertilization actions (Open Innovation), with methods and tools functional to the process of detecting and mapping the value chain, to the circulation of information, to the generation of new project ideas;
5. Integration: with the platform through which the Ecosystem’s training programs will be delivered (i.e. raiseliguria.aulaweb.unige.it); with the RAISE website; with systems/infrastructures that will be adopted by the Ecosystem in the Open Data field; with the scientific production management system developed, during the project, by IIT as Ecosystem partners (i.e. scientilla.raiseliguria.it);
6. Open Call: launch and communicate the notices relating to the various cascade funding initiatives promoted by the Ecosystem; communication of results;
7. Engagement: create and engage the user community with thematic initiatives, working both at the level of user clusters and the entire ecosystem;
8. Monitoring and Reporting Dashbord: systems and functions for collecting, archiving and systematizing data and information useful for monitoring the Ecosystem’s activities, for the purpose of extracting KPIs (e.g. no. of events, participants by type, follow-up, questionnaire collection, patents, publications, performance and effectiveness of training, etc.) and internal and external reporting.

The data and information may be generated and entered into the platform directly by some types of Users or also extracted from the systems/platforms with which the RAISE Net platform integrates.

Learn more about getting started with RAISE Net.

Launch of P2 – BASIC AI & ROBOTICS APPLICATIONS4SMEs: a training program by Spoke 5

Posted on 9 November 202413 November 2024 by admin

On November 21, 2024, at 11:00 am, the launch event for the training program P2 – BASIC AI & ROBOTICS Applications4SMEs will take place at TAG Giardini Baltimora in Genoa. This program is part of RAISE’s Training Program, coordinated by Spoke 5.

This initiative, dedicated to the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Liguria, aims to provide managers, employees, and entrepreneurs with essential skills to integrate advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics. The objective is to enhance the competitiveness and innovation capacity of local SMEs.

Event Program:
– 11:00 am | Introduction to RAISE and its contribution to the competitiveness of Ligurian SMEs
Cristina Battaglia, Programme manager di RAISE
Andrea Pagnin, Head of Spoke 5 di RAISE
– 11:15 am | Presentation of the training project “BASIC AI & ROBOTICS APPLICATIONS4SMEs”
Nicoletta Buratti, Project coordinator
Giorgia Profumo, Project coordinator
– 11:30 am | Contributions from representatives of trade associations, providing an overview of the needs of SMEs and their expectations for the program
Matteo Camia, CNA
Fabrizio Ferrari, Confindustria Genova
Daniele Pallavicini, Gruppo Giovani Imprenditori di Confcommercio
Paolo Piccini, DIH Liguria
Mattia Rossi, Legacoop Liguria
Claudia Torre, Compagnia delle Opere

The “BASIC AI & ROBOTICS APPLICATIONS4SMEs” training project is designed for SMEs that have not yet initiated structured digitalization processes.
The program includes:
– 4 mandatory foundational modules (approximately 7 hours) to provide essential skills in AI and robotics
– 7 customizable specialization modules, which participants can select based on their specific business needs

Each module consists of 20-minute micro-learning sessions. Additionally, 8 in-person events (each lasting 2 hours) will be organized to delve into the topics covered in the modules.

At the end of each module, participants will have the opportunity to receive a RAISE Open Badge, a digital certification that validates the skills acquired and highlights the completed training path.

This certification represents a concrete step toward innovation and digital transformation for SMEs.

Following the official presentation, participants are invited to join a networking light lunch, offering an informal setting to exchange ideas and foster collaborations.

This gathering will provide an opportunity to engage with the RAISE team, representatives from other SMEs, and trade associations, promoting synergies and new projects.

Participation in the event is free and open to all interested parties, subject to availability of the 50 reservable spots.

To attend, please register by completing the registration form available here.

The prototype data sharing platform of Spoke 5 presented at GenOA Open Access Week 2024

Posted on 8 November 20248 November 2024 by admin

At the GenOA Open Access Week 2024, held from November 4 to 8, 2024, with events both in person in Genoa and online, the prototype of an innovative platform for data sharing and publication developed by Spoke 5 was presented. This platform is designed to facilitate the sharing of data across all Spokes within the RAISE ecosystem.

The project aims to centralize and simplify access to research data generated in various scientific fields, embodying the fundamental principles of open science.

The presentation, titled Open Access Platform of the Ligurian RAISE Ecosystem, was part of the session on research infrastructures, organized by the National Research Council (CNR) at the Blue Room of the Research Area in Genoa.

Built on the D4SCIENCE infrastructure, this platform is designed to publish data generated by the different RAISE research Spokes, while ensuring compatibility and seamless integration with other systems. This approach reflects RAISE’s commitment to open, interoperable, and reusable data, promoting broader access to research findings.

To create a platform that facilitates smooth data sharing at both the national and European levels, technologies capable of “communicating” easily with each other were chosen. This approach relies on D-CAT, a widely used standard for organizing and describing data catalogs, which ensures compatibility with existing systems.
The platform was developed in collaboration with the Institute of Information Science and Technologies (ISTI – CNR) in Pisa, using the D4SCIENCE infrastructure. Thanks to this technology and the contributions of the various RAISE research sectors, it was possible to create an initial prototype that flexibly and interoperably meets the needs of the scientific community.

This collaborative effort represents a significant step towards creating a dynamic and open-access environment for the RAISE research community, paving the way for future developments in the availability and usability of scientific data in Liguria and beyond.

GenOA Week 2024 is organized by the University of Genoa, IIT (Italian Institute of Technology), INFN (National Institute for Nuclear Physics), CNR (National Research Council), and AIB Liguria (Italian Library Association – Liguria Section), under the patronage of the Italian Library Association.

For more information:
– D4Science
– W3

Twelve RAISE teams and innovative solutions at the center of the “Innovation Showcase” event of RAISE up

Posted on 31 October 202411 November 2024 by admin

On Monday 28 October 2024, inside the RAISE Village at the Cisterne di Palazzo Ducale in Genoa, the first event of the RAISE up mentorship program took place, promoted by Spoke 5 of RAISE and supported by PwC Italia and I3P – “Incubatore del Politecnico di Torino”.

The Innovation Showcase was a day dedicated to innovation, with the aim of encouraging the connection between companies and researchers.

Entrepreneurs, financiers and company managers, from Liguria but also from other regions, were able to meet the groups of researchers, who are working on 12 innovative solutions, selected for the RAISE up program.

On this day, these 12 teams had the opportunity to present their innovative solutions, divided into four specific areas:
1. Design of inclusive technologies to redesign the urban experience
2. Intelligent technologies for the healthcare of the future
3. Ecorobotics at the service of the environment
4. Navigating the future: robotics and AI at the service of ports and the maritime industry

As highlighted by the spoke leader of spoke 5, Andrea Pagnin (IIT), the twelve teams were selected out of 180 and this program is a great opportunity to transform their research results into start-ups, patents and licenses.

The event achieved the expected objectives, as the project manager, Miriam Molinari, commented with satisfaction, both for the excellent turnout of participants and for the networking and creative exchange activities that took place between researchers, entrepreneurs, financiers and ecosystem players during the day. The teams “trained to tell their innovative solutions to people who are not in their sector” the day was in fact structured in two moments, during the morning the guests were accompanied to the team corners in the room to listen to the story of the posters and prototypes presented while the afternoon was dedicated to one-to-one, to evaluate in detail any joint tests, partnerships and other future activities.

An important day for RAISE up, intense and full of meetings, aimed at realizing that crucial passage from research to the market and therefore making technology transfer possible, which is one of the main objectives of Spoke 5 and the RAISE ecosystem.

After the success of this first event in the context of the Science Festival 2024, the RAISE up program will soon return with a second event open to the public, in less than a month, on November 25th.

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“A heretical point of view on artificial intelligence” the Spoke 5 talk at the inaugural day of the RAISE Village

Posted on 27 October 202428 October 2024 by admin

On the inaugural day of the RAISE Village on October 26th Annalisa Barla and Alessandro Verri of Spoke 5 (UniGe) presented their talk “A heretical point of view on artificial intelligence” on the issues of ethics in the field of artificial intelligence.

During the talk the researchers offered the public a critical reflection on AI, questioning some of the most widespread ideas about this technology, starting from the first systems based on exact rules up to modern models that learn from experience. The journey highlights the often overlooked limitations of AI: many models reveal correlations without explaining causality, and the accuracy of the results depends heavily on the availability of large amounts of data.

A particular focus was dedicated to the use of AI in medicine, where expectations must be confronted with practical complexities. The objective is to offer a more aware look at AI, understood not only as a technology, but as a phenomenon with ethical and practical implications of great importance.

“In this historical moment everyone is interested in the discussion on artificial intelligence. There is great excitement and from my point of view it is very interesting because I have been dealing with it for many years but I have only recently been able to talk about it in public.
There are also strong preconceptions, in the sense that users have beliefs about how this thing works. In my opinion, however, it is very nice to try to explain how these things really work because it is possible to change preconceptions a little and perhaps to open up interest in this topic even more. I am very happy!” comments Annalisa Barla, associate professor of the Department of computer science, bioengineering, robotics and systems engineering at the University of Genoa.

“It was an opportunity to show the amazing feats of artificial intelligence in everyday life. There are some aspects, not so much danger, but let’s say, pitfalls of this technology that are not always talked about. Perhaps because those who develop this technology focus on the aspects that have a market. Some things that we tried to discuss together this evening denote the intrinsic limits of these technologies which are unavoidable due to how they are built and how they work. We can hardly imagine that they can be done in a different way from how they are done now” added Alessandro Verri Vice Department Director Department of computer science, bioengineering, robotics and systems engineering at the University of Genoa.