HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ITALIAN BUSINESS FORUM AND RESEARCH DAY

The 11th edition of the Italian Business Forum, which was promoted by the Italian-Slovenian Forum, partnered for the first time with the Italian Research Day (Giornata della Ricerca Italiana nel Mondo), a global nexus of more than 100 events that took place in 87 countries, the date of birth of one of the greatest minds in human history, Leonardo Da Vinci. Here are the highlights.

XI ITALIAN BUSINESS FORUM HIGHLIGHTS

The Jozef Stefan Institute, played host to the 11th Italian Business Forum on Tuesday, 9th April 2024. With a stellar lineup of speakers and panellists, the forum delved deep into the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), probing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

The event commenced with an auspicious opening address by Boštjan Zalar, the Director of the Jozef Stefan Institute, setting the stage for a day of insightful discussions and networking. Jurij Giacomelli, President of the Italijansko-slovenski Forum italo-sloveno, followed suit, officially inaugurating the 11th IBF and welcoming attendees.

Giuseppe Cavagna, the Ambassador of the Republic of Italy to Slovenia, then provided an introduction to the forum, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and innovation in driving economic growth and prosperity.

The thematic focus of the day revolved around the symbiotic relationship between research, innovation, and AI. Jure Gasparič, State Secretary at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation of the Republic of Slovenia, shed light on the pivotal role of research and innovation in addressing the challenges posed by AI.

The keynote session, moderated by Jadran Lenarcic, explored the concept of Algorithmic Transparency and the European Commission’s efforts in providing scientific and technical support for the Digital Services Act. Speakers Jerneja Jug Jerše and Emilie Sundorph from the European Commission delved into the nuances of ensuring transparency and accountability in AI systems.

Roberto Siagri, a DeepTech entrepreneur and CEO of Rotonium, framed AI as a potential means to address the most critical civilization problems, like overpopulation, linear production, and social and economic models.

The forum also delved into the specific implications of AI on the banking and other industries.

Stanislava Zadravec Caprirolo, Managing Director of the Bank Association of Slovenia, highlighted the transformative potential of AI in reshaping financial services while emphasizing the importance of regulatory frameworks to ensure ethical AI deployment.

Brando Benifei, Member of the European Parliament and Lead Rapporteur on the Artificial Intelligence Act, provided a comprehensive update on EU AI legislation, shedding light on the regulatory landscape and the challenges of governing AI in a digital age through a video lecture.

A dynamic roundtable session ensued, exploring the implications of AI on the financial sector, with esteemed panellists including Luigi Fuzio, CEO of Intesasanpolo Bank Slovenia, Lorenzo Ramajola, CEO of Unicredit Slovenia, Mitja Feri, Member of the Management Board at Generali Slovenia, Stanislava Zadravec Caprirolo, and Roberto Siagri.

The forum also delved into the role of supercomputers in advancing AI capabilities, with Jan Jona Javoršek and Sašo Džeroski from the Jozef Stefan Institute providing insights into the genesis of high-performance computing (HPC) and its implications for Italian-Slovenian cooperation.

The 11th Italian Business Forum concluded with a sense of optimism and determination, as participants departed with newfound insights and a renewed commitment to leveraging AI for sustainable economic development and societal progress. As AI continues to redefine the contours of industry and innovation, forums like these serve as catalysts for collaboration, creativity, and collective action.

7th ITALIAN RESEARCH DAY HIGHLIGHTS

Following the success of the XI Italian Business Forum, the exploration of artificial intelligence (AI) and innovation continued on the second day with the 7th Italian Research Day, held at the Grand Plaza Hotel on Wednesday, 10th April 2024. Building upon the momentum generated from the previous day’s discussions, the event brought together an esteemed lineup of speakers and experts to delve deeper into the frontiers of AI research and its implications for societal transformation.

Giacomo Ricciotti, Director of the Italian Trade Agency in Ljubljana, kicked off the proceedings with an opening address, setting the stage for a day of insightful presentations and collaborative exchanges.

Emilija Stojmenova Duh, Minister for Digital Transformation, followed suit with an introduction that underscored the profound societal impact of AI and the imperative of responsible AI governance.

The day’s agenda featured a series of engaging sessions, beginning with “Leonardo meets Vega,” where Claudio Arlandini from CINECA showcased the convergence of high-performance computing (HPC) and AI, elucidating the transformative potential of these technologies in driving innovation across industries. The session was complemented by presentation “Vega meets Leonardo,” from Aleš Zemljak, providing insights into the operational aspects of HPC Vega at IZUM and highlighting the collaborative efforts aimed at pushing the boundaries of AI research and application.

Luca Bortolussi from the University of Trieste then took the stage to spotlight the thriving AI and Data Science ecosystem in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia (FVG) region, offering valuable insights gleaned from research endeavours and their translation into real-world innovation.

The dynamic roundtable discussion that ensued brought together key stakeholders from academia, industry, and government, including Claudio Arlandini, Jan Jona Javoršek, Tomi Ilijaš, and Luca Bortolussi, moderated by Jadran Lenarčič. The panellists engaged in a spirited exchange, exploring strategies to foster collaborative research initiatives and harness the potential of AI for societal benefit.

The event also provided a platform for budding entrepreneurs to showcase their innovations during the pitch session, with Alessandro Pretz and Chiara Calamanti presenting their ventures.

In a nod to cultural exchange and collaboration director, Zavod GO!2025, Mija Lorbek had a presentation on the European Capital of Culture: Nova Gorica – Gorizia GO!2025, underscoring the importance of cultural initiatives in fostering cross-border cooperation and community engagement.

The event was brought to a close with a few words from Verena Vittur, Director of the Italian Institute of Culture in Ljubljana, followed by Jurij Giacomelli, who offered closing remarks and expressed gratitude to all participants for their contributions to the fruitful exchange of ideas and collaborations throughout the day.

Following this, attendees transitioned to enjoy a networking lunch, where they continued discussions in a more informal setting.

The B2B matchmaking sessions after lunch provided opportunities for startups to forge new partnerships and explore potential collaborations in a structured environment. These sessions further enriched the exchange of insights and ideas, fostering valuable connections among attendees.