The Institute was founded in Lugano in 1988 by Angelo Dalle Molle (1908-2002), an Italian philanthropist who envisioned a world in which technological progress and human development would jointly enhance quality of life. A pioneer in electric mobility, Dalle Molle estabilshed a Trustee in Switzerland to promote innovative scientific research, free from the bureaucratic constraints typical of university institutions. Nowadays, the institutes he founded (IDSIA in Lugano, IDIAP in Martigny, and ISSCo in Geneva) are fully integrated into their respective local academic institutions.
Since 2000, IDSIA has been affiliated with both USI (Università della Svizzera italiana) and SUPSI (University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland), acting as a "bridge" between the two institutions in Canton Ticino.
Since 2000, IDSIA has been affiliated with both USI (Università della Svizzera italiana) and SUPSI (University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland), acting as a "bridge" between the two institutions in Canton Ticino.
As a bridge between the two Institutions, IDSIA is engaged in both basic and applied research. This mission is purposed through the development of innovative ideas and algorithms within basic research projects, and their subsequent transfer into real-world applications in close collaboration with industry partners.and their subsequent transfer into real-world applications in close collaboration with industry partners.
The Institute is also strongly committed to knowledge transfer through education and mentorship at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. IDSIA researchers are directly involved in teaching activites within the academic programs offered by SUPSI (Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Master of Science in Engineering) and USI (Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence). Additionally, IDSIA Professors also supervise PhD students in the context of basic and applied research projects.
Beyond education and research, IDSIA contributes to the broader societal dialogue on ethical artificial intelligence, with a particular focus on the transparency and fairness of machine learning algorithms.
The Institute is also strongly committed to knowledge transfer through education and mentorship at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. IDSIA researchers are directly involved in teaching activites within the academic programs offered by SUPSI (Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Master of Science in Engineering) and USI (Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence). Additionally, IDSIA Professors also supervise PhD students in the context of basic and applied research projects.
Beyond education and research, IDSIA contributes to the broader societal dialogue on ethical artificial intelligence, with a particular focus on the transparency and fairness of machine learning algorithms.