# Free University of Bozen-Bolzano

> university

**Wikidata**: [Q1231433](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1231433)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_University_of_Bozen-Bolzano)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/free-university-of-bozen-bolzano

## Summary
The Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (unibz) is an international academic institution located in Bolzano, Italy, established on October 31, 1997. It serves as a research and higher education hub with a strong emphasis on computer science, engineering, and multilingualism, offering services in English, German, and Italian.

## Key Facts
- **Founded:** October 31, 1997.
- **Location:** Headquartered in Bolzano, Italy, at piazza Università 1.
- **Rector:** Paolo Lugli.
- **Student Population:** 4,216 students as of 2023 (increased from 3,886 in 2019).
- **Institutional Type:** University and organization.
- **Major Affiliations:** Member of the European University Association, ASEAN European Academic University Network (since 2017), and the Sunrise Alliance.
- **Digital Identifiers:** ROR ID 012ajp527; ISNI 0000000114822038; VAT number IT94060760215.
- **Subsidiaries:** Operates university library branches in Bressanone and Brunico.

## FAQs
### Q: What languages are used at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano?
A: The university operates in a multilingual environment, with its official website and communications provided in English, German, and Italian.

### Q: Who leads the university?
A: As of the current records, the university is led by Rector Paolo Lugli.

### Q: What are the primary research strengths of the university?
A: Based on its affiliated academic staff, the university has a significant concentration of researchers in computer science, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and software engineering.

### Q: Where is the university located?
A: The main headquarters are located in Bolzano, Italy, with additional library facilities in Bressanone and Brunico.

## Why It Matters
The Free University of Bozen-Bolzano serves as a critical bridge for higher education and research in the region of Bolzano, Italy. Its establishment in 1997 marked the creation of a multilingual academic center that integrates Italian, German, and English cultures. The institution is particularly significant for its contributions to the field of computer science and artificial intelligence, hosting a high density of internationally recognized researchers and university teachers. 

By participating in global networks such as the ASEAN European Academic University Network and the European University Association, the university maintains a high degree of international connectivity. Its growth in student numbers—reaching over 4,200 by 2023—reflects its increasing relevance as a regional educational leader. Furthermore, its specialized infrastructure, including a distributed library system across Bolzano, Bressanone, and Brunico, supports a robust academic environment for both students and researchers.

## Notable For
- **Research Excellence in Computer Science:** Home to prominent scientists such as Diego Calvanese, Francesco Ricci, and Barbara Russo, focusing on AI, logic, and software engineering.
- **Multilingual Integration:** One of the few institutions in the region providing comprehensive academic and digital resources in three languages (English, German, Italian).
- **International Connectivity:** Active membership in diverse academic networks including the Netval Research Universities Network and the Sunrise Alliance.
- **Distributed Infrastructure:** Maintains specialized library branches in Bressanone and Brunico to support its regional educational mission.

## Body

### Institutional Profile and Leadership
The Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, also known by the aliases UNIBZ and Universitas Studiorum Bauzanensis, was founded on October 31, 1997. It is currently led by Rector Paolo Lugli. The university has seen steady growth in its student body, reporting 3,886 students in 2019, 4,050 in 2018, and reaching a preferred count of 4,216 students by 2023.

### Academic Staff and Research Focus
The university is a significant center for computer science and engineering research. Notable affiliated personnel include:
*   **Diego Calvanese:** Computer scientist and university teacher.
*   **Francesco Ricci:** Specialist in computer science and academic staff member.
*   **Barbara Russo:** Professor of Computer Science.
*   **Dominik Matt:** Engineer and scientist.
*   **Werner Nutt:** Researcher and computer scientist.
*   **Radityo Eko Prasojo:** Researcher in artificial intelligence and natural language processing.

Other researchers associated with the institution include Davide Lanti, Stefano Borgo, Alessandra Melonio, and Rafael Peñaloza, many of whom hold roles as university teachers or researchers in logic and software engineering.

### Global and Regional Networks
The university is integrated into several high-level academic and research organizations:
*   **European University Association (EUA):** Member since at least 2019.
*   **ASEAN European Academic University Network (ASEA-UNINET):** Member since 2017.
*   **Netval Research Universities Network:** Member as of 2021.
*   **ORCID, Inc.:** Member since 2023.
*   **Informationsdienst Wissenschaft:** Member since 2019.

### Infrastructure and Digital Presence
The university's headquarters are located at piazza Università 1, Bolzano (ZIP code 39100). Its infrastructure includes the Library of the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, which has specific subsidiaries:
*   **Biblioteca universitaria (Bressanone):** Sede di Bressanone della Libera Università di Bolzano.
*   **Biblioteca universitaria (Brunico):** Sede di Brunico della Libera Università di Bolzano.

The university maintains an active digital presence via its official website (unibz.it), Twitter (@unibz_news), and Facebook (unibz). It utilizes the Shibboleth authentication system for its API endpoints and is identified in global databases via the GRID ID grid.34988.3e and the ROR ID 012ajp527.

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
  "name": "Free University of Bozen-Bolzano",
  "description": "A multilingual university in Bolzano, Italy, founded in 1997, specializing in computer science, engineering, and research.",
  "url": "https://www.unibz.it",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q663339",
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  "identifier": [
    "012ajp527",
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  ],
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "streetAddress": "piazza Università 1",
    "addressLocality": "Bolzano",
    "postalCode": "39100",
    "addressCountry": "Italy"
  },
  "foundingDate": "1997-10-31",
  "memberOf": [
    {
      "@type": "Organization",
      "name": "European University Association"
    },
    {
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      "name": "ASEAN European Academic University Network"
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  ]
}

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lobbyfacts.eu/datacard/free-university-of--bozen---bolzano?rid=996084037228-57)
2. GRID Release 2017-01-10
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. BnF authorities
5. Anagrafe delle biblioteche italiane
6. [Source](https://eua.eu/about/member-directory.html)
7. [Source](https://idw-online.de/de/institution1890)
8. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20220805081904/https://netval.it/chi-siamo/soci-netval/)
9. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20231020113811/https://orcid.org/members)
10. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20240430185709/https://asea-uninet.org/about-us/history/)
11. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
12. [Source](https://www.unibz.it/)
13. [Source](http://www.unibz.it/)
14. [Source](https://www.unibz.it/assets/Documents/Amministrazione-Trasparente/2019-12-05-FF19-EN.pdf)
15. [Source](https://www.unibz.it/assets/Documents/University/Numbers-Facts/EN-2018-ZDF-web.pdf)
16. [Source](https://www.unibz.it/en/home/profile/facts-figures/2023/)
17. GRID Release 2015-12-14
18. GRID Release 2016-12-06
19. BabelNet
20. Open Funder Registry
21. Quora
22. [Source](https://apps.db.ripe.net/search/lookup.html?source=ripe&key=2a02:27e8:10::/48&type=inet6num)
23. [Source](https://orcid.org/signin)
24. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
25. HAL
26. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/Free_University_of_Bozen-Bolzano-V4W5VE)