The Dipartimento di Informatica is the center coordinating the research activity in the area of Computer Science and Information Technology at the Università di Torino.

At the end of 2000, 48 persons with permanent academic positions (full professors, associate professors and researchers) are active at the Dipartimento di Informatica. Their research activity cover a wide range of topics in Computer Science and related areas, whilst their teaching activity cover both introductory and advanced courses in Computer Science for the Corso di Laurea in Informatica (a five years curriculum in Computer Science) and for the Diploma Universitario di Informatica (a three years curriculum in Computer Science). Teaching activities are also carried on in the School of Humanities (in particular, for Corso di Laurea in Scienza della Comunicazione – Facoltà di Lettere e Filosofia and for DAMS – Facoltà di Scienze della Formazione).

In the following, the report synthesizes the research activity performed during the past year. It is worth noting that most of the professors and researchers are active in the area of Computer Science (scientific sector INF/01, previously K05B). At the beginning of 2000, the research has been organized into five gross subareas and a research laboratory has been established for each subarea, so that all the research projects active at the Dipartimento di Informatica in the year 2000, are grouped into these five subareas.

In the Dipartimento di Informatica are active two (small) groups, one in the area of Operation Research (scientific sector MAT/09, ex A04B) and the other one in the area of Economics and Management Science (scientific sectors SECS-P/08, ex P02B).

As in previous years, an important source of founding has been the European Union within projects in the V framework: some new projects have started and other ones are under negotiations. Also in 2000 the Dipartimento di Informatica has been able to get research contracts from industries and organizations (both private and public).

The analysis of publications (listed after the report of each research project), as well of the research contracts, shows the international dimension of the research activity carried on at the Dipartimento di Informatica and the ability of many groups of establishing strong links also with industries and research centers.

Apart from basic and applied research, the Dipartimento has been also involved in some knowledge transfer projects: these are described in the session "Innovative Applications of Information Technology".

Finally a section of the report is devoted to describe the Dottorato di Ricerca in Informatica (the Ph.D. Program in Computer Science) active at the Dipartimento di Informatica.

It is worth noting that Dipartimento di Informatica is cooperating and supporting also the Ph.D Program in Cognitive Sciences as Ph.D Program in Communication Sciences.