Publishing date: 15 October 2026 Immagine notizia Immagine Paragrafo The University of Insubria is among the key participants in the fourth edition of the Digital Innovation Forum, taking place from October 14 to 16 at Villa Erba in Cernobbio. The Forum is one of the leading events dedicated to digital innovation policies, industrial competitiveness, and the development of future technologies. Rector Maria Cristina Pierro participated today, Thursday, October 15, in the panel discussion “Who Will Be the Architects of Technological Innovation Over the Next 10 Years?”, focusing on the evolution of university education, emerging skills, and the relationship between research, innovation, and the labor market.The discussion featured Elena Maria Baralis, Vice-Rector at Politecnico di Torino; Silvia Conforto, Vice-Rector for Technology Transfer Policies at Roma Tre University; Davide Dattoli, Founder and Executive Chairman of Talent Garden; Euclide Della Vista, National Coordinator of the ICT sector within the ITS Academy system; Mario Carpentieri, Vice-Rector for Research at Politecnico di Bari; and Fabio Petroni, Group Leader at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Rome. On the same day, Alan Baratz, CEO of D-Wave Quantum, addressed the opportunities offered by quantum computing for Italy's industrial sector.During her speech, the Rector highlighted how artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and the growing availability of data are profoundly transforming the way knowledge is produced, transmitted, and used, making it necessary to rethink university education and curricula.Universities are called upon not only to provide disciplinary knowledge but also to develop the ability to integrate different fields of expertise, address complex problems, and use emerging technologies critically and ethically. This transformation requires innovative teaching methods capable of bridging theory and practice through laboratories, research activities, and interdisciplinary projects.This approach is also reflected in the establishment of the Teaching and Learning Center at the University of Insubria, a dedicated center promoting innovative educational approaches aligned with the needs of a region undergoing continuous technological transformation.“Scientific research and technological innovation in the service of excellence in university education” is the principle outlined by the Rector to address the challenges of future education, preparing new generations not only to use existing tools but also to shape and guide the technologies yet to come.On Friday, October 16, at 1:00 PM, the Digital Innovation Forum will be followed by an event of particular significance for the local area and the University of Insubria: the inauguration of Volta B1, Italy's first industrial quantum annealer, equipped with more than 4,400 superconducting qubits and regarded as one of Europe's most advanced quantum computing infrastructures.The ceremony will take place at Villa Saporiti in Como, with a live connection to Villa Erba, as part of the celebrations marking the bicentenary of Alessandro Volta's death.The initiative represents a strategic opportunity for the development of scientific research, advanced education, and collaboration between universities, institutions, and businesses. In this context, the University of Insubria has established the Alessandro Volta Center for Quantum Computing – CAV Insubria, appointing Professor Ugo Moschella, Full Professor of Theoretical Physics, as its Scientific Director.The Center aims to provide researchers and early-career scholars with a dedicated environment for advanced scientific activities, the development of interdisciplinary collaborations, and the exploration of new applications of quantum technologies.Rector Maria Cristina Pierro emphasized the scientific and educational significance of the initiative, stressing that the value of a major research infrastructure lies not only in its technological capabilities but, above all, in the skills and opportunities it can generate for students, doctoral candidates, researchers, and local partners.Quantum computing and high-performance computing will foster integration across physics, chemistry, life sciences, quantitative modeling, and industrial applications, opening up new possibilities for solving complex problems and developing innovative methodologies.Major research infrastructures must also serve as major educational infrastructures. This vision guides the University of Insubria's commitment to quantum technologies, with the aim of contributing to the scientific, economic, and industrial development of the region and strengthening Italy's competitiveness in cutting-edge technological sectors.For the University of Insubria, participation in the Digital Innovation Forum and involvement in the Volta B1 project represent two interconnected steps in a shared strategy, placing scientific research, the development of new skills, and engagement with the local community at the heart of efforts to address the challenges of innovation.The full program is available on the Digital Innovation Forum 2026 website.