CALL FOR THE SELECTION OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE FBK RESEARCH CENTER FOR MACHINE INTELLIGENCE (MI)

About Fondazione Bruno Kessler

Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK) - - is a leading non-profit, public research institution with an international profile, recognized for the quality of its research in science, technology, and social and human sciences, as well as for its high economic and social impact. FBK is renowned for its focus on interdisciplinarity and complexity, and it is organized into various research centers, hosting researchers from over 70 countries.

The goals pursued by Fondazione Bruno Kessler can be summarized as follows: broadening the horizon of its research and social responsibility, enhancing the integration of its research and innovation activities, increasing its appeal especially to young researchers, working towards a new generational and gender balance, and shifting the skills of scientific management towards a "people-oriented" managerial approach.

With its state‑of‑the‑art facilities spanning 3,500 square meters of laboratories and scientific infrastructures, and a vibrant community of over 700 researchers, 200 doctoral students, and 200 visiting fellows and doctoral candidates, Fondazione Bruno Kessler acts as a scientific and technological hub, its premises and platforms hosting a lively ecosystem of co-located ventures, spin‑offs, projects, and training.

Research Center for Machine Intelligence

Within this context, the establishment of the new Center for Machine Intelligence (MI) represents a strategic step for Fondazione Bruno Kessler in addressing the scientific challenge of the next generation of intelligent systems and agents capable of perceiving, analyzing, predicting, and acting within complex and dynamic physical environments. It enables this challenge to be addressed in a structured way by bringing together complementary expertise in perception, learning, and reasoning, along with capabilities in orchestrating distributed systems and intelligent infrastructures. Within the Center’s strategic vision, Machine Intelligence for complex physical systems is grounded in the integration of perception capabilities (2D/3D), predictive analytics, IoT architectures, and interconnected autonomous systems. This creates a framework for developing AI solutions able to understand the physical environment, anticipate its evolution, and support autonomous decision‑making in complex systems, while adapting to the heterogeneity of real‑world operational contexts. In this context, well‑established application areas include the processing and enhancement of data collected from aerial and satellite sensors, as well as from industrial systems and intelligent agricultural machinery, alongside AI applications in weather and energy. Artificial intelligence is measured not only by the quality of data analysis but also by its ability to manage complex dynamics in real time. Within this broader picture, robotics represents a key area for long‑term exploration and experimentation, a field that is gaining increasing relevance in the international landscape of research and technological innovation.

Director of Research Center

FBK is seeking a Director for the Research Center for Machine Intelligence (MI). The Director will provide both scientific and managerial leadership within a high‑value, collaborative team environment. We invite applications from scientists with a strong and recognized scientific reputation, as well as demonstrated managerial skills and strategic vision. The ideal candidate will be able to manage research and innovation aimed at developing next‑generation intelligent systems and agents for complex physical environments. This role involves guiding developments across the Center’s units to deliver high‑impact AI solutions in perception, learning, and reasoning for industrial systems, digital agriculture, aerospace sensing and energy applications, while driving long‑term strategic exploration in robotics. Candidates should have proven managerial qualifications, significant national and international experience, and a well‑established network within their scientific and professional communities.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide scientific and managerial leadership for the Research Center for Machine Intelligence.
• Guide the development of AI solutions in perception, learning, and reasoning across the Center’s units.
• Drive strategic exploration and advancement in robotics, digital agriculture, aerospace sensing, and energy applications.
• Ensure high‑impact outcomes for industrial systems and other complex physical environments.
• Foster collaboration and promote the center’s vision within the broader scientific community.

Key Qualifications

• Strong and recognized scientific reputation in AI or related fields.
• Proof of managerial experience and capacity to lead a multidisciplinary team.
• Significant national and international experience in research and innovation.
• Well‑established network within scientific and professional communities.
• Strategic vision and ability to articulate and advance the center’s mission.