The Royal Spanish Academy defines artificial intelligence as a scientific discipline that deals with the creation of computer programs that perform operations comparable to those performed by the human mind, such as learning or logical reasoning. Artificial intelligence is undoubtedly a revolution that we must be able to harness to our advantage. To achieve this, research centers such as the AIR Institute and teams of specialists such as the BISITE Research Group at the University of Salamanca are essential. Together, they are at the forefront of the current digital transformation.
The new AIR Institute headquarters opened last Friday, 29 September, at the Center for Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence. The building has been donated by the Salamanca Town Council on Santiago Madrigal Avenue in the Puente Ladrillo neighborhood, which will allow AIR Institute to grow in a modern facility that will enable it to increase its staff and, as a consequence, its budget.
The AIR Institute is starting a new chapter in its promising career as a technology center. It enjoys the support of the authorities of Salamanca, such as the Mayor, Carlos García Carbayo, and the Rector of the University of Salamanca, Ricardo Rivero, who attended the presentation of the renovated building. In addition, in the words of the Vice-Minister of Economy and Competitiveness, Carlos Martín Tobalina, the AIR Institute also has by its side the Junta of Castilla y León. Moreover, it has the support of benchmark companies such as Airbus, a giant in the aeronautical industry, whose Vice President, Bertrand Masson was in charge of introducing the conference on “Salamanca Tech. Aeronautics Industry,” which took place on the same day as the inauguration of the new headquarters. I would like to thank everyone for their presence during this important moment, as well as the speakers from CTIngenieros, Aciturri, Airbus and Skydweller Aero who attended the conference on aeronautics which is a strong driver of the economy.
In addition, a representation of the Salamanca society -businessmen, university students and members of different sectors of the town- showed their support to the AIR Institute with their participation in the presentation of the new headquarters and the subsequent Salamanca Tech conference. And there was no lack of workers, mostly young people specialized in the field of computer science, who are the real engine of this center. The headquarters is recognized by the Junta de Castilla y León as a technology center that is already developing a score of research projects in very different areas, but with a common denominator: technology.
This new headquarters is much more than a building; it is a symbol of our vision, ambition and commitment to advance the frontier of scientific and technological knowledge. The foundations have been laid, now we have to keep rowing the boat to become a leader in the future of artificial intelligence.
