By transferring knowledge and technologies to society and industry, IIT's inventions generate income to support further research and reward inventors.
Research
IIT's research results aim to benefit humanity and promote prosperity
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Strategic plan
IIT's scientific activity is based on a strategic plan, updated every six years
The 2018-2023 Strategic Plan is organized into four research domains: Computational Science, Life Technologies (LifeTech), Nanomaterials, and Robotics. Independent Principal Investigators (PIs) lead research lines coordinated under these research domains.
Inter-domain Research
Facilities
IIT facilities contribute to the development of the Strategic Plan. Highly qualified facility staff provide scientific and technical assistance for basic and applied research using state-of-the-art equipment. Each facility offers researchers and students a wide range of services, from essential, routine to more advanced technical and consulting services.
Initiatives
Initiatives are visionary research directions that capitalize on IIT's unique standing and excellent research infrastructure to break new ground. Initiatives contribute to IIT's positioning in their respective fields, by training young scientists, and creating the necessary critical mass. Initiatives also address the major societal challenges outlined in the Strategic Plan, including sustainability, healthcare, and the aging population.
iCog
An open-source initiative to advance our knowledge of human cognition by designing, building, and sharing a common cognitive architecture for an embodied artificial system, such as the iCub humanoid robot.
iMat
The principal investigators of the various IIT research lines apply artificial intelligence (AI) to new challenges in the field of materials science.
iRNA
Focuses on non-coding RNAs whose knowledge has experienced the most rapid growth in recent years, thanks to the advent of omic technologies and next-generation sequencing.
Robotics for a better life
A multidisciplinary approach to advance research in robotics and translate the robotics domain objective of making robots self-aware, adaptable, and interactive into component technologies.
Sustainability
The Initiative clusters and coordinates the various research activities under new and common technological deliverables, which tackle specific sustainability goals of global economical, societal and environmental importance.
VISPI
An initiative to visualize molecular interactions and electronic processes at nano-interfaces, with the final target to deliver new technologies, which combine efficiency, sustainability, and full integration into everyday life.
Moonshot projects
Ambitious plans designed to achieve seemingly impossible goals. By pushing the boundaries of knowledge, these projects help shape the future. Current moonshot projects at IIT include iCub and SPACEIIT.
iCub
iCub is a research-grade humanoid robot designed to support the development and testing of embodied AI algorithms, making it the perfect companion for robotics laboratories.
SPACEIIT
SPACEIIT is the IIT hub for interdisciplinary and innovative space technology.