The Leonardo Labs are technology incubators destined to support Leonardo's long-term research and its development of cutting-edge technologies, particularly in the digital sphere. They stem from the desire, not just to remain on the frontline of innovation, but to anticipate it, thereby improving the products and services offered to customers and boosting the Group’s long-term growth prospects.
These new facilities – some built in collaboration with world-leading industrial partners and research centres in their respective areas of competence – are and will be located near Leonardo's main industrial sites in Italy – Cascina Costa (Va) Turin, Genoa, Rome, Pomigliano D’Arco (Na) Grottaglie (Ta) – and abroad (USA) with the aim of facilitating technology transfer and consolidating collaboration with local institutions to maximise benefits for the region involved. The Leonardo Labs will be a catalyst for local entities, allowing Leonardo to centralise development of enabling technologies to fully exploit the innovation opportunity.
The Leonardo Labs, which will develop transversal skills to the company’s business areas, are: Future Rotorcraft Technologies, Future Aircraft Technologies, Materials Technologies, Space Technologies, Future Electronics & Sensing, Quantum Technologies, Applied Artificial Intelligence, HPC\Cloud\Big Data Technologies, Intelligent Autonomous System, Future Security & Safety Technologies.
Each laboratory encompasses several research units, focusing on topics such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, big data, high-performance computing, simulation and modeling, quantum technologies, electric mobility, materials and the structures. The technological areas of the laboratories are defined within the ‘2030 Masterplan for Innovation’, one of the pillars on which the strategic plan ‘Be Tomorrow - Leonardo 2030’ is based: an ambitious and far-sighted vision which aims to contribute to sustainable progress, safety and a more hospitable future.
The laboratories will fuel a continuous flow of talent and ensure flexibility and renewal of professional skills and competencies, based on a model whereby young international research fellows and PhD students will work with experts and researchers operating within the Leonardo Divisions. After evaluating of numerous applications received through the international recruitment call launched by Leonardo, 75 researchers will be selected for the Labs network.