More than 250 researchers work in FBK’s laboratories located in Trento’s Povo neighborhood. Several Research Units operate within the two centers:

• Information technology
• Materials and microsystems

Information technology activities focus on the design and testing of software systems, data management, and human-machine interaction such as vision and language technology. Our applications cover public and corporate services, health care automation, assistance for persons with disabilities, as well as applications for banking, communication, cultural heritage, avionics, and space.

Innovative materials, microsystems and intelligent sensors constitute the main research areas of the materials and microsystems area. Applications go from medical physics, pharmaceuticals, domotics, automotive, the environment, and cultural heritage.

The Microtechnologies Laboraory (MT-Lab) is a significant part of the research facilities. MTLab is fully equipped to design silicon devices such as microsensors e microactuators and produce them in series.

The centers are the beneficiaries of the experience gained from more than 30 years of activities of ITC-irst (the Center for Scientific and Technological Research of the Autonomous Province of Trento).

The centers have a mandate to seek international cooperation and promote collaborations and activities with international research centers, local research centers and the university, and public and private laboratories across Italy.

In keeping with its mission, the Foundation works to maintain a virtuous circle in which scientific research pairs with technological transfer to create industrial projects, to support small and medium sized businesses and to spin off or start up new companies.

The philosophy behind FBK’s scientific and technological research is belief in fundamental concepts such as conducting the basic research behind products, keeping a critical mass focused on projects with innovative themes, and taking care of patents and licensing.