TrustML – Towards Machine Learning that Humans can Trust (September 2022 – October 2024)

Machine learning (ML) and Artificial intelligence (AI) have recorded unprecedented success in different applications, including computer vision, speech recognition, and natural language processing. Despite providing accurate predictions, such models suffer from several limitations which prevent their applicability in security-sensitive and safety-critical domains. In this project, we aim to address three main challenges that are hindering the development of trustworthy AI/ML models in these domains.

People involved: Battista Biggio, Giorgio Giacinto, Giorgio Fumera, Luca Didaci, Matteo Fraschini

Budget: 52777.78 €

BullyBuster 2 – the ongoing fight against bullying and cyberbullying with the help of artificial intelligence for the human wellbeing (November 2023 – November 2025)

Supported by the European Union – Next Generation EU  and within the PRIN 2022 PNRR. The BullyBuster2 project combines artificial intelligence, technology, law, and psychology expertise to develop a comprehensive framework for detecting and addressing bullying and cyberbullying.

People involved: Gian Luca Marcialis, Giulia Orrù, Giovanni Puglisi, Marco Micheletto, Sara Concas, Simone Maurizio La Cava, Gianpaolo Perelli, Andrea Panzino

Partners: University of Bari Aldo Moro, University of Foggia, University of Naples Federico II

Budget: 299.258,00 €

Sec4AI4Sec – Cybersecurity for AI-Augmented Systems (October 2023 – September 2026)

Funded by the European Union under the HORIZON EUROPE programme (grant agreement n. 101120393). Sec4AI4Sec aims to create a range of cutting-edge technologies, open-source tools, and new methodologies for designing and certifying secure AI-enhanced systems and AI-enhanced systems for security. Furthermore, it will establish a set of reference benchmarks to standardize research outcomes in the secure software research community.

People involved: Battista Biggio, Maura Pintor, Ambra Demontis, Giorgio Piras, Matteo Mauri

Partners: University of Trento, SAP S.E., Airbus Operations, FrontEndART, Cefriel, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Pluribus One, Oppida, Technische Universität Hamburg, Thales, Università della Svizzera Italiana

Budget: 4283037,50 €

ELSA – European Lighthouse on Secure and Safe AI (September 2022 – August 2025)

Funded by the European Union under the HORIZON EUROPE programme (grant agreement n. 101070617). In order to reinforce European leadership in safe and secure AI technology, ELSA proposes a virtual center of excellence on safe and secure AI that will address major challenges hampering the deployment of AI technology.

People involved: Battista Biggio, Maura Pintor, Ambra Demontis, Angelo Sotgiu, Matteo Mauri

Partners: CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security, University of Helsinki, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Computer Vision Center (CVC-CERCA), Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Valeo, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, National Interuniversity Consortium for Informatics (CINI), University of Genoa, University of Milano, Polytechnic University of Turin, Max Planck Society, National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Pluribus One, Yooz, Leonardo, PAL Robotics, EPFL, ETH Zurich, NVIDIA, The University of Oxford, Lancaster University, University of Birmingham,  Alan Turing Institute.

Budget: 7434058,75 €

S3AI – Security and Safety for Shared Artificial Intelligence by Deep Model Design (January 2020 – December 2024)

S3AI is a COMET Module within the COMET – Competence Centers for Excellent Technologies Programme and funded by BMK, BMDW and the government of Upper Austria. The COMET Programme is managed by FFG.
The project is primarily oriented by fundamental research that aims to come up with: i) a mathematical framework for regularizing the hidden representations of the deep models during the learning phase to allow the derivation of error bounds and functionality guarantees; ii) robust transfer learning techniques to accelerate training; iii) distributed network architectures and learning schemes that guarantee privacy preserving; iv) analysis methodologies for assuring security and safety.

People involved: Battista Biggio, Maura Pintor, Ambra Demontis

Partners: Software Competence Center Hagenberg (SCCH), Radon Institute of Computational and Applied Mathematics (RICAM), Research Institute for Symbolic Computation (RISC), Institute for Machine Learning (IML), Computer Security and Industrial Cryptography – KU Leuven (COSIC)

Budget: 3750000 €

RexLearn project – Reliable and Explainable Adversarial Machine Learning (August 2019 – August 2023)

Supported by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MUR) within the PRIN2017, the project posed three main challenges that are hindering current progress towards the development of secure machine-learning technologies, and advocate the use of novel methodological approaches to tackle them: 1. The challenge of security evaluation; 2. The challenge of countering adversarial examples; 3. The challenge of designing interpretable machines.

People involved: Fabio Roli, Battista Biggio, Marco Melis, Maura Pintor, Ambra Demontis

Partners: University of Venice “Ca’ Foscari”, University of Florence, University of Siena

Budget: 914640 €

BullyBuster – A framework for bullying and cyberbullying action detection by computer vision and artificial intelligence methods and algorithms (August 2019 – August 2023)

Supported by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) within the PRIN2017, the project has been included in the Global Top 100 list of AI projects addressing the 17 UNS-DGs (United Nations Strategic Development Goals) by the International Research Center for Artificial Intelligence under the auspices of UNESCO.

People involved: Gian Luca Marcialis, Giulia Orrù, Marco Micheletto, Sara Concas, Gianpaolo Perelli

Partners: University of Bari Aldo Moro, University of Foggia, University of Naples Federico II

Budget: 1.056.819,14 €

IMMAGINA – IMaging MAnagement Guidelines and Informatics Network for Law Enforcement Agencies (November 2020 – December 2022)

Supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) within the ARTES Integrated Applications Promotion Programme

People involved: Fabio Roli, Giorgio Fumera, Lorenzo Putzu, Rita Delussu, Emanuele Ledda

Partners: REGOLA SRL, Digisky, Planetek Italia SRL, Stratobotic SRL, Alfa Bit Omega SRL

Budget:

HistoDSSP – Histopathological Decision Support System for Pathology (October 2018 – September 2020)

Funded by Sardegna Ricerche under the ‘Aid for research and development projects’ program (POR FESR Sardegna 2014-2020).

People involved: Giorgio Fumera, Lorenzo Putzu

Partners: SmartPath

Budget: 570458.40 €

LETSCROWD EU project (May 2017 – October 2019)

LETSCROWD (Law Enforcement agencies human factor methods and Toolkit for the Security and protection of CROWDs in mass gatherings) is a project funded by the European Commission under the HORIZON 2020 Programme.

People involved: Fabio Roli, Giorgio Fumera, Davide Ariu, Matteo Mauri, Rita Delussu, Lorenzo Putzu

Partners:  ETRA Investigación y Desarrollo S.A. (Spain), Policía Municipal de Madrid – Ayuntamiento de Madrid (LEA-Spain), University of Applied Sciences – Police Affairs (LEA-Germany), Crowd Dynamics International Ltd (UK), Deep Blue (Italy), European Emergency Number Association (Belgium), Expert System Spa (Spain), Local Police Voorkempen – Lokale Politie Voorkempen (Belgium), Ministry of the Interior- Polizia di Stato, Department of Public Security (LEA-Italy), PROPRS Ltd. (UK), Ministerio da Administracao Interna – Polícia de Segurança Pública (LEA-Portugal), RAILSEC Ltd (Israel), Ministry of Internal Affairs – Ministerul Afacerilor Interne (LEA-Romania), Universidad de Cantabria (Spain), Pluribus One (Italy, DIEE’s third party partner).

Budget: 2919307 €

AI-Textiles – Intelligenza Artificiale e Tessuti intelligenti: Tecnologie e Applicazioni (Febbraio 2018 – Novembre 2019)

AI-Textiles (Artificial Intelligence & electronic textiles) is funded by Sardegna Ricerche within the “Top-Down Cluster Programme” (POR FESR Sardegna 2014/2020).

People involved: Fabio Roli, Matteo Mauri, Luca Piras, Luca Didaci, Alberto Dessena, Carla Piras

Partners: Faticoni, Imedia, Infora, Passamonti, Abacons, Kappaten, Nomadyca,  Tecnofor,  Datasystem, Giunti Psychometrics, Aicof

FORC EU project (October 2016 – October 2019)

FORC (Pathway in Forensic Computing) is a project funded by the European Commission under the ERASMUS+ programme.

People involved: Giorgio Giacinto, Davide Ariu, Igino Corona, Carla Piras

Partners: Middlesex University London, Dublin City University, Al-Quds University, Palestine Technical University – Kadoorie, Jordan University, Princess Sumaya University for Technology, Al Andalus Software Development (ASD).

Budget: 899213 €

PISDAS (June 2016 – March 2019)

PISDAS (Piattaforma Integrata Servizi Digitali Avanzati Sicuri) is a project funded by Regione Autonoma della Sardegna – Regional Government of Sardinia (POR FESR 2007/2013 – PIA 2013 – industria, artigianato e servizi per la selezione di interventi a sostegno della competitività e dell’innovazione)

People involved: Giorgio Giacinto, Gian Luca Marcialis, Davide Maiorca, Mansour Ahmadi, Alessandro Medda

Partner: Innovery Spa

Budget: 185987 €

A^3I (July 2015 – November 2018)

A^3I (Advanced Analysis of Aerial Images) is a project funded by Regione Autonoma della Sardegna – Regional Government of Sardinia (POR FESR 2007/2013 – PIA 2013 – industria, artigianato e servizi per la selezione di interventi a sostegno della competitività e dell’innovazione)

People involved: Fabio Roli, Giorgio Fumera

Partners: Aeronike, Kareltecnologie, Passamonti, Bittree

Budget: 607000 €

DOGANA EU project (September 2015 – August 2018)

DOGANA “aDvanced sOcial enGineering And vulNerability Assessment” project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme.

People involved: Fabio Roli, Matteo Mauri, Davide Ariu, Igino Corona, Alessio Mulas, Carla Piras

Partners: Engineering International Belgium, Cefriel, Austrian Institute of Technology, Consorzio nazionale interuniversitario per le telecomunicazioni – CNIT, Inov Inesc Inovacao – Instituto De Novas Tecnologias, National Center For Scientific Research “Demokritos”,  University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland – SUPSI, KU Leuven, PROPRS Ltd., VisionWare Sistemas de Informação SA, Thales Communications and Security SA,  Thales Services S.A.S, Hewlett Packard, ELTA Solutions Ltd, Gabinete Nacional de Segurança, Regia Autonoma de Transport Bucuresti, Ministry Of National Defence – Greece, Danish Institute of Fire and Security Technology – DBI

Budget: 4999558 €

BS2R (May 2016 – May 2018)

BS2R (Beyond Social Semantic Recommendation) is industrial R&D project funded by Regione Autonoma della Sardegna – Regional Government of Sardinia (POR FESR 2007/2013 – PIA 2013 – industria, artigianato e servizi per la selezione di interventi a sostegno della competitività e dell’innovazione).

People involved: Giorgio Giacinto, Luca Piras, Lorenzo Putzu

Partners: CRS4, Consulthink

Budget: 329100 €

CyberROAD EU project (June 2014- May 2016)

CyberROAD (Development of the Cybercrime and Cyber-terrorism Research Roadmap) is a project funded by the European Union under the Seventh Framework Programme.

People involved: Fabio Roli, Giorgio Giacinto, Davide Ariu, Igino Corona, Matteo Mauri, Carla Piras

Partners: Technische Universitaet Darmstadt, Indra Sistemas S.A., Poste Italiane SPA, Security Matters BV, Vitrociset spa, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Inov Inesc Inovacao – Instituto De Novas Tecnologias, National Center For Scientific Research “Demokritos”, SBA Research, PROPRS Ltd., Naukowa I Akademicka Siec Komputerowa, Ministério da Justiça, Cefriel, Scuola Universitaria Professionale Della Svizzera Italiana, Centre For Science Society And Citizenship, Cyberdefcon, Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, Ministry Of National Defence – Greece, McAfee S.A.S., Melani

Budget: 1289764 €

ILLBuster EU project (February 2014 – February 2016)

ILLBuster is a project funded by the European Union (DG-HOME) within the “Prevention of and Fight against Crime” programme.

People involved: Fabio Roli, Giorgio Giacinto, Davide Ariu, Igino Corona, Matteo Mauri, Carla Piras, Matteo Contini, Alessio Mulas

Partners: Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca (UNIMIB), NASK, NETCLEAN, Polizia Postale e delle Comunicazioni, University of Georgia (US), Tech & Law Center, Guardia di Finanza, DBI – Danish Institute of Fire and Security Technology, Tiscali

Budget: 364000 €

GIEDION (October 2012 – April 2016)

The GIEDION project (Gestione Intelligente e sicura di sEnsoristica Distribuita e della sua Interazione uOmo-macchiNa: possibili scenari futuri) is funded by Regione Autonoma della Sardegna – Regional Government of Sardinia (POR FESR 2007/2013 – PIA 2013 – industria, artigianato e servizi per la selezione di interventi a sostegno della competitività e dell’innovazione).

People involved: Gian Luca Marcialis, Luca Ghiani, Valerio Mura, Giulia Orrù, Simona Tocco, Pierluigi Tuveri

Partner: Akhela s.r.l.

Budget: 476458 €

SIVS 3.0 (December 2012 – December 2015)

SIVS 3.0 – Sistema di Video Sorveglianza basato su VCA e IP – is a project funded by Regione Autonoma della Sardegna – Regional Government of Sardinia (POR FESR 2007/2013 – PIA 2010 – industria, artigianato e servizi per la selezione di interventi a sostegno della competitività e dell’innovazione).

People involved: Gian Luca Marcialis

Budget: 533000 €

MAVEN EU project (October 2013 – October 2015)

MAVEN (Management and Authenticity Verification of multimedia contENts) is a collaborative project among seven European partners, which has been selected by the European Commission as one of the projects funded under the “Research for the benefit of SMEs” programme, in the 7^th Framework Programme.

People involved: Fabio Roli, Davide Ariu, Ignazio Pillai, Giorgio Giacinto, Gian Luca Marcialis, Luca Piras, Roberto Tronci, Luca Ghiani, Giorgio Fumera, Matteo Mauri

Partners: Gradiant, CNIT (University of Siena and University of Florence), Amped Software, Playence, Arthaus, Xtream

Budget: 1010000 €

sTATA – secure Technologies Against Targeted-Attacks (January 2014 – September 2015)

The sTATA project is funded by Sardegna Ricerche within the “Top-Down Cluster Programme” (POR Sardegna FESR 2007/2013).

People involved: Giorgio Giacinto, Davide Ariu, Igino Corona, Matteo Mauri, Luigi Meloni, Marco Pinna, Nicola Spaziani

Partners: Abinsula, Abissi, Akhela S.r.l., Arkys, Entando, Experteam, Faticoni,  Flosslab, Noviservice, Kareltecnologie, Passamonti, Porcovino, Sardacom, Sinossi software

Budget: 219000 €

GAmI – Game devices and AMbient Intelligence (March 2014 – September 2015)

The GamI project is funded by Sardegna Ricerche within the “Top-Down Cluster Programme” (POR Sardegna FESR 2007/2013)

People involved: Fabio Roli, Roberto Tronci, Alberto Dessena, Matteo Mauri

Partners: Experteam, Faticoni, Flosslab, Imedia, Infora, Logus, Nomadyca, Passamonti, Porcovino, Sa corona arrubia, Saime, Space

Budget: 138670 €

I-Am (May 2013 – July 2015)

I-Am is an industrial R&D project funded by Regione Autonoma della Sardegna (the regional Government of Sardinia).

People involved: Giorgio Fumera, Fabio Roli, Roberto Tronci, Valerio Mura

Partner: Sinossi Software s.r.l.

Budget: 253220 €

Remote VIsualization Technologies for 3D Cloud – 3DCloudViz (June 2013 – May 2015)

3DCloudViz is an industrial R&D project funded by Regione Autonoma della Sardegna (POR FESR 2007-2013).

People involved: Giorgio Fumera, Fabio Roli

Partner: Nice s.r.l.

Budget: 367800 €

SeCVPR – Secure Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (March 2012 – February 2015)

The SeCVPR project is funded by  Regione Autonoma della Sardegna (the regional Government of Sardinia).

People involved: Battista Biggio, Giorgio Fumera, Fabio Roli, Matteo Mauri, Francesco Marra, Eyasu Zemene Mequanint, Rita Wong

Partners: Università di Napoli Federico II, Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia, Università di Tubinga, Università del Surrey

Budget: 280000 €

Advanced and secure sharing of multimedia data over social networks in the future Internet (March 2012 – February 2015)

This project is funded by Regione Autonoma della Sardegna (the regional Government of Sardinia)

People involved: Giorgio Giacinto, Luca Piras, Davide Ariu, Igino Corona, Davide Maiorca

Partners: DISI – University of Trento, UPV Universitat Politècnica de València

Budget: 260000 €

Tabula Rasa EU project (October 2011 – March 2014)

TABULA RASA is a project funded by the European Commission, under the Seventh Framework Programme.

People involved: Gian Luca Marcialis, Fabio Roli, Luca Ghiani, Valerio Mura, Matteo Mauri

Partners: Starlab Barcelona S.L., Sagem Sécurité, KeyLemon SA, Biometry.com AG, University of Oulu, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, University of Southampton, Idiap Research Institute, Eurecom, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CASIA), Centre for Science Society and Citizenship – CSSC

Budget: 4000000 €

Secure RVID (June 2011 – May 2013)

Secure RVID (Tecnologie di identificazione a radiofrequenza e visione computerizzata per l’intelligenza d’ambiente e la sicurezza dei luoghi di lavoro) is an industrial R&D project funded by Regione Autonoma della Sardegna (the Regional Government of Sardinia)

People involved: Fabio Roli, Gian Luca Marcialis

Partners:  Eximia, Infora

Budget: 91630 €