International recognition: Lorenzo Emer, PhD student on the National Doctoral Programme in Artificial Intelligence and former honour student at the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, is among the winners of the Massimo De Alessandri Degree Award

Thanks to a thesis on the contribution of artificial intelligence to environmental technologies, Lorenzo Emer, PhD student on the National Doctoral Programme in Artificial Intelligence with a scholarship funded by the L'EMbeDS Department of Excellence and former honour student of the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, was among the winners of the third edition of the Massimo De Alessandri Degree Award, organised by the University of Trento and the Dolomiti Energia Group, and dedicated to the memory of Massimo De Alessandri, President of Dolomiti Energia.

The contribution of Artificial Intelligence to environmental technologies

Lorenzo Emer graduated in 2024 with a Master's Degree in Innovation Management (MAIN), a joint programme between the University of Trento and the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa.
Emer's thesis analysed the contribution of artificial intelligence (AI) to environmental technologies through patents, identifying the main areas of innovation in Green AI through unsupervised learning methods (LDA on patent texts) and sigmoidal growth models to predict its evolution. The study provided tools to monitor and anticipate the development of AI-based green technologies, a strategic area for tackling climate change. The results can support public decision-makers and investors in promoting sustainable innovation by directing funding towards promising but still underdeveloped sectors.

Emer's thesis supervisors were Andrea Mina, professor of Economic Policy at the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, and Andrea Vandin, professor of Computer Science at the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies.

"Artificial intelligence can offer extraordinary opportunities and powerful technologies to address the climate crisis and support the transition to cleaner forms of energy. As a society, it is essential to understand the evolution and impact of these technologies. The research work carried out together with Professors Mina and Vandin in the context of the MAIN master's degree marks a small step in this direction. I am very grateful to the University of Trento, Dolomiti Energia and the family of Massimo De Alessandri for this important recognition, and to the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies and my supervisors for their support and for the promising research path we have embarked on together," said Lorenzo Emer.

The Massimo De Alessandri Award

Now in its third edition, the Massimo De Alessandri Award is aimed at graduates of master's degree programmes at the University of Trento who have written their thesis on topics related to the economic, legal and technical-scientific aspects of energy, such as the circular economy in public services, the digitalisation of services, management engineering, the impact of the energy transition on local networks, and generative artificial intelligence in utilities.