ITALIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Genova, Italy

Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) is a scientific research centre established by Italian law in 2003 in order to promote excellence in both basic and applied research and to facilitate national economic development. IIT scientific activities started in 2006 with a very strong approach to technology transfer. IIT staff is of more than 1500 people: about 85% is dedicated to research, 41% are women and 59% men, and the average age is of 35 years. About half of the researchers (44%) come from abroad: 29% are scientists from more than 50 foreign countries and 15% are Italian researchers who have come back to Italy after a professional experience abroad. IIT has a vast experience in managing and supervising research projects: its portfolio is more than 340 external funded research projects, 157 of which financed by EU funding programs (FP7 and H2020) - 18 are funded by European Research Council (ERC). IIT has produced more than 8500 publications and 211 inventions resulting in more than 500 patent applications. Its research activity led to the creation of 17 spin-offs, with additional 26 under due diligence. Research is carried out in the Central Research laboratory in Genoa (IIT headquarters), in 11 satellite centres across Italy and in 2 outstations in US. IIT scientific vision is interdisciplinary, based on the concept of “translating evolution into technology”, that is mimicking natural solutions to develop new technologies. Currently IIT is conducting its new scientific plan (2018-2023) developing 4 strategic research domains: Robotics, Nanomaterials, Technologies for Life Science, and Computational Sciences. The main goal is to produce technologies that will have a positive impact on some important societal challenges, such as sustainability and the environment, healthcare and aging society, also reflecting EU priorities. This approach promotes the creation of joint-labs and research agreements with industrial partners, universities, and international research centres. IIT has a strong focus on precision medicine, and on the translation of nanomaterials into biomedical applications.

Role In Project

IIT will contribute to the development of nanodiamond-based hyperpolarisation methods. Specifically, IIT will

explore and optimise optical methods to polarise defects in nanostructured diamond, and to transfer polarisation to nuclei in the diamond lattice and at the surface of nanodiamonds.