Discover Trentino: A Beacon of AI Research and Industrial Innovation in the Heart of the Alps 

In the heart of the Italian Alps, known in Italy for its quality of life and famous world-wide for the blend of natural beauty resulting from the encounter between the majestic and picturesque Dolomites with the charm of the lakes and green agricultural valleys rich in history, the Trentino province has become a continuously growing hotspot for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital transformation in Italy and Europe.  

Trentino emerges as a unique, peculiar territory, which has been able to project into its industrial fabric, as well as into the world of research, that cultural mix that has characterized its history of contamination between the quality and creativity inherited from the Italian culture and the pragmatism and search for efficiency inherited from the Germanic tradition. In fact, its history, identity, and autonomy made it a pioneering territory of the european mentality of collaboration and exchange. 

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Research and academic excellence in Trentino 

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Trentino's strong research culture is rooted in the scientific excellence of the University of Trento and the region’s leading research institutions particularly the Bruno Kessler Foundation and the Edmund Mach Foundation as well as in its capacity to transform knowledge into tangible value. A key contributor to this process is the HIT Foundation, which plays a strategic role in fostering concrete impact on the local economic and social fabric through technology and knowledge transfer activities. 

As just mentioned, at the core of Trentino’s AI landscape lies the Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK), a research institute with over 400 researchers and more than 11 research centers, several of which are fully dedicated to AI, machine learning, natural language technologies, and autonomous systems. FBK has been a pioneer in AI since the early 1980s, long before the recent explosion of interest in the field, having native research division exploring the areas of automatic reasoning systems, interactive sensory system, language, cognitive and communication technologies. FBK’s research activities result in over 500 scientific publications per year, and FBK frequently ranks among Italy’s top research institutions in terms of scientific output and impact. Its AI-driven initiatives address areas ranging from robotics and smart manufacturing applications to public administration use cases, from smart cities to health tech, from the development of innovative IoT/sensing devices to big data analytics and complex system modeling always with a strong emphasis on ethical and responsible AI integration. As a demonstration of its central role in the innovation of the industrial and productive fabric using AI, FBK is involved in two of the European TEF initiatives: AI-Matters and AgrifoodTEF. FBK is partner of AI REDGIO 5.0 and also plays a key role in some flagship European projects and is part of the main AI networks, including: AI4AI, a project aimed at building the first European AI platform and ecosystem; TAILOR and Humane-AINet, two of the four European AI excellence networks; AIPlan4EU and AI@EDGE, two important projects aimed at consolidating AI platforms by integrating automatic planning techniques and edge computing; VISION, the strategic initiative aimed at keeping Europe at the forefront of AI development. 

This scientific strength is mirrored by the University of Trento (UniTN), consistently ranked among the top Italian universities for research quality. With a focus on ICT and data science, Industrial and Material Engineering, Mechatronics and Cognitive Sciences, the university offers a dynamic environment where fundamental AI research is closely tied to real-world applications. Its Department of Information Engineering and Computer Science (DISI) hosts over 100 faculty and researchers, many of whom are involved in EU-funded AI and robotics projects. The university’s master’s programs in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Systems attract students from all over Europe, helping to build a talent pipeline essential to the region’s innovation economy. Through the CIBIO department of the University and the historic Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM foundation), Trentino also stands out in the world of life sciences, biotechnologies, biomaterials and agrifood including AI applications to these sectors. UniTN actively participates in several European AI projects, contributing to advancements in various AI domains. Notable projects include:​ ELIAS (European Lighthouse of AI for Sustainability), coordinated by UniTN and aiming to position Europe as a leader in AI research focused on sustainability ; ELSA (on which UniTN collaborates), a virtual center of excellence dedicated to safe and secure AI; AI4TRUST and TANGO with different focus on AI-based technologies in managing and safeguarding information and data flows and in enhancing trustworthiness in digital information; JuLIA, where UniTN focuses on AI applications in healthcare, (analyzing their impact on health and other fundamental rights) and ARCHYTAS on AI applied to defence. A lively industrial fabric and a territory devoted to innovationA lively industrial fabric and a territory devoted to innovation 

This research excellence is also well reflected by the industrial fabric of Trentino. The region is home to over 120 tech-oriented companies operating in AI, robotics, advanced manufacturing, and digital technologies. The ICT sector alone generates more than €1.2 billion in annual turnover, with a steady growth rate above the national average. Companies in the most various sectors, such as enterprise software, intelligent sensors, mechatronics, healthcare and medical devices, smart mobility solutions, are actively integrating AI into products and services, serving both national and international markets. 

Key roles in supporting this ecosystem are played by two closely tied entities created by the local Autonomous Province Government: Fondazione Hub Innovazione Trentino (HIT), that is partner and representative of the territory in AI REDGIO 5.0, and Trentino Sviluppo S.p.A.  

HIT is the foundation dedicated to transforming the research results into innovation opportunities promoting the economic and social development of Trentino through technology-transfer activities. Noteworthy is the role of HIT in representing Trentino’s innovation ecosystem in the AI pilot of Vanguard Initiatives and in 5 of the EIT KICs, promoting AI adoption in several contexts.  

Trentino Sviluppo S.p.A.  is called to support innovation, entrepreneurship growth, and collaboration among local businesses. The regional innovation infrastructures run by Trentino Sviluppo provide financial tools, startup incubation, and access to testbeds such as the ProM Facility a highly specialized mechatronics lab offering SMEs access to robotics, AI prototyping, and Industry 4.0 tools. These initiatives aim to accelerate the digital transformation of traditional industries, from precision manufacturing to agri-food and energy.  

Trentino’s commitment to digital innovation also extends to adjacent technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), edge computing, and robotics, making the region an ideal testbed for the integrated AI solutions envisioned by AI REDGIO 5.0. For instance, FBK and the University of Trento collaborate on projects involving AI-powered drones, autonomous ground vehicles, human-robot collaboration, intelligent sensor networks for environmental monitoring, and industrial automation. 

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The (European) Digital Innovation Hubs as drivers of transformation pivoting on AI   

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But it is not all about cutting-edge technologies and applied research. Supporting this vibrant ecosystem with the goal of building awareness and innovation opportunities among local businesses, especially among small and medium-sized manufacturers, is the DIH Trentino – Digital Innovation Hub. The DIH Trentino is an initiative of Confindustria Trento with HIT as a territorial partner. The DIH offers technology transfer services for companies and, in line with the indications of the Italian Government's Transition Plan 4.0, promotes digitalization and the introduction into production processes of the most relevant technologies developed by research centers in the area. Further than connecting enterprises with research centers, the DIH acts as a regional one-stop-shop to help local SMEs in adopting digital technologies; it offers various services, from the more traditional ones (such as training programs, funding opportunities and scouting, and technology testing environments) to the more innovative ones (such as open innovation challenges, AI preparation programs on processes and data management, compliance assessment). This approach is further extended to the Public Administration by the local EDIH called SoE DIPS (Digitalization and Innovation of Public Services), participated by the same actors (FBK, UniTN, HIT, Confindustria Trento, EIT Digital, among others).  

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Conclusion 

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What makes Trentino truly unique is its balanced approach combining cutting-edge innovation with sustainability, ethics, and a deep respect for the local territory and communities. Nestled between the two productive locomotives of Italy, Lombardy and Veneto, with its strong foundation in AI research, a dynamic and expanding tech economy, and a spirit of cooperation between public and private sectors, Trentino is poised to become a reference point for regional innovation in Europe. Trentino offers a living example of how even a small, mountainous area can play a big role in digital technologies and business transformation and is perfectly aligned with the AI REDGIO 5.0 mission of enabling and shaping a human-centric, green, and resilient Industry 5.0 transformation across Europe’s regions.