The Professor Roberto Pinton, rector of the University of Udine, tells why the university has established itself at national level as one of the most important centers for research on new information technologies. The Kolbe auditorium is home to the “Alphabet of the future” stage dedicated to digital evolution.
Where does the vocation for the last frontiers of technology come from?
«The University of Udine was born on a popular initiative immediately after the terrible earthquake that hit Friuli in 1976 as a symbol of hope and rebirth. Right from the start it was decided to focus on innovative disciplines such as computer science (fifth activated in Italy), Conservation of cultural heritage (first activated in Italy) and food technologies (second activated in Italy). Thus in the Anno Academic 1979/80 the Degree Course in Information Sciences was activated. After more than forty years we can say with certainty that it was a far-sighted choice, which was able to grasp the enormous potential of the new discipline ».
How did the study of computer science develop?
In the following decades, information technology in Udine has grown and consolidated, becoming a point of reference at national and international level. Currently, with two three-year degrees, two master’s degrees, a research doctorate and inter-class degrees offered at the Pordenone campus, the University of Udine continues to attract students in the computer science area. There are about 1500 three-year graduates from the University of Udine, 1600 master’s graduates ».
Last week you inaugurated five new IT laboratories at the Uniud Lab Village, a pole for technology transfer supported by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region and the Friuli Foundation. What are they dedicated to?
It is an area entirely dedicated to the development of new solutions in the most advanced fields of digital technologies at the service of the territory. The laboratories will operate in synergy between the Department of Mathematical, Computer and Physical Sciences of the University and companies and organizations in the area. In particular, they will be dedicated to the sectors of cybersecurity, virtual and augmented reality and artificial vision, autonomous systems, intelligence and security, the Internet of things and robotics. The creation of these new research laboratories, intended for such topical issues in the field of digital technologies and leading from the point of view of innovation, will contribute to favoring the process of acceleration of innovation in the regional territory which has already been started a few years ago. The hope is that these new settlements can constitute a reference point at national and international level for studies on artificial intelligence ». C. L.