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AIPIA — Italian AI Professionals Association
About AIPIA

The institutional home for AI practitioners in Italy

AIPIA — Associazione Italiana Professionisti dell'Intelligenza Artificiale — is Italy's first and largest non-profit professional association for AI practitioners. We represent the profession, set ethical standards, issue European-recognised credentials, and bridge Italian AI expertise with international ecosystems.

Our story

Built for a profession that did not have a home

AIPIA was founded on 23 May 2025 from a straightforward observation: Italy's growing community of artificial intelligence professionals had no institutional representation. Engineers, researchers, consultants, and academics worked across ministries, universities, multinationals, and start-ups, but no single body advocated for them, defined ethical standards, or issued recognised credentials.

The association was constituted as a non-profit under Italian Law 4/2013, which governs unregulated professional bodies, and received tax-agency registration on 19 June 2025. Within twelve months it became Italy's largest AI professional association by membership and the first nationally to issue European Digital Credentials for AI competencies, sealed with eIDAS and verifiable through the European Commission's Europass infrastructure.

AIPIA operates as independent and non-profit, with no commercial interests dictating its positions. This independence allows AIPIA to engage credibly with Italian ministries, the European Commission's AI Alliance, the Council of Europe, UNESCO, and the OECD on policy and practice.

The association is structured as an Assembly of Members electing a Board of Directors, supported by a Scientific & Technical Committee (CTS) chaired by Rafael Patron. The CTS sets technical guidelines, validates training, and ensures every AIPIA initiative meets verifiable quality standards.

Mission & values

What drives everything we do

Three principles shape AIPIA's mission: advancing professional standards, embedding ethics into AI practice, and connecting Italian and European expertise with international innovation ecosystems.

Professional excellence

Education, credential frameworks, and continuous training set the bar. Members hold themselves to verifiable competencies and a written code of conduct.

Ethical AI

A rigorous Code of Ethics aligned with the Rome Call for AI Ethics, UNESCO AI Recommendation, OECD AI Principles, and the Council of Europe Framework Convention on AI.

Transatlantic bridge

A working channel connecting Italian and European AI practitioners with peers in Boston, Silicon Valley, the UAE, and Latin America. Italy as the EU founding-member gateway to the European ecosystem.

Scientific & Technical Committee

Led by practitioners, not just academics

The CTS brings together specialists in machine learning, software engineering, research, applied ethics, digital marketing, and full-stack development. It sets technical guidelines, validates training, and ensures every AIPIA initiative meets verifiable quality standards.

  • RP

    Rafael Patron

    CTS President

    Growth Hacker & AI Program Manager. 20+ years in digital marketing. International career across Italy, the UK (Edinburgh), the UAE, Boston, and Latin America. Author of three books. Hosts the Guida Galattica per Marketer podcast. Leads AIPIA international strategy and partnerships with MIT, Harvard, and MassRobotics.

  • FP

    Federico Pichetto

    Vice President

    Priest and educator. Bridge between ethics, education, and technology.

  • FL

    Francesco Levet

    CTS Member

    AI Engineer and GIS specialist.

  • AP

    Alessandro Pighetti

    CTS Member

    PhD — AI and Cognitive Environments.

  • UL

    Umberto Luciani

    CTS Member

    Marketing and innovation.

  • AV

    Andrea Varesi

    CTS Member

    Developer and social media management.

  • FF

    Franco Fassone

    CTS Member

    Full-stack developer.

  • FC

    Fabio Cassinelli

    CTS Member

    Software engineer and product manager.

  • FT

    Federico Tardani

    CTS Member — Honorary

    Generative AI educator.

  • AM

    Andrea Murchio

    CTS Member

    AI-driven marketing and digital strategy.

Board of Directors

Elected by the Members' Assembly. Oversees strategy, partnerships, and budget. In addition to the CTS members, the Board includes Andres Parra (management and international relations), Claudia Sanguineti (communications and institutional affairs), and Filippo Fassone (technical and operational governance).

Ready to plug in?

Become a member, partner with us, or get in touch about a specific project. AIPIA welcomes practitioners, companies, and institutions from anywhere.

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