Wikipedia

Draft:Fondazione ELICSIR

Fondazione ELICSIR
Fondazione ELICSIR
FoundedOctober 2023
TypeNon-profit, Ente del Terzo Settore
Location
Key people
Ozalp Babaoglu (President)
Lorenzo Alvisi (Board member)
Gianfranco Bilardi (Board member)
Alessandro Panconesi (Board member)
Websitewww.elicsir.it/en

Fondazione ELICSIR (ELICSIR Foundation) is an Italian non-profit organization dedicated to advancing computer science culture, research, and higher education in Italy. Founded in October 2023, the foundation is registered as an Ente del Terzo Settore (ETS — Third Sector Entity) in the Italian National Unified Registry of the Third Sector (RUNTS) under number 04154681201.[1]

The foundation's flagship initiative, the Scuola Ortogonale (Orthogonal School), is funded by a grant from Schmidt Sciences, the philanthropic initiative of Eric Schmidt and Wendy Schmidt.[2][3][4]

Mission

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The foundation's mission is to "contribute to the advancement of Italian Computer Science culture, research, and higher education, and to enhance its standing both domestically and internationally."[5]

Its strategic objectives include identifying and supporting talented young computer scientists early in their academic careers, providing them structured developmental pathways, and preparing future leaders for roles in both industry and research.[5]

Leadership

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Board of Directors

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RoleName
PresidentOzalp Babaoglu
Board MemberLorenzo Alvisi
Board MemberGianfranco Bilardi
Board MemberAlessandro Panconesi
AuditorGiuseppe Riccia

Staff

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RoleName
Academic CoordinatorBruno Codenotti
Organization, Administration & LogisticsAndrea Bandini
User ExperienceEmanuele Panizzi
Communication and Press RelationsEmilio Fabio Torsello

Programs

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Orthogonal School (Scuola Ortogonale)

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The Orthogonal School is Fondazione ELICSIR's flagship initiative — a two-year excellence program for Master's degree students in computer science, computer engineering, and related disciplines (including artificial intelligence, data science, and cybersecurity) enrolled at Italian public universities.[2][6]

The program is designed to complement standard university curricula with advanced transversal competencies. The name Scuola Ortogonale is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the Scuola Normale Superiore (La Normale) of Pisa which was founded in 1810 by Napoleonic decree and includes eminent Italian personalities from the world of science, literature and politics among its graduates. The Scuola Ortogonale positions itself as the La Normale of Italian Informatics. [7]

The program develops five core competencies in its participants:[5]

  1. Reading/Writing/Speaking — developing effective comprehension and communication skills in scientific disciplines
  2. Self-directed learning — pursuing ambitious goals independently
  3. Applied scientific thinking — viewing research as a catalyst for economic and social benefit
  4. Original research — conducting independent, novel scientific inquiry
  5. Transform research results into startup opportunities — cultivating a startup culture among young graduates

Funding

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The Orthogonal School is supported by a generous grant from Schmidt Sciences providing more than €500,000 per year in scholarships.[2][6] Each of the 20 participant receives a scholarship of €25,000 for their two years with the Scuola Ortogonale consisting of a €8,000 per year fellowship plus support for up to €9,000 for a third year internship.

Support provided

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Participants receive:[5]

  • Full scholarships for the two-year Master's program
  • Personalized mentorship from established researchers
  • Four weekend gatherings through the academic year at attractive locations combining seminars, collaborative work and presentations by students, with all accommodation and travel costs being covered by the Foundation. These Orthogonal Weekends serve as community-building events among the students who are typically at different Universities throughout the year.
  • Financial support for internships at prestigious academic institutions or leading international companies

Eligibility and selection

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Applicants must be enrolled in a Master's-level program in computer science or a related field at an Italian public university and must maintain satisfactory academic standing. Admission is competitive and based on a selective application procedure.[5] The program is advertised through multiple communication channels and through social media.

Governance

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The program is overseen by a board of prominent computer scientists with affiliations including Cornell University, the University of Bologna, the University of Padova, and Sapienza University of Rome. Bruno Codenotti serves as academic year coordinator.[5]

Orthogonal Contaminations (Contaminazioni Ortogonali)

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Orthogonal Contaminations is an additional annual scholarship program targeting third-year undergraduate students in STEM disciplines at Italian public universities who have an interest in computer science.[5] The program is designed to encourage talented Bachelor's students to pursue deeper engagement with computer science before entering graduate study.

Key features:

DetailValue
Award amount€2,000 per scholarship
DurationOne academic year
Number of awards20 scholarships per cycle
Target cohortThird-year STEM Bachelor's students

Recipients gain access to selected educational activities and events organized by the Orthogonal School, including mentors of the Fondazione ELICSIR.[5]

The program has been recognized by GRIN (Gruppo di Ricerca sull'Informatica), the national association of Italian academic computer science researchers.[8]

Events

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Future Foretold (Futuro Annunciato)

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In addition to the Orthogonal Weekends, the Fondazione ELICSIR organizes an annual event under the banner Future Foretold (Futuro Annunciato). The most recent edition was held during January 30 – February 2, 2026, in Venice, Italy.[5]

Supporters

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In addition to its primary funder Schmidt Sciences, Fondazione ELICSIR receives support from:[5]

  • Fondazione del Monte di Bologna e Ravenna — a private banking foundation active in cultural and social initiatives in Emilia-Romagna
  • Club Tecnologie dell'Informazione Triveneto — an association of IT professionals in the Triveneto region of northeastern Italy
  • BiCi (Bertinoro international Center for informatics) — an association whose mission is to foster cutting-edge research and advanced education (PhD and post-doctoral level) in Computer Science.

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Registro Unico Nazionale del Terzo Settore" (in Italian). Ministero del Lavoro e delle Politiche Sociali. Retrieved 2026-03-29.
  2. 1 2 3 "New Computer Science Program for University Students Opens in Italy". Schmidt Sciences. 2024-12-03. Retrieved 2026-03-29.
  3. ↑ Sara Ausilio (2024-12-03). "Scuola ortogonale di informatica. Venti ragazzi bravissimi". Il Resto del Carlino (in Italian). Retrieved 2026-03-29.
  4. ↑ Elena Betti (2025-12-10). "La Scuola Ortogonale è la scommessa che sta cambiando l'informatica italiana, ma il paese troverà i fondi per mantenerla?". Wired Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 2026-03-29.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Fondazione ELICSIR". Fondazione ELICSIR. Retrieved 2026-03-29.
  6. 1 2 "Una Scuola ortogonale per le menti brillanti dell'informatica" (in Italian). ANSA. 2024-12-02. Retrieved 2026-03-29.
  7. ↑ "I geni dell'informatica si ritrovano al Ceub". Il Resto del Carlino (in Italian). 2025-02-28. Retrieved 2026-03-29.
  8. ↑ "Bandi borse Fondazione ELICSIR per oltre mezzo milione di euro" (in Italian). GRIN – Gruppo di Ricerca sull'Informatica. 2025-08-29. Retrieved 2026-03-29.
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