New Computer Science Program for University Students Opens in Italy

Bologna, Italy—A new computer science program at Scuola Ortogonale, funded with a grant from Schmidt Sciences, opened today to provide Italian graduate students with the personalized guidance, industry relationships and career development they need to advance Italy’s technology sector. 

“Talent needs training. Italy has a great deal of the former and not enough of the latter when it comes to computer science,” said Eric Schmidt, co-founder of Schmidt Sciences with his wife Wendy. “Bologna made a deep impression on me while I lived here and helped prepare me for my career. I am honored to support Scuola Ortogonale and its students as they strive to make Italy the center of a new technological Renaissance.”

Supported by Schmidt Sciences and the ELICSIR Foundation, the Scuola Ortogonale will award 20 graduate students scholarships to participate in the two-year program as they simultaneously pursue a master’s degree at an Italian public university. The program will also offer 20 undergraduates computer science fellowships to participate in during their final year of study.

“Our main goal,” explains Ozalp Babaoglu, president of the ELICSIR Foundation, who runs the school, “is to train a new generation of capable and motivated young computer scientists, helping them grow by enhancing their talent and commitment, so that they can lead future technological and scientific advancements in both industrial and research environments. The Scuola Ortogonale will offer innovative and participatory teaching methods led by renowned Italian computer scientists with excellent international reputations.”

The Scuola Ortogonale—a name inspired by Italy’s famed public university, the Scuola Normale—will provide educational opportunities complementary to students’ university programs, including personalized guidance from mentors, periodic seminars and workshops, as well as organizational support for internships at prestigious academic institutions, research centers, high-tech companies or startups.

Among the faculty involved in the Orthogonal School are international researchers who have received prestigious awards such as the Sloan Fellowship, European Research Council grants, the Dijkstra Prize, the Foundations of Computer Science Test of Time Award, the Paris Kanellakis Award, the UNIX International Recognition Award, the Career Award from the U.S. National Science Foundation, as well as numerous best paper awards from leading international symposia in computer science. 

“This new computer science program is a vital step in preparing students for the future, emphasizing the power of learning to expand the impact of technology,” said Stu Feldman, president of Schmidt Sciences. “The students will gain the skills needed to address complex challenges and drive innovation—fueled by cultural insights and solutions that transcend single-discipline approaches. The program will help to raise visibility on the depth and usefulness of modern computer science as it transforms industries like healthcare, finance, and entertainment.”  

Watch a 10 minute discussion about the need and role of the new computer science program with Eric Schmidt, co-founder of Schmidt Sciences, and Ozalp Babaoglu, president of the ELICSIR Foundation.

About the ELICSIR Foundation 

The ELICSIR Foundation, an Italian nonprofit, was established to contribute to the advancement of culture, research, and higher education in Italian Computer Science, with the goal of raising its profile and prestige, both nationally and internationally. 

About Schmidt Sciences

Schmidt Sciences is a philanthropic organization that accelerates scientific knowledge and breakthroughs to support a thriving world. Founded in 2024, Schmidt Sciences brings together the science-focused efforts of Eric and Wendy Schmidt, whose philanthropy works toward a healthy, resilient, secure world for all. The organization prioritizes research in six focus areas poised for revolutionary impact: AI and advanced computing, astrophysics, biosciences, climate, science systems and space.