Since its very beginning, Aitek participates in national and European research projects
Continuing research efforts are essential to develop product and process innovation and maintain a high level of competitiveness.
For this reason, Aitek participates in national and European funded research projects and joins in consortia and industrial districts promoting partnerships between companies, Universities and Research Organizations.
The result is the industrialization of solutions that contribute to increasing the efficiency and security of our customers’ activities, but also and above all to improving everyday life by making it more sustainable, simpler and more functional.
Thanks to this commitment and the expertise acquired in managing major projects, Aitek established itself as a technology advisor to support the Customer’s strategic innovation processes.
Over the years Aitek has taken part in dozens of funded research projects, at times playing important coordinating roles. Today, our commitment is aimed at developing applications based on the most advanced artificial intelligence techniques in numerous operating scenarios:
- Automotive: design and development of Driver Monitoring Systems installed and tested on driving simulators or real vehicles in collaboration with car manufacturers and industry-leading companies;
- People security: video monitoring of crowded environments such as railway stations, installation and testing of cutting-edge solutions for counting people
- Security of critical infrastructure: definition and implementation of video analytics applications that can be integrated into complex and heterogeneous cyber-physical systems for the monitoring of civil works;
- Road network monitoring: intelligent video analytics applications, especially focused on protecting vulnerable users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists;
- Ports and Logistics: automation of goods handling processes and transit control systems at road or rail access gates;
- Maritime security: implementation of monitoring systems that integrate multispectral cameras and video analytics algorithms based on artificial intelligence techniques;
- Smart agriculture: video analytics applications for processing images acquired by drones;
- Retail and advertisement: in-store video analytics applications and platforms for the management of smart interactive kiosks for department stores and shopping malls.
Contributions
CALL FOR CONTRIBUTION AIDI
POR-F.E.S.R. – European Regional Development Fund 2021-2027 – LIGURIA REGION – Action 1.2.3 – Supporting the development of digitisation projects in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises
Contribution granted – Position 1665
Latest projects
NexTArc – Next Generation Open Innovations in Trustworthy Embedded AI Architectures for Smart Cities, Mobility and Logistics
NexTArc leverages data and AI-driven smart technologies to strengthen the link between urban and industrial spaces, foster sustainable living, and advance sustainable industrial production across the EU. Its vision is to enhance sustainability and climate resilience in both private and professional environments. To achieve this, NexTArc promotes the adoption of Trustworthy Edge AI and IoT through three interconnected domains: Smart, Sustainable and Liveable Neighbourhoods in Urban Spaces (SLN); Smart, Sustainable and Transparent Industrial Spaces (STI); and Trustworthy, Eco-Friendly Multimodal Connectivity (TEM). In this project Aitek exploits its expertise in video analytics and trustworthy AI, developing reliable AI solutions to monitor passenger activity inside buses.
Research Programme: HORIZON-JU-Chips-2024-2-RIA
Duration: 36 months (September 2025 – August 2028)
PROACTIF – Unmanned Vehicles for Civil Security and Surveillance Missions
The PROACTIF project is a large European initiative focused on civil security and emergency management. It develops an integrated framework based on unmanned vehicles (UxVs), combining drones, ground robots, maritime robots, sensors, and AI to improve surveillance of critical infrastructures and support crisis response in situations such as wildfires, search and rescue, port protection, and energy site monitoring. The project is structured around three technology domains: perception, mission management, and UxV platforms. The consortium brings together 42 partners from 13 countries, ensuring strong European know-how and technological sovereignty. Within this context, Aitek contributes its expertise in AI-based video content analysis for drones, providing advanced tools for real-time monitoring, situational awareness, and decision support in complex security operations. In particular, it takes part in two different use cases focused on the monitoring of crowded public spaces and on collaboration in ‘command and control’ missions, working together with the Austrian cluster and the Italian one.
Research Programme: HORIZON-JU-Chips-2024-1-IA-T1
Duration: 36 months (May 2025 – April 2028)
Duration: https://proactif-project.eu/
DistriMuSe – Distributed Multi-Sensor systems for human safety and health
This project intends to improve sensing of human presence, behaviour and health in a collaborative or common environment by means of multi-sensor systems. In order to provide support in a collaborative environment with human, physical and digital players, the technology needs to be equipped with senses to grasp human presence, their mental and physical state, their activities and their intentions. This is required to ensure human safety, safeguard their health, and allow for natural interaction. Aitek is involved in the automotive and industrial use case to detect dangerous scenarios through VCA models trained on real and virtual images.
Research Programme: HORIZON-KDT-JU-2023-2-RIA
Duration: 36 months (May 2024- April 2027)
Website: https://distrimuse.eu/
ShapeFuture – Ensuring European ECS Value Chain Sovereignty through Shaping the Future of ECS for Automotive Applications
This project aims to develop a new generation of intelligent and resilient ECS (Electronic Control Systems) to increase the safety level of (semi-)autonomous vehicles. Specifically, the following objectives are targeted:
- ECS for perception with greater precision and robustness,
- Intelligent ECS, including cognitive features and Human-Machine Interface (HMI) with the driver,
- Innovative ECS with cognitive processing and decision-making capabilities,
- ECS for resilient automation and communications.
Aitek will provide its consolidated experience in AI-based video analytics to increase vehicle safety. Moreover, it will be involved in a use case about “Autonomous vehicle with enhanced in-out and out-in perception”.
Research Programme: HORIZON-KDT-JU-2023-2-RIA
Duration: 36 months (May 2024 – April 2027)
Mobiquity – Shared solutions for safe and inclusive mobility
Mobiquity aims to develop an integrated set of methodologies, practices, and innovative solutions targeted at citizens with mobility difficulties (elderly people and people with disabilities, including temporary ones), with the goal of improving accessibility to transportation systems and ensuring safety during urban mobility. The ambition of the project is to contribute to the creation of a more inclusive transportation ecosystem that provides equal mobility opportunities for all citizens. Aitek will be responsible for developing technological solutions for video analysis to monitor bus stops and buses in order to facilitate the movement of people with disabilities.
Research Programme: Regional Operational Programme (2021-2027), Liguria Region
Duration: 24 months (February 2024 – January 2026)
Website: https://mobiquity.eu/
TULIP – Terminal and mUltimodal Logistic Innovations for the Port and hinterland environment
This project aims to improve the interoperability and intermodality of the logistics chain by designing and developing a human-machine interface to optimize the management of multimodal transportation systems. TULIP will have a positive impact on various logistics sectors (e.g., port terminals and inland hubs), where the design and development of both physical and digital infrastructures will converge. The project will use ICT technologies, data-driven models, and AI. Aitek will develop innovative video analysis solutions (based on AI approaches) to support port automation, both at access points and in container handling and boarding procedures.
Research Programme: Regional Operational Programme (2021-2027), Liguria Region
Duration: 24 months (April 2024 – March 2026)
ARESA – Augmented REality for Situational Awareness
ARESA intends to develop a scalable technological solution based on smart glasses and augmented reality to support operational sectors in the logistics of port terminals and vehicle depots for public transportation. The solution will also need to identify any abnormal “hot spots” in vehicles to help prevent fires originating from vehicles. Two application cases are planned to validate the proposed solution. Aitek coordinates the project and conducts research and development activities on image analysis from cameras (visible and thermal) mounted on smart glasses worn by field operators.
Research Programme: Regional Operational Programme (2021-2027), Liguria Region
Duration: 24 months (March 2024 – February 2026)
REXASI-PRO
An AI algorithm must be safe, reliable and useful, in a word “trustworthy.” Aitek will play a key role in the project, defining these requirements, which will be the basis for the realization of an innovative wheelchair capable of self-piloting using sensors, drones and cameras, an application in which Aitek will be able to bring into play its established expertise in Deep Learning and Cyber Physical Sytems.
Research Programme: HORIZON-CL4-2021-HUMAN-01-01-RIA
Duration: 36 months (October 2022 – September 2025)
Website: https://rexasi-pro.spindoxlabs.com/
RAISE – Robotics and AI for Socio-economic Empowerment
RAISE aims to develop and commercialize technological solutions based on robotic systems and artificial intelligence that address the real production and social needs of the Ligurian region. Aitek is involved in Spoke 4 ‘Smart and Sustainable Ports,’ which aims to create smart and sustainable ports through the introduction of robotic technologies (land, marine, underwater, aerial) and artificial intelligence systems. Among the various activities it carries out in this area, Aitek coordinates Project 10 ‘Automated systems and AI tools for optimal management of port traffic flows,’ contributing to topics related to video analysis and gate automation. Furthermore, Aitek participates in Spoke 1 ‘Urban Technologies for Inclusive Engagement,’ specifically in the development of the component related to the Urban Data Platform.
Research Programme: Ecosistema dell’Innovazione MUR – Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza (PNRR, Missione 4, componente 2, investimento 1.5).
Duration: 36 months (October 2022 – September 2025)
Website: https://www.raiseliguria.it/
PROTECT – Precision Road mOnitoring for safeTy Enhancement using Cooperative Technologies
The PROTECT project aims to develop an innovative and advanced solution designed to create an integrated and highly reliable road monitoring system by leveraging advanced vision technologies and artificial intelligence algorithms to enhance urban safety. This will be achieved through the combined use of cameras and mmWave sensors, ensuring effective surveillance even under adverse weather conditions. Advanced AI algorithms will be developed to detect, track, and recognize events of interest in real-time using data collected from sensors installed throughout the city. The processed information will then be transmitted to connected vehicles via V2X communication.
Research Programme: Spoke 6 – “Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV)”- Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia – Programma di Ricerca e Innovazione “Sustainable Mobility Center” (Centro Nazionale per la Mobilità Sostenibile – CNMS) “Connected and Autonomous Vehicles”
Duration: 9 months (December 2024 – August 2025)
SMARTSTOP – Piattaforma per il monitoraggio SMART fermate della rete di mobilità pubblica attraverSo Tecniche di videO analytics Per il tramite di intelligenza artificiale
Study and prototyping of a data collection data monitoring platform in the smart mobility field to improve the quality of logistics management processes in an urban mobility context, thereby increasing their efficiency and safety. Aitek develops AI-based video analytics solutions for monitoring safety and people at bus stops.
Research Programme: Regional Operational Programme (2014-2020), Liguria Region
Duration: 18 months (September 2021 – February 2023)
MORE THAN THIS – A new MObility REgulation THinking ANd THoroughly Innovative inSpired
Development and testing of a scalable people counting and flow management solutions applied to the Genoa Subway with asset-light gates. In particular, Aitek develops video analysis solutions for counting people entering and leaving the station as well as the number of passengers going to or coming from the platforms, boarding or alighting from trains.
Research Programme: Regional Operational Programme (2014-2020), Liguria Region
Duration: 18 months (September 2021 – February 2023)
APPRAISE – fAcilitating Public & Private secuRity operAtors to mitigate terrorIsm Scenarios against soft targEts
The EU-funded APPRAISE project will develop an integrated threat intelligence solution designed for protecting the augmented cities environment. Building on the latest advances in big data analysis, AI and advanced visualisation, the project will offer unprecedented capabilities to predict and identify criminal and terrorist acts. Aitek will lead the Work Package Real-time early detection of security threats in soft targets, developing innovative video surveillance solution leveraging on Artificial Intelligence approaches.
Research Programme: H2020-SU-SEC-2020 – Topic: SU-FCT03-2018-2019-2020 – Information and data stream management to fight against (cyber)crime and terrorism
Duration: 24 months (September 2021 – August 2023)
FRACTAL
The goal of this project is the creation of a cognitive node for the processing of heterogeneous data, providing native support for the use of advanced Artificial Intelligence techniques. In particular, Aitek coordinates a use case together with the University of L’Aquila. This use case is aimed at developing an intelligent interactive totem capable of collecting local information and consequently adapting the information content shown.
Research Programme: H2020-ECSEL-2019-2-RIA
Duration: 36 months (September 2020 – August 2023)
NEXTPERCEPTION
The goal of this project led by VTT (Finland) and NXP (The Netherlands/Germany), is to develop next generation smart perception sensors and enhance the distributed intelligence paradigm to build versatile, secure, reliable, and proactive human monitoring solutions for the health, wellbeing, and automotive domains. Aitek will work on the definition of innovative Driver Monitoring System (DMS) based on video processing.
Research Programme: H2020-ECSEL-2019-2-RIA
Duration: 36 months (May 2020 – April 2023)
Website: www.nextperception.eu/
STEP – SmarT Education Platform
The STEP project aims to create an innovative augmented and virtual training and education system that can be applied in any professional context. The tool is a multi-channel and multi-platform system usable in SaaS, which integrates traditional skills with the latest technological tools such as Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications.
Accordo Innovazione DM 24/5/2017 – PON FESR “Imprese e competitività” 2014-2020 (Asse I, Azione 1.1.3.)
Facilities granted:
€231.947,90 as a non-repayable contribution from the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy
€40.874,38 as a non-repayable contribution from the Regione Liguria
€163.497,50 as subsidised credit from the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy
