Our Work
Fondazione CRT made a longstanding commitment (35 years ago), and strategic investment, in the field of Data Science and complex systems: a forward-thinking action made in the conviction of the need to encourage the creation of a space in which the field of Data science and complex systems could grow.
This commitment evolved into the creation of the Data Science for Social Good Center, housed within OGR Torino, that acts as a knowledge hub for the application of Data and AI to better identify needs, guide interventions, and evaluate the impact of decisions and policies.
Impact Deal
Impact Deal is the first European acceleration program for companies with social and environmental impact, launched by Fondazione CRT and OGR Torino with Microsoft, leveraging data for fairer and more sustainable growth. The program provides companies with free training and mentorship, technical resources and, above all, access to databases – granted by an initial group of private and public organizations brought together in Impact Deal’s Data Club.
The Data Science for Social Good Center is the program’s scientific partner.
Lagrange Project
Since 2003, Fondazione CRT has supported ISI Foundation with over 40 million euros via the Lagrange Project, providing over 800 young researchers with scholarships and research grants on Complex Systems and Data Science and supporting pioneering research on Data Science for Social Good, in close collaboration with global agencies, corporates, and leading research institutions worldwide. The project overall aims at generating and sharing actionable knowledge on data science for social good while consolidating collaborations between academia, corporate data providers and nonprofits.
Lagrange Prize – CRT Foundation
In addition to the scholarships, since 2008, the Lagrange Prize – CRT Foundation has been awarded to young researchers who stand out for excellence in complexity science studies. A key area in the evolution of scientific research, characterised by a dynamic and interdisciplinary approach both in the interweaving of the research areas that underpin the most innovative work (physics, mathematics, statistics, computer science and Big Data, biology, epidemiology, study of the human mind and body, social sciences) and in the variety of fields in society on which they exert a relevant and concrete influence (economics, finance, public health, communication, environmental protection, philanthropy). More details and previous winners of the prize can be found here:
International engagement in the field of Philanthropy and Data Science
HLPF: United Nations High Level Political Forum
On July 15th 2021 Fondazione CRT held a side event on “Nonprofit Leadership and Data Stewardship in the COVID-19 recovery” at the United Nations High Level Political Forum (HLPF). The event introduced and discussed the role of Philanthropic institutions and non-profit organizations in the promotion of data driven approaches -including a human centric use of artificial intelligence – for public good and community-oriented actions toward a sustainable economic and social recovery in the post Covid era.
The HLPF is the main United Nations platform for the follow-up and review of progress on implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, it meets under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), of which Fondazione CRT – the first among Italian foundations of banking origin – acquired consultative status in 2014.
International call for increased availability of data in combating COVID-19
During the Covid-19 pandemic, an international collaboration, led by The GovLab in New York, worked extensively to launch an international call encouraging action aimed at increasing the availability and use of Data to tackle the current global emergency, with an eye on making responses to future societal and environmental threats more efficient, quicker and more prepared. The call for action reached almost 500 signatures by the end of July 2020. The challenge now is to make these collaborations systemic and structured, in a framework of trust and transparency.
EFC & EVPA
Over recent years Fondazione CRT has promoted the Data narrative within the European philanthropic sector, specifically within conferences of the European Foundation Centre and the European Venture Philanthropy Association.
Topics and discussions have covered how to make the philanthropic sector more data driven, how Data and AI can be at the service of social good, and how the philanthropic sector can move towards a systemic Data strategy in order to achieve impact for its mission.
Workshops at “Applied Machine Learning Days”
Applied Machine Learning Days is a leading venue for Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and their applications and societal impact. In 2021, the Center co-organized a workshop on “AI & the response to the COVID-19 pandemic”. The 2022 edition of the event will host another workshop co-organized by the Center, focusing on “DEEP: Diving into Natural Language Processing for Humanitarian Crisis Response”.
Big Data. Alessandro Vespignani is the new President of ISI Foundation
Professor Alessandro Vespignani, one of the world’s leading experts in epidemiological models and forecasting science, is the new President of ISI Foundation, an international centre of excellence in the field of Complex Systems and Data. Vespignani was unanimously appointed by Fondazione CRT and Fondazione Sviluppo e Crescita-CRT, the founding partners of ISI Foundation, established in 1983 under the leadership of Tullio Regge. With a global network of hundreds of partner institutions, ISI Foundation tackles the challenges of complexity according to a strategic interdisciplinary approach, and nurtures a valuable exchange of knowledge with the broader scientific community, philanthropic entities and governments to promote social, economic and cultural growth. The first Data Science for Social Good Center, set up by ISI Foundation and Fondazione CRT at OGR Torino, goes in this direction.
ABOUT US
Fondazione CRT, founded in 1991, is a philanthropic organization active in three macro-areas: Art and Culture, Welfare and Environment, Research and Education. It has a strong international vocation, actively participating in the main philanthropic networks (EFC, EVPA, GSG), and collaborating with leading organisations from the global philanthropic and impact fields. It has invested and contributed to the development of the data science field through a 30 year collaboration with ISI Foundation as well as contributing to the promotion of the Data for Good movement through its philanthropic networks.
In 2013, Fondazione CRT re-developed the OGR-Officine Grandi Riparazioni in Turin, with 100 million euros: the former train repair shops built in the nineteenth century were transformed into an experimental center with an international vocation with three “souls”: art and culture, scientific, technological and industrial research, together with start-up and enterprise acceleration, and food. A space that has been designed to create cross contamination between people, sectors, culture and businesses.