Sicily allocates €16 million to Ismett for AI-driven health research

The Regione Siciliana has approved a grant of €15,968,676.26 (nearly €16 million) for the Irccs Ismett hospital in Palermo to fund the RI‑HEALTH project – a research infrastructure that will apply artificial‑intelligence techniques to precision medicine. The financing comes from the regional FESR 2021‑2027 programme and is part of the €109 million SORI call for research and infrastructure. The decree was signed by Dario Cartabellotta, director‑general of the regional Department of Productive Activities.

RI‑HEALTH is a partnership between Ismett and the Fondazione Ri. Med, with a total budget of €19,960,845.33. It aims to reinforce the emerging biomedical hub in Carini, within the metropolitan area of Palermo, by creating an open research platform that can attract international scientists and facilitate technology transfer to local SMEs. President Renato Schifani and regional assessor Edy Tamajo highlighted that the investment will boost Sicily’s competitiveness, generate high‑skill jobs and promote innovation in the health sector. "Supporting projects of international level creates new opportunities for the territory and makes Sicily more competitive in high‑tech sectors," Schifani said, while Tamajo added that AI‑based medicine will "revolutionise prevention, diagnosis and treatment."