Fondazione ENIA · Research, education and services
Applied research and governance of Artificial Intelligence
From scientific knowledge to responsible decisions.
Fondazione ENIA supports institutions and businesses through interdisciplinary research, experimentation and governance methodologies, contributing to risk assessment, the quality of decisions and the development of trustworthy and socially responsible Artificial Intelligence.
Three integrated directions to generate knowledge, skills and social value
Fondazione ENIA – National Body for Artificial Intelligence pursues its mission through three complementary directions: producing scientific knowledge, developing skills and transferring research results to society.
An interdisciplinary model that combines research, experimentation, education and civic participation, steering the progress of Artificial Intelligence towards responsibility, sustainability and the common interest.
Scientific departments, Commissions and Observatory
Fondazione ENIA’s research explores the scientific, technological, economic, legal and social implications of Artificial Intelligence, through interdisciplinary structures dedicated to the study of intelligent systems, governance, risk assessment and responsible innovation.
Research activities contribute to studies, methodological models, publications and science communication initiatives, including through Neural Nexus Review.
ENIA Academy | From knowledge to professional competence
ENIA Academy turns research results and developments in technical and regulatory standards into training programmes on Artificial Intelligence, its governance and risk management.
The offer includes professional specialisation programmes, AI Literacy initiatives and preparation for skills certification, within the Foundation’s training ecosystem and the assessment activities it carries out as an AICQ SICEV Assessment Body.
Knowledge transfer, innovation and civic participation
Fondazione ENIA promotes the dissemination and valorisation of scientific knowledge through initiatives aimed at institutions, businesses, the professions and civil society.
The Third Mission includes applied research projects, experimentation, methodological transfer, public awareness and community participation in technological innovation processes.
A commitment to turning research results into tools of collective benefit, contributing to the quality of decisions, risk awareness and the building of socially responsible governance of Artificial Intelligence.
Scientific knowledge serving organisational decisions
Adopting Artificial Intelligence brings new responsibilities in managing processes, data, decisions and risks. A system’s technological maturity must be matched by the organisation’s ability to understand how it works, assess its impacts and govern its entire life cycle.
Fondazione ENIA – National Body for Artificial Intelligence offers institutions, businesses and professionals interdisciplinary scientific expertise, assessment methodologies and experimentation infrastructure, contributing to the development of organisational models consistent with the European and national regulatory framework and international technical standards.
Activities are carried out in collaboration with those responsible for designing, implementing and using AI systems, respecting the autonomy of their respective functions.
Three dimensions of our work
Scientific and methodological guidance
Interpreting the regulatory and technical framework, defining governance criteria, identifying organisational responsibilities and the evidence needed to document decisions.
Assessment and monitoring
Risk analysis, documentary and technical review, assessment of the effectiveness of controls and definition of monitoring processes across the systems’ life cycle.
Ethical oversight and participation
Interdisciplinary assessment methodologies, advisory bodies and civic participation tools to examine the impacts of AI on rights, people and communities.
From initial assessment to governing the AI life cycle
Fondazione ENIA’s activities are organised into complementary areas, developed with the contribution of the scientific Departments, Commissions and research structures.
The ENIA Model is the methodological reference for integrating the organisational, regulatory, technological and ethical dimensions of Artificial Intelligence governance.
Organisational maturity and capacity to govern AI
Analysis of how ready organisations are to introduce and use AI systems, with particular attention to decision-making structures, the allocation of responsibilities, control processes and risk management capability.
Request informationAssessment of risks and impacts
Mapping of systems and use cases, analysis of technological, operational and organisational risks, assessment of effects on fundamental rights and identification of mitigation measures.
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Activities take into account the applicable obligations of Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, Italian Law 132/2025 and the related implementing measures, distinguishing legal requirements from voluntary risk management methodologies.
Ethical assessment and community participation
Development of ethical assessment methodologies and the setting up of interdisciplinary advisory bodies, including through the Community Juries for AI model, to examine the social impacts of technological applications and foster informed, participatory decision-making.
Request informationRegulatory governance and technical standards
Mapping the regulatory framework applicable to AI systems and analysing the interactions between European provisions, national legislation and international technical standards.
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Particular attention is paid to integrating legal requirements with organisational management systems, the traceability of responsibilities and the documentation of evidence.
Fairness, transparency and checks across the life cycle
Assessment of the processes for developing, procuring, implementing, using and decommissioning AI systems.
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Activities include analysis of data quality, discrimination risks, explainability, robustness and the effectiveness of human oversight mechanisms, through documented checks and periodic controls.
Training and professional skills development
Designing training programmes consistent with AI Literacy requirements, technical and professional standards and the needs of organisations.
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Through ENIA Academy, the Foundation promotes specialist programmes, continuing professional development and preparation for skills certification exams, drawing on its activities as an AICQ SICEV Assessment Body within the applicable schemes.
Governance of technology procurement
Methodological support in defining organisational needs, governance requirements and evaluation criteria for AI systems in procurement processes.
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Activities take into account the allocation of responsibilities between buyers and suppliers, technical documentation, contractual risk management and post-adoption monitoring requirements.
Preliminary assessment of the AI Management System
Analysis of the organisation’s alignment with the requirements of ISO/IEC 42001:2023, by examining governance arrangements, risk management processes, documentation and the controls adopted.
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The assessment can draw on the expertise of the Research, Development and Testing Department and the experimental activities of ENIA Horizon Sandbox.
The results serve as a reference for planning improvement actions and any certification process, which is reserved to the competent bodies.
Research, monitoring and analysis of the evolution of AI
The Observatory promotes interdisciplinary analysis, scientific dialogue and in-depth study of the technological, economic and social transformations associated with Artificial Intelligence.
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Through thematic tables and collaborative initiatives, it fosters the circulation of knowledge between research, institutions, the economy and civil society.
From scientific analysis to experimental verification
Fondazione ENIA’s Departments and laboratories carry out applied research to study the behaviour of intelligent systems, identify vulnerabilities and test methodologies for responsible technological innovation.
AI Red Teaming and adversarial assessment
Designing and running adversarial tests to identify vulnerabilities, unexpected behaviour, robustness limits and possible misuse of AI systems.
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These activities contribute to understanding risks and assessing the effectiveness of protection and mitigation measures.
Controlled experimentation and methodological validation
Research and experimentation environments dedicated to analysing AI systems, applications and organisational models under controlled conditions.
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The Sandbox supports the production of experimental evidence, preventive risk assessment and in-depth study of the regulatory and ethical implications of emerging technologies.
Prototyping, testing and experimental research
Experimental design, prototype development and verification of the technical and functional characteristics of intelligent systems.
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The Department contributes to building testing methodologies, assessing performance and producing scientific evidence, including in collaboration with ENIA Horizon Sandbox.
Institutional collaborations and innovation in Public Administration
Expertise serving public innovation
Fondazione ENIA – National Body for Artificial Intelligence promotes dialogue with Public Administrations, bringing together scientific research, technological innovation and the needs of institutions.
Activities for the public sector focus on spreading Artificial Intelligence skills, developing responsible governance models and supporting digital transformation processes, in line with the principles of transparency, protection of rights and the common interest.
Contacts for Public Administration activities
Research and development for finance
A research and development area for those who invest in, finance or value companies that adopt artificial intelligence.
Assessing AI systems for investors, banks and financial operators
Research methods for understanding the value, risk and governance of artificial intelligence systems in investment, financing and company valuation decisions.
- Valuation of a company’s AI systems and assets
- Reading AI risk in credit and investment decisions
- AI governance as an element of company valuation
- Applied research on AI in corporate finance
Credible assessments come from clear roles
Fondazione ENIA – National Body for Artificial Intelligence operates according to the principles of scientific autonomy, impartiality and transparency, keeping research, experimentation, methodological guidance and independent assessment distinct.
The Foundation develops knowledge, methodologies and research tools, working with institutions, businesses and technology operators without automatically taking on the responsibilities of suppliers, adopters of systems or certification bodies.
Independence from commercial interests
Scientific and assessment activities are guided by the Foundation’s institutional aims. The development of prototypes and experimental tools serves research and methodological validation goals, in line with the rules applicable to each project.
Separation of operational responsibilities
The design, implementation and management of AI systems remain the responsibility of those formally appointed. The Foundation’s activities fall within the scope of the scientific, methodological and assessment mandates it has accepted.
Respect for institutional competences
The Foundation’s activities respect the powers of public administrations, the functions of the Data Protection Officer and the prerogatives of certification bodies and competent authorities.
Preventing conflicts of interest
Independent assessment mandates require a prior check for any incompatibilities. The Foundation’s involvement in developing or testing a system is taken into account when assessing impartiality and any need to separate functions.
The principles that guide our work
The authority of a scientific institution is measured by the quality of the methods it adopts, the verifiability of the evidence it produces and its ability to make the criteria behind its assessments transparent.
Fondazione ENIA – National Body for Artificial Intelligence bases its activities on the principles of scientific rigour, interdisciplinarity, impartiality and social responsibility, in line with its institutional aims.
Scientific and methodological foundation
The Foundation’s activities are based on research, analysis and experimentation methodologies aimed at producing results that are documentable, verifiable and open to critical review.
Interdisciplinary dialogue and the progressive validation of models are essential elements of the knowledge-building process.
Regulatory consistency and international standards
Activities take into account the European and national legal framework and the main technical and regulatory references applicable to Artificial Intelligence, data protection, information security and risk management.
The analysis distinguishes legal obligations from voluntary standards and methodological recommendations, supporting a correct interpretation of organisational responsibilities.
Quality and reliability of processes
The Foundation promotes quality by defining responsibilities, documenting activities, ensuring the traceability of decisions and continuously improving processes.
Reference to quality management systems helps make organisational activities verifiable and consistent with institutional objectives.
Impartiality and scientific integrity
Independent judgement, the management of conflicts of interest and transparent assessment criteria are fundamental principles of the Foundation’s work.
Analysis and assessment activities aim to protect scientific integrity and to keep the responsibilities of the parties involved distinct, according to the applicable procedures and organisational arrangements.
From research to applications: building responsible innovation together
Fondazione ENIA promotes collaborations with Public Administrations, businesses, universities, research centres and technology operators interested in developing, adopting and governing Artificial Intelligence systems according to criteria of reliability, safety, sustainability and social responsibility.
Each collaboration starts from an analysis of the context, objectives and scientific and organisational needs, to identify the areas where the Foundation’s expertise and structures can make a concrete contribution.