Innovation: The I-NEST Consortium for the digital transition of Public Administrations

ENEA is one of the seven partners in the I-NEST consortium ^[1], one of the thirteen European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) ^[2] in Italy identified by the EU in 2022 to accelerate Europe’s digital transformation and support the achievement of the 2030 goals. I-NEST operates nationwide to support the digital transition of Italian businesses and public administration.

I-NEST services, co-funded by the EU and MIMIT, assist the public sector (including local government) and the business sector (micro-enterprises and SMEs) in the digitization process, particularly in the use of artificial intelligence, high-performance computing (HPC) and cybersecurity. The consulting, feasibility studies, and training services offered are also addressed to entrepreneurs and workers interested in professional development and growth opportunities or seeking new ideas and business models concerning digital innovations.

Specifically, support is provided through a process consisting of four phases: orientation and networking, to assess the company’s digital maturity and facilitate the matching of technology supply and demand; training, to increase knowledge of digital technologies and awareness of their potential applications; testing and experimentation, to directly put the promoted technologies to the test at specialized testing centers; funding acquisition, to facilitate investments through access to European and national funds.

Thanks to its nationwide presence and the potential involvement, through I-NEST partners, of over three thousand professionals, the consortium provides the most advanced expertise and platforms for building prototypes and demonstrating technologies.

ENEA is involved in both training activities and pre-investment digital innovation validation services (test before invest). Furthermore, it makes its technical and operational know-how available through specialized demo centers, including one dedicated to geomatics that employs local and remote sensing techniques (in situ, via drone, aircraft and satellite) and integrates them with advanced digital processing methods. The “Geomatics” demo center has become a permanent feature of the Agency.

In addition, among the services developed by ENEA as part of the I-NEST initiative is MOSAICO, a private generative AI chatbot designed to ensure complete confidentiality of information. The chatbot, ideal for companies that need to maintain control over their sensitive data, allows users to upload documents and interact with an advanced AI system capable of answering questions by drawing directly from the content uploaded by the user. Unlike public chatbots, MOSAICO not only ensures that company data remains confidential but also prevents AI “hallucinations” (incorrect or fabricated responses), thanks to the contextualization of responses based on the company’s own documents. The tool is currently installed on the Call-IA and Pytia machines at the Data Processing Center of the Laboratory for Analysis and Models for Critical Infrastructure and Essential Services (ICS) at the ENEA Casaccia research center and will remain active even after the conclusion of the I-NEST project.

“The digital transition is one of the most significant challenges facing Italy and Europe” said ENEA project manager Gregorio D’Agostino, Knowledge Exchange Officer (KEO) and researcher at the ICS Laboratory of the Department of Energy Technologies and Renewable Sources. “I-NEST” he concluded “offers a concrete contribution to Italian businesses, that can become more competitive through digitalization, promoting a circular and sustainable economy, also benefiting public administrations which, by digitizing products and processes, can make public services more streamlined, secure and accessible to citizens. For this reason, the I-NEST Hub has applied to continue its activities over the next three years by establishing AI-Catalyst, a new hub focused on the tourism sector”.

To access I-NEST services and view all innovation opportunities, you must register on the I-NEST portal

For more information: I-NEST for a new digital transition.

[1] I-NEST: Italian National Hub Enabling and Enhancing Networked Applications & Services for Digitally Transforming SMEs and Public Administrations. The consortium includes the CNIT, Unioncamere, DINTEC, InfoCamere, the telecommunications provider TIM and the consulting firms Warrant Hub and Co.Mark.

[2] European Digital Innovation Hub.