Call for Founding Heads of R&D Labs

The Italian Institute of Artificial Intelligence for Industry (AI4I) is a public research institute established in June 2024. It is dedicated to advancing cutting-edge research in Artificial Intelligence across science, technology, and industrial applications. Conceived as a strategic national infrastructure and supported by stable public funding, the Institute is based in a unique innovation hub in Turin. It is building an international research community with strong ties to academia, industry, and European institutions, while operating within the national AI Factory and leveraging the high-performance computing infrastructure provided by CINECA.

This call aims to appoint the founding Heads of AI4I’s R&D Labs, which form the backbone of the Institute’s scientific and technological architecture.

We welcome applications from researchers working across a wide range of AI approaches and domains in Perceptive, Generative, Agentic, and Physical AI, who are eager to explore fundamental questions and drive transformational applications at scale.

We are particularly interested in candidates developing the next generation of AI systems: systems that sense, reason, and act in complex environments; that generate novel content, software, or design architectures; that collaborate with humans and other agents; and that bridge digital simulation and physical embodiment in robotics, advanced materials, and cyber-physical infrastructures.

Our R&D Labs operate at the convergence of foundational research and real-world deployment, supporting long-term innovation across strategic sectors, public infrastructures, and critical industrial ecosystems. By embedding research activities within a fully integrated ecosystem—including the AI Foundry (for model design and testing), the System for User Knowledge (SUK) (for industrial co-design and project matching), and the AI Factory (for deployment and scale-up)—the Institute aims to position Italy and Europe as global leaders in advanced AI capabilities.

Location

Our R&D Labs

R&D Labs are the cornerstone of the Institute’s organizational structure. Each Lab may focus on either foundational AI methods or application-driven domains, and is designed to expand beyond its core endowment by attracting industrial collaborations and competitive research funding.

Operating at the frontier between theoretical research and scalable deployment, each Lab will contribute to the development of high-impact solutions and help shape long-term technological leadership in AI.

Each Lab will be at the frontier between fundamental AI methodologies and their rapid, scalable deployment in industrial environments. The overarching goal is to deliver high-impact solutions while contributing to long-term technological leadership.

Your Role: Head of R&D Lab

As the Head of an R&D Lab, you will design, establish, and lead one of the Institute’s core research entities.  You will be responsible for setting a long-term vision, attracting world-class talent, delivering scientific and technological breakthroughs, and positioning the Institute as one of the world’s leading centers for AI research and innovation. With support from the Institute’s core support functions and engineering infrastructure, your responsibilities will include:

• Scientific and Strategic Leadership: Designing cutting-edge AI Research & Development programs and solutions, meeting milestones, and achieving defined success metrics.
• Team Building: Leading a team of AI scientists, researchers, and engineers to execute advanced research and develop practical software or platforms.
• Revenue Generation: Attracting external funding from private and public sources to support the growth of your lab, including EU programs and strategic partnerships with industry.
• Interface Management: Bridging the gap between partners/clients and the Institute’s R&D resources and infrastructure by translating customer requirements into actionable tasks.
• Project Management: Managing multiple projects simultaneously, establishing schedules, and resolving bottlenecks to ensure smooth execution.
• AI Assets Development: Overseeing the creation and maintenance of reusable frameworks, libraries, and APIs aligned with industry needs.
• Innovation and Collaboration: Monitoring AI advancements, identifying opportunities for impactful innovation, and aligning efforts with other R&D Labs and external partners.
• Outreach: Collaborating with marketing and business development teams to promote AI4I, expanding its reach and influence.

An Integrated Scientific and Technological Ecosystem

All Labs will operate within a high-performance research environment that includes:

• The AI Foundry, equipped with over 80 NVIDIA B200 GPUs, 68 H200 GPUs, more than 6 petabytes of high-speed storage, and a dedicated deployment pipeline integrated with SUK and industrial demonstrators. The Foundry supports the full AI development pipeline—from model design to deployment—with dedicated engineering capacity.
• The System for User Knowledge (SUK), a dynamic marketplace and digital infrastructure for scientific and industrial co-design, matchmaking, and deployment. SUK connects our R&D Labs with companies and institutions, enabling co-designed projects, industrial scaling, and access to competitive funding.
• The Institute for Advanced Study, funded by Compagnia di San Paolo and managed by AI4I, hosts a continuous flow of international visiting scholars and non-resident fellows.
• Strategic Partnership with the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), which supports the Institute’s administrative structure and collaborates with AI4I on scientific and technological programs.
• Strong academic partnerships with Politecnico di Torino, the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca and other leading Universities (work in progress) on PhD programs and research collaborations.
• Close cooperation with several leading industrial and technological partners.
• Access to high-performance computing through CINECA, which provides advanced computational infrastructure and plays a core role in the national AI Factory coordinated by the Institute.

What We Offer

A renewable 4-year appointment, with a pathway to a tenured position.

• An internationally competitive compensation package [1], plus relocation support.
• A start-up grant comparable in scale to an ERC Starting Grant [2], directly managed by the Lab Head.
• Tax exemption of up to 90% for researchers relocating to Italy.
• Relocation package for national and international candidates.
• Access to high-end computing and R&D infrastructure.
• Integration into the Institute’s strategic R&D network.
• Access to a continuous stream of world-class scholars at the CSP Institute for Advanced Study, as well as a broad academic and industrial R&D network.
• Opportunities to participate in AI4I’s incubation and acceleration programs.

[1] Workers and researchers applying from abroad might be eligible for tax benefits (link)
[2] The amount and duration will be eventually determined based on the lab’s strategic and financial plan.

QUALIFICATIONS WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We seek leaders with:

• Strong track record in AI research and development, with deep understanding of methods and architectures.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, multidisciplinary R&D programs, from design to implementation.
• Ability to interact across academic, industrial, and institutional settings.
• Experience in applying AI in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, autonomous systems, human-machine interaction, or software development.

Preferred Qualifications

• A PhD degree.
• Proven experience as a founder or co-founder of an innovative startup.
• Previous leadership roles in R&D centres.
• Experience managing and leading R&D teams.
• Ownership of patents or copyrights in AI or related industrial applications.
• Experience in European R&D programs or public-private consortia.

Key Success Metrics

Your performance will be evaluated against annual and multi-year KPIs, including:

• Scientific Production: Delivering high-quality, peer-reviewed research with international visibility and impact across AI and its industrial applications.
• Strategic Impact: Developing a robust vision for your group aligned with the Institute’s mission, fostering high-impact projects.
• Project Execution: Delivering projects on time, within budget, and with measurable impact.
• Innovation: Driving IP creation and adoption of cutting-edge AI solutions.
• Revenue Growth: Securing external funding and building strong industrial relationships.

How to Apply

Submit the application via the form below by October 15, 2025, 11:59 PM CEST:

1. CV
2. Motivation letter (max. 800 words)
3. Scientific and Technological Plan for the Lab (max. 2,000 words) including:
   • Proposed name for the lab
   • Scientific and technical focus.
   • Core competences and core proposition, measurable targets.
   • Composition of lab (human resources and other assets) and estimated costs.
   • Expected sources and amount of revenues or funding in the next 3 years, beyond the granted budget.
4. Contact information of three academic and professional references.
5. Optional: Patents, publications, or Git repository links.

Diversity & Equal Opportunity

AI4I is committed to building diverse, inclusive teams. Applications from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged.