Keynote speakers

Francesco Profumo is a distinguished Italian engineer, academic, and public administrator with a long and impactful career in education, research, and leadership across both public and private sectors. He holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from the Politecnico di Torino, where he served as Dean of Engineering, later becoming Rector, and currently holds the title of Emeritus Professor of Electrical Machines.

Profumo was Minister of Education, University and Research in the Italian government from 2011 to 2013. He also served as Chairman of the National Research Council (CNR), contributing significantly to Italy’s scientific and technological development.

Over the years, he has held numerous prominent positions, including Chairman of Iren SpA, Inwit SpA, ACRI (Associazione Fondazioni e Casse di Risparmio Italiane), and the Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo. He was also Chairman and later Honorary Chairman of the Fondazione Bruno Kessler in Trento. Currently, he serves as Chairman of ISYBank, Quadrivio Group, and Foundation Reggio Children. He is also Chairman of the Business School ESCP (Torino Campus), Chairman of Uni-Italia, and Rector of OPIT University. In addition, he is a member of the European Innovation Council (EIC) Board.

Known for his dedication to innovation, education reform, and institutional excellence, Francesco Profumo continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of academia and industry both in Italy and across Europe.

Rocco De Nicola is a prominent Italian computer scientist with an extensive career in academia and research, marked by international collaboration and scientific leadership. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Edinburgh and has served as Professor of Computer Science and Rector of the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca. He is currently affiliated with the Institute of Informatics and Telematics of the National Research Council (CNR) in Pisa and actively collaborates with the National Cybersecurity Laboratory of the CINI Consortium.

Over the years, Professor De Nicola has contributed to both academia and industry through positions at Olivetti, Italtel, the Istituto di Elaborazione dell'Informazione of the CNR in Pisa, Sapienza University of Rome, and the University of Florence. He has held visiting professorships at leading European institutions, including the Technische Universität Berlin, the École Normale Supérieure in Paris, the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya in Barcelona, and the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich. He has also been a visiting researcher at the Microsoft Research Centre in Cambridge, United Kingdom, and maintains an active collaboration with the Gran Sasso Science Institute (GSSI) in L’Aquila.

An internationally recognized scholar, Professor De Nicola has authored more than 250 publications in top-tier journals and volumes. He is a member of the Academia Europaea and a Fellow of the European Association for Theoretical Computer Science (EATCS). In recognition of his contributions to science, he was awarded the title of Commendatore of the Italian Republic in 2005 by the President of the Republic.

Currently, he serves as President of Gruppo 2003, an association of 120 leading Italian scientists identified among the world’s most cited researchers by the Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers index. He is also Editor-in-Chief Emeritus of the Journal of Logical and Algebraic Methods in Programming (Elsevier), and serves as Associate Editor for Mathematical Structures in Computer Science (Cambridge University Press), Computer Science (Springer Nature), and Electronic Proceedings in Theoretical Computer Science (Elsevier).

Professor De Nicola continues to shape the field of computer science through his research, editorial leadership, and dedication to promoting scientific excellence in Italy and beyond.

Professor Agnis Stibe is a globally recognized authority in human artificial intelligence and hyper-performance, whose visionary work lies at the intersection of human behavior, transformative technology, social engineering, and entrepreneurial innovation. As a professor, researcher, and keynote speaker, he inspires global audiences with thought-provoking insights into how human-centered AI and digital innovation can foster sustainable development and social advancement.

Professor Stibe is best known for his pioneering research on persuasive technologies, which has garnered recognition from leading academic institutions and global enterprises. His contributions to the MIT Media Lab have been particularly influential, where he delved into the science of enhancing human collaboration and productivity through advanced technological systems.

With a deep commitment to bridging theory and practice, he collaborates with governments and businesses worldwide to design systems that promote well-being, inclusivity, and societal resilience. His strategic guidance is highly sought after in the spheres of policy-making and innovation strategy, as he works to unify human and artificial intelligence to address some of the world’s most urgent challenges.

Professor Stibe's work continues to shape the future of digital transformation, placing humanity at the center of technological progress. Through his leadership and research, he champions a vision of a world where technology is a force for good—empowering people, strengthening communities, and driving collective achievement on a global scale.