Artificial intelligence and robotics: Villani makes Italy and france meet

During his visit to Bologna, the renowned mathematician, guest at the inauguration of Alma Mater's academic year, took the opportunity to meet Italian experts, with the objective of defining Europe's role in these fields, essential to the development of technology for the near future.

In Bologna, Cédric Villani met some of Italy's most prominent experts in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence with the objective of starting a collaboration between Italy and France to define Europe's role in these fields, essential to the development of technology for the near future.

The renowned French mathematician, winner of the Fields Medal, was the guest of honour at the inauguration of the 930th Academic Year of the University of Bologna and delivered a talk on the role of mathematics in the world of art.

During his visit to Bologna, Villani asked to meet the main Italian players involved in the development of technologies for the future. The mathematician is indeed also a member of Parliament, sits in the French National Assembly, is the French Government's advisor on Robotics and Artificial Intelligence research programmes and is president of the French “Office for the Evaluation of Scientific and Technological Choices".

Organised by the University of Bologna, the meeting was attended by the Rector, the Vice Rector, the Vice Rectors for Research and Digital Technologies and a number of Alma Mater members of academic staff. A number of Italy's most representative personalities in the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics were also present: Giuseppe Attardi (University of Pisa), Bruno Siciliano (Federico II University of Napoli), Antonio Bicchi (University of Pisa), Marco Gori (University of Siena), Silvestro Micera (Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies of Pisa), and Stefano Ruffo (SISSA - International School for Advanced Studies, Trieste).

It was a unique occasion, considering the exceptional guests attending and the range of different competencies around the table. The discussion provided food for thought with regard to the present and future potential of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. Participants also talked about possible international collaborations and the necessity of political action, on both national and European level, in order to ensure the strongest position in these fields, not just in Italy and France, but across Europe.

Additionally, everyone present unanimously recognised the excellent research work carried out by the University of Bologna. An intricate work, which involves teachers from different departments and has important repercussions on the region's social environment and its industrial sector.

Published on: 07 December 2017