Italy launches IT4LIA AI Factory supercomputing platform for industry

The IT4LIA AI Factory, based at the DAMA‑Tecnopolo in Bologna, has entered its operational phase as a national supercomputing infrastructure dedicated to artificial‑intelligence research and industrial applications. Backed by the Ministry of University and Research, the National Cybersecurity Agency and the European Commission, the platform combines more than 37 million processor hours, over 20 petabytes of data, and a portfolio of 27 AI services. In its first year it supported 500 projects, with 460 still active, covering sectors such as climate forecasting, agritech, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing.

Key outputs include the WaveMat‑Lite digital library for vibration‑control materials used in automotive, aerospace and robotics, and datasets like SensoDat (32 000 autonomous‑vehicle test cases) and UAV Testing Competition for flight‑data standardisation. The AI Factory offers free access to startups, SMEs, public administrations and academic institutes, alongside bespoke services, training programmes, hackathons and internships aimed at boosting AI‑driven automation, predictive maintenance and sustainable production across Italy’s industrial landscape.