Artificial Intelligence represents a major opportunity for technological, economic and social development. At the same time, it requires an aware and interdisciplinary approach, capable of understanding its benefits while addressing its limits, challenges and implications across different application contexts.
Interdepartmental Center
ToCAI
ToCAI – Tor Vergata Center for Artificial Intelligence is the Interdepartmental Center of the University of Rome Tor Vergata dedicated to the development of research, education and innovation activities across the different areas of design and application of Artificial Intelligence.
13
Departments already involved
~140
Members of the Center
Mission
The Center was established with the aim of integrating AI-related research expertise and activities already present across the University, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and the development of shared projects across diverse scientific, technological and cultural domains.
To join the ToCAI community and receive information about the Center’s activities, interested researchers and staff can complete the expression of interest form.
Fill in the affiliation formThe Center
Motivations, aims and structure.
ToCAI was established as an interdepartmental initiative with the goal of supporting the system of AI-related expertise and research activities already present within the University, from foundational mathematical and computational studies to applications across scientific, institutional, industrial and social domains.
The Center aims to serve as a useful point of reference for fostering integration across disciplines, supporting the development of shared projects, and strengthening the scientific and cultural presence of AI within the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
The Center is hosted by the Department of Enterprise Engineering and originates from the transformation of the former CLaK Center (Cognition, Language and Knowledge), founded in 2014 by Prof. Maria Teresa Pazienza. ToCAI is structured around a scientific board and thematic groups dedicated to its main areas of activity.
Main objectives and activities
An ecosystem of researchers, knowledge, resources and projects aimed at coordinating and strengthening networking among people, skills and ideas, supporting research, and promoting a scientifically sound and socially responsible AI culture.
Community and networking
Expanding the community of proponents, fostering interaction among groups with different cultures and vocations, and supporting an initial mapping of ongoing activities and research within the University.
Research support
Contributing to technological orientation, supporting the definition of potential innovative projects, and assisting experimentation and funding initiatives related to AI.
Education and impact
Contributing to decisions related to AI education, the adoption of innovative teaching methodologies, and the strengthening of relationships with institutions, public administration and the productive sector.
Working Groups (In progress)
Researchers and research groups form the scientific units of reference and progressively contribute to the development of the Center.
Coordinator: Prof. Roberto Basili
Vice-Coordinator: Prof. Stefano Salsano
Working Groups: tbd
Research Areas
ToCAI’s priority areas of activity involve themes and research domains that cut across the University’s Departments and Macroareas.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: mathematical and computational foundations
Theoretical foundations, mathematical models, learning algorithms and computational methods for AI.
Generative AI: methodologies, agents and learning
Generative methodologies, agent-based systems, adaptive learning and new architectures for content generation and decision-making.
Foundational Large Language Models: linguistic aspects and multimodality
Foundational LLMs, linguistic aspects, knowledge representation, multimodality and human-machine interaction.
Engineering of AI applications to Medicine
AI applications to medicine, clinical decision support, diagnostics, health data analysis and digital health. Digital twins for the modeling of biological and clinical phenomena.
Artificial Intelligence for Natural Sciences
AI models for physical and biological sciences, modeling of complex phenomena, intelligent analysis of experimental data and dynamics of phenomena.
Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence
Epistemological foundations of AI, relationships between AI, cognitive sciences and philosophy of mind; theoretical and methodological implications of using AI in humanities and scientific research; AI ethics and governance.
AI and Security
Security of AI systems, cybersecurity, robustness, reliability, data protection and resilience of digital infrastructures.
AI for Good: beneficial uses of AI in organisations, institutions and social communities
Beneficial uses of AI in organisations, institutions and social communities, with specific attention to impact, ethics and sustainability.
Normative aspects of AI
Legal, regulatory and ethical aspects of AI, governance, compliance, responsibility and social sustainability of intelligent technologies.
Education
ToCAI aims to contribute to the growth of skills and awareness regarding the principles and impacts of AI, to the evolution of AI-based teaching, and to the adoption of innovative educational methodologies by connecting different expertise and initiatives across the University.
Teaching and orientation
The Center will support discussion on AI-related educational choices, promoting a shared and interdisciplinary vision of the skills required by students, researchers and faculty members.
Evolving section
This area will be progressively enriched with educational initiatives, seminars, cross-disciplinary activities, professional development opportunities and dedicated pathways on Artificial Intelligence topics.
Contacts
For information about the Center, collaborations and research activities, please contact the scientific coordination.
Vice-Coordinator
Prof. Stefano Salsano
University of Rome Tor Vergata
Email: stefano.salsano@uniroma2.it