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Civilian and defense applications of Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and High Performance Computing

The Embassy of Italy, in collaboration with the Department of Science and Innovation and other relevant South African Departments and institutions, is organizing a two day workshop (3-4 June 2021) to be held in Pretoria, (South Africa).

Date: 3-4 June 2021

Venue: International Convention Centre – Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Pretoria & online

To discover more about the event and to register: http://bigdata.eventi.co.za/

COVID pandemic has called for a faster transition towards the digitalization of services and data as key factor to manage societal needs, sustain economic growth, develop local communities, balance inequalities. The digital transformation is ignited by the creation and use of scientific hubs and infrastructures dedicated to Artificial Intelligence (AI), High Performance Computing (HPC) and Big Data. Digital infrastructures are developed by establishing key collaborations between public institutions and private enterprises. The goal is to create state of the art, world class national modern hubs under a coordinated strategic perspective. South Africa and Italy are currently moving along this direction.

In the field of civilian applications, the “International Foundation Big Data and Artificial Intelligence for Human Development” (IFAB), has been recently established in Bologna (Italy) for the development and promotion of interdisciplinary research based on AI, HPC and Big Data. IFAB and Big Data Association represent an ecosystem of organisations which includes, among others, the following bodies, whose representatives will participate as speakers today: CINECA, CMCC, IOR, LEPIDA Scpa, UNIBO, UNIMORE.

Other Italian private and public enterprises offer geo-information services and applications through platforms in several sectors: from maritime and coastal surveillance to assets and infrastructures management and monitoring, provision of fast geo information contents for emergency management and business intelligence to product and services for agriculture and forestry. AI, HPC, storage and management of Big data also promote social and economic growth helping users, first SMMEs, to match their needs with available technologies.

Other applications include the health sector, such as healthcare emergency where distributed Response and Monitoring of Epidemics in the society are managed through an ecosystem of services based on the hybrid satellite-ground (i.e. using satellite, mobile networks, etc.) high-speed communication infrastructure. These services may support screening, prevention, monitoring and health logistics in response to serious emergencies such as COVID 19, thus offering services for the Civil protection and the Health institutions.

International collaborations are a key element for the effective development of such innovative and strategic initiatives.