Useful examples and Italian best practices in implementing artificial intelligence in scientific research, industry, services, critical infrastructure, and public policy were presented by experts at the panel discussion AI Beyond the Hype: Limits, Innovations, and Perspectives, held on April 16^th at FER, on the occasion of the Italian Research Day in the World.

At the gathering organized by FER, the Embassy of Italy, the Ruđer Bošković Institute, and the Italian Cultural Institute in Zagreb, participants reflected on advanced directions in AI development, Italy’s contributions in these areas, and called for stronger cooperation between Croatia and Italy through knowledge exchange and the development of AI infrastructure.

Academician Prof. Sven Lončarić, head of FER’s Center for Artificial Intelligence (CAI), which brings together more than 100 researchers across 20 laboratories, highlighted the broad application of AI and the domestic economy’s need for highly educated experts.

"n research and teaching at FER, as well as through the activities of our Center, we widely apply artificial intelligence in robotics, information security, cybersecurity, signal and image processing, financial analytics, bioinformatics, and many other fields. FER is involved in a large number of European and national projects. For example, within the Center for Artificial Intelligence, young researchers in doctoral programs have the opportunity to earn their PhDs by developing the latest methods of applying AI. This is very important for our economy, given the strong need in Croatia to develop innovative products for the global market, which requires highly educated individuals capable of leading such development", said Academician Lončarić.

The Ambassador of Italy to the Republic of Croatia, H.E. Paolo Trichilo, revealed that in recent years Italy has significantly strengthened its position in AI through targeted investments and the creation of new centers of excellence. He noted that Italy is the first country in the European Union to implement a comprehensive national AI law designed to complement EU legislation.

"Among Italy’s main AI initiatives is the FAIR foundation, which includes 14 universities, four research centers, seven large companies, and over one hundred additional enterprises and public administrations. In 2026, 48 percent of Italians use AI tools, while the AI market has reached a total value of €1.2 billion. At the industrial level, 16.4 percent of companies have already integrated AI solutions, and one of the ICT hubs is Turin, with 7,600 companies and 39,000 ICT professionals. With 18 supercomputers among the top 500, Italy remains the fourth most powerful country in the world in terms of installed computing capacity", the ambassador stated.

Mateja Tolj, Head of the Department for Programming and Implementation of EU Programs and Projects within the Directorate for Science and Technology at the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth, emphasized that by using AI across different scientific disciplines and combining insights, Europe can strengthen its position in the sector.

"The Ministry of Science, Education and Youth is fully aware of the importance of keeping pace with technological progress and innovation, which are key drivers of global connectivity and economic growth, and help reduce inequalities across various dimensions of society while strengthening education and skills. By bringing together perspectives from science, industry, and public policy, we can provide and gain a realistic view of where AI stands today, overcome current limitations, and enhance Europe’s competitiveness in this field", Tolj pointed out.

Dr. Ivanka Jerić, Assistant Director of the Ruđer Bošković Institute, stated that at the Institute, AI has been a tool for over 25 years, advancing scientific research and the development of new solutions, and that the panel reflects strong and growing cooperation between Croatia and Italy.

"At the Ruđer Bošković Institute, artificial intelligence is not new. We use it for automated searches of scientific literature in biomedicine, analysis of medical images, and environmental protection. We are building an entire system of knowledge and infrastructure for AI, which today stands at a crossroads—between high expectations on one side and many unanswered questions on the other. That is why conferences like this are important, as we must focus on what AI truly is and what it can achieve in the future", said Jerić, adding that "cooperation between Croatia and Italy in science at the Institute is very tangible, through joint projects with Italian partners and researcher mobility, further strengthened by Horizon and Marie Skłodowska-Curie programs, which bring scientists from Italy to the Institute."

The panel concluded with the message that Italy’s contribution, grounded in strong theoretical foundations and a rapidly growing ecosystem, naturally complements Croatia’s research competencies and infrastructure, thereby strengthening a shared European vision of trustworthy, sustainable, and science-based artificial intelligence.

Photos from the event are available in the FER Gallery, and the program can be found at the provided link.