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A Centre of Excellence in Scientific Research is founded in Trento
The Italian Government and Microsoft collaborate to give a new impetus to research in Italy, through important investments directed towards the creation of a cutting edge Science and Technology centre in Trento, in partnership with the University of Trento and the Provincia Autonoma di Trento
 Prague, February 2nd, 2005 - Italy plays nowadays a main role in the European scientific scenario, thanks to a news international initiative based on innovation and advanced research. In this context, at the Government Leaders Forum today it was announced the creation of a multi-disciplinary centre of excellence in research and innovation, which will be established in the next few months in Trento.
This centre follows an agreement signed today in Prague between the Minister of Innovation and Technology Lucio Stanca, the Minister of Education, University and Research Letizia Moratti, the Chairman and founder of Microsoft Bill Gates, the Rector of the University of Trento Davide Bassi and Gianluca Salvatori, local authority for Research and Innovation for the Provincia Autonoma di Trento.
This represents an important step in giving Italy a boost in sectors critical to the convergence between sciences, medicine, biology, genetics and Information Technology.
The new Microsoft Research - University of Trento Centre for Computational and Systems Biology, founded by contributions from the Italian government and the Provincia Autonoma di Trento and with cultural and scientific contributions from the University of Trento, is the concrete response to the need expressed by the political and economic sectors to give a new impetus to Italy's development through innovation and research, to attract investments from foreign enterprises and to revitalize the country's competitiveness.
The centre's contribution to this is focused on the development of studies and programs that are able to surpass basic classical research activities and will lead to new scientific discoveries that will have a great impact on society and medicine, such as, for example, better understanding the causes of serious and common illnesses, identifying new therapies and advanced vaccines. The research in computational technology carried out by Microsoft and the University of Trento in the converging areas of IT, Biotech and Medicine, and its applications within the various sectors of interest at the centre, will create a unique asset to the world of research both on a national and international level.
The centre, firmly wanted and supported in its starting phase by Microsoft Italy, will make use of the work of qualified Italian resources such as professional researchers and post-graduate specialists. It will also create opportunities for PhDs to specialize in various areas of interest.
"This initiative will support the establishment of new kinds of converged scientific research," said Letizia Moratti, Italian Minister of Education, University and Research. "An interdisciplinary approach will be used in selecting the projects for industrial research, technological innovation, and the projects for the training of highly qualified researchers and the creation of new hi-tech enterprises to be financed." Moratti added: "The foundation of this centre in Trento is a very good news for the status quo of research in Italy, which saw a growth in public investments (in 2004 expenses for research set at around 0,6% of GDP) and in the number of researchers, which increased by 7,000 units in the public sector and 4,500 units in the private sector, between 2000 and 2004."
"Technological innovation is perhaps the greatest challenge facing today's developed economies, our country in particular. This initiative," stated Lucio Stanca, Italian Minister of Innovation and Technology, "represents a significant step in research and industrial development right at the intersection of two areas with enormous potential, those of life sciences and digital technology. It will have important fallout for science, industry and employment. The fact that a large multinational company in the field of innovation has chosen Italy and the University of Trento in which to establish a centre of excellence is once more proof that our country has the qualities necessary to compete successfully in future challenges."
"The need to revitalize techno-scientific research in Italy continues to clearly and strongly emerge from the socio-political debate. President Ciampi himself has declared many times his firm and earnest support of this idea. For this reason, the agreement signed today between the Ministers, the University, the Provincia di Trento, and Microsoft is going in the right direction. In fact, the new centre represents a concrete step in effectively promoting the collaboration between the public and private sectors, not only in support of Italy and its economic and industrial fabric, but also in contributing to objectives outlined at a European level in the Lisbon Agenda," declared Umberto Paolucci, Vice President of Microsoft Corporation. "We thank the government and the academic community for having believed in this important project and for having initiated a common path towards innovation, recognizing the effort and attention that Microsoft has always put into research and technological development."
 The high quality of research and the original and innovative cut of studies in Bioinformatics as driven by the University of Trento, beside being the main scientific area of interest for the future centre, caught the attention of Microsoft, with whom its Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications has had long established and profitable collaborations, thanks to a direct link between professors and researchers." It was with great satisfaction for the significant result achieved that the rector of the University of Trento, Davide Bassi, commented on the agreement with Microsoft for the foundation of the new research centre, which will develop under the auspices and the firm support of the two Ministers. "We are talking about an agreement - added Bassi - that further confirms the high level of recognition at a national and international level that the University of Trento enjoys. Although a relatively small institution, it is well established in the region, flexible and efficient in its organizational and management structure, and through the years has been able to build important academic and scientific relationships. This step is a source of pride for the entire university and it is a stimulus to continue to move forward in this precise direction, in order to guarantee the development and success of the new centre."
"Trentino is a region that has always invested in research, high-level training and innovation: all essential factors to development. The fact that Microsoft has chosen Trento as headquarters for its own research centre is an example of how this investment is paying off." Also on behalf of the president of the Provincia Autonoma di Trento Lorenzo Dellai, Gianluca Salvatori, the local authority for Planning, Research and Innovation, commented this morning on the upcoming opening of the Microsoft Research Centre in Trento: "We are highly aware of the responsibility that comes with hosting such a prestigious establishment as Microsoft - said Salvatori -. However, we are certain that, thanks to the many competent people gathered within our university and in our research centres and to the particular interest the regional administration has always demonstrated in these areas, we are up to the challenge, a challenge that represents a great opportunity for Trentino and for the entire country ".
Press Contacts
Ministry for Innovation and Technology
Dario de Marchi
Spokesman and Head of Press Office
for the Ministry of Innovation and Technology
tel. +39 06 84563193
fax +39 06 84563106 / 3103 - @fax +39 06 233233761
cell. +39 329 4308035
d.demarchi@governo.it  - d.demarchi@palazzochigi.it
ufficio.stampa.mit@governo.it
www.innovazione.gov.it
Ministry of Education, Universities and Research
Gino Banterla
Spokesman for the Minister
and Head of Press Office
Ministry of Education, Universities and Research
tel. +39 06 5924340 / 06 58497123
fax +39 06 5915493
Microsoft
Carlo Iantorno
Public Relations
Tel. 02/70392042
e-mail carloi@microsoft.com
Paola Magni
tel. +39 06 69380073
cel. 348 5251646
e-mail paolama@microsoft.com
Hill & Knowlton
Anna Bellini
tel. +39 02 31914286
e-mail abellini@hillandknowlton.com
University of Trento
Alessandra Saletti
Press Office Manager
via Belenzani 12 - 38100 Trento
tel. +39 0461 881131 - fax +39 0461 881247
e-mail ufficio.stampa@unitn.it
Provincia Autonoma di Trento
Alberto Faustini
Press Office Manager
Piazza Dante 15 - 38100 Trento
tel. +39 0461 492660 - fax +39 0461 494615
e-mail uff.stampa@provincia.tn.it
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