Evert-Jan Hoogerwerf is Director of the WeCareMore Centre for Innovation and Research of AIAS Bologna onlus and experienced European Project Manager. He has worked for different other organisations as well, among which ITT (NL), Funka (S) and COSPE (IT). Currently he is further acting as Secretary-General of the Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe (AAATE) and of the Global Alliance of Assistive Technology Organizations (GAATO). At European level he is further engaged as board member of the European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) and co-chair of the Person-Centred Technology Membership Forum of the same organisation. His areas of expertise are project management, Assistive Technology (AT) related research, the digital transformation of the care and support sector, AT training and education, policy development.
Massimiliano Malavasi is the coordinator of the R&D and Training Areas of AIAS Ausilioteca AT team and has worked in several national and European research projects including Aertech (Emilia Romagna Region), Nadia (Italian Space Agency), TOBI (EPFL/AIAS/, FP7), eAccess+ (JKU/AIAS/7th Framework programme), Atlec (OakField/AIAS/LLP), Edurob (Nottingham Trend University/AIAS/ LLP). He was also involved in the ProACT (EU, H2020) and CloudCAST (University of Sheffield/AIAS/Leverhulme) research projects. He is part of the team of the WeCareMore Centre and performs primary activities of applied research, training, methodological consultancy and design (AAL solutions, assistive technology, electrical engineering and construction) to institutions, companies, professionals and end users. In recent years he has carried out an intense activity of dissemination on scientific and technical issues related to assistive technologies and AAL and their integration in the welfare systems, attending conferences, national and international courses and contributing to publications. One of the founders of AitAAL (Italian Association for AAL), he is currently a board member. He’s an active member of GLIC (Italian Network of AT Centres) and AAATE (Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe).
Lorenzo Desideri works as a researcher within the Sector Projects for Innovation and the WeCareMore Centre of AIAS Bologna onlus. He is also adjunct professor at the University of Bologna teaching in the course Psychology of Language. His research interests span across Cognitive Psychology, Cognitive Sciences and Human-Computer Interaction. He is especially interested in how technology can promote the cognitive and social development of people with intellectual, language and learning disabilities. Lorenzo has received his Master degree (with honors) in Applied Cognitive Psychology and the 2nd level specialization degree in Health Psychology both from the University of Bologna. In 2015 Lorenzo received a PhD degree from the CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML) at the University of Maastricht (NL), under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Luc P. de Witte, Gert Jan Gelderblom, and Uta Roentgen. With a multidisciplinary background in applied psychology, cognitive and behavioral psychotherapy, assistive technology, and health services research, Lorenzo has working experience in EU funded research projects, academia and public health sector. He coauthored publications in Brain-Computer Interfaces, user-centred design, eye movements, and assistive technology service delivery.
Valentina Fiordelmondo is a staff member of the Projects for Innovation Sector of AIAS Bologna onlus and part of the team of the WeCareMore Centre. She has a Master Degree in Economy and Finance (2008) and a Master degree in Social policies and sustainable development of the territory (2011). Since 2011 she is working as a researcher and data analyst in regional and EU funded projects for private institutions and academia. As part of the AIAS project team, she has worked in the ENTELIS Project (AIAS/LLL), SHELDON project (ERASMUS+), ProACT project (Trinity College Dublin/AIAS/Horizon2020) and in other national project funded by local foundations. She is currently working in European and National projects both as a coordinator and part of the staff.
Arianna Gherardini is a psychologist and works as a researcher for WeCareMore centre and AIAS Bologna Onlus. She has received a Master degree (with honors) in Neurosciences and neuropsychological rehabilitation from the University of Bologna and is now attending the school of specialization AcaBS (Academy of Behavioral Sciences) of Reggio Emilia to achieve the PsyD degree in developmental psychotherapy. Her fields of expertise are mostly neuroscience and cognitive-behavioural approaches. She collaborates in projects about IOT, robotics, eHealth, eCare and disabilities.
Lisa Cesario holds a Master Dergree in Computer Science and Engineeriing obtained at the University of Bologna. Her expertise is in the development of software (e.g. apps for smartphones and other mobile platforms), accessibility, applications in the field of robotics and computer vision. She further works on IOT applications, robotic systems and multimodal communication. Since 2018 she works for AIAS in the framework of eHealth and eCare projects and is part of the team of the WeCareMore Centre .
Maria Rosaria Motolese works as senior consultant for AIAS Bologna, where she is part of the assessment team of the Centre for the Environmental Adaptation (CAAD) in Bologna. She also works occasionally for the Centre for Innovation and Research WeCareMore. She has a Phd title in Civil Engineering and she collaborated to several research projects, for Italian and European Programmes, about technological innovations, services and building dedicated to the aged people. She is a well-known professional and she performs activities of dissemination and training in the field of accessibility and design for all, technology and elderly care.
Carlo Montanari is a telecommunication engineer that recently joined the research team of AIAS Bologna. He is specialized in home automation systems, digital health solutions and human machine interfaces. He provides assistive technology guidance for clients or staff with disabilities as an accessibility expert.
Ilaria Valoti is a staff member of the Projects for Innovation Sector of AIAS Bologna onlus. She has a Master Degree in Communication studies (Bologna) and a Master degree in Museum Studies (Paris). Since 2005 she is working in the field of cultural and social innovation, focusing on digital technologies and inclusion. She worked in several French science centres as project officer and in research on critical approach to digital uses and mediations, with the Laboratoire des Sciences de l’information et de la communication, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord. She was engaged by Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini in the launching of the Innovation Labs of Regione Emilia Romagna in Ferrara and Modena, before to join AIAS project team in 2020. Today she works in ERASMUS+ projects, in other national/international projects and she contributes to AIAS’s communication and community management. She is also a trainer in digital accessible communication.
Marco Pasin is an Occupational Therapist, with a strong interest in Assistive Technology, graduated from the University of Padua. He recently joined AIAS Bologna Onlus where he is part of the assessment team both of the Centre for the Environmental Adaptation (CAAD) and the Regional Centre for Assistive Technology (CRA) in Bologna. He also participates in the research activities of the WeCareMore Center.
Sofia Ceré is a computer engineer with an interest in teaching and Assistive Technology. She recently joined AIAS Bologna Onlus where she is part of ICT team. She is specialized in digital accessibility (accessibility quality control of documents, websites, and IT systems, train staff from varied backgrounds, write and publish accessibility/research efforts) and also participates in the research activities of the WeCareMore Center.
Laura Bugo is a software developer with a Degree in Computer Science from the University of Bologna that recently joined the WeCareMore Team of AIAS Bologna. She is interested in the usage of technology to improve the quality of life for every person, especially in how healthcare can be supported by technology.
Cristian Leorin is an assistive technology expert and consultant, in charge of the development of ICT tools, innovative therapeutic approaches, and intervention and personalized Medicine in Health Care (safety, telemedicine, social robots, and smart home).
He is an adjunct professor at the University of Padova (www.unipd.it) and University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (www.unimore.it) in “Augmentative and Alternative Communication / Strategies and methodologies for individuals with communication difficulties” and in ”e-health, m-health and integrated care (especially in chronic disease)”. In January 2014 he co-founded Novilunio (www.novilunio.net) an interprofessional association dedicated to providing dementia care services and educational programs to individuals suffering from dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In collaboration with international organizations, medical institutions, and industry partners, we also design and develop experimental projects that co-design and promote the adoption of assistive technologies and home modifications to enable people with dementia to remain safe and independent in their own homes, while improving their social inclusion within their own communities. He is a member of the scientific committee and the board of directors of the association AIP (Italian Association of psychogeriatrics), that linked clinical/medical and patients with the goal of implementing technology-based assistance best practices that are effective in improving the wellbeing of both people with dementia and their caregivers.
Giulia Mignardi is a clinical psychologist working for AIAS Bologna Onlus. She has a Master Degree in Clinical Psychology obtained at the University of Bologna and she is now attending the specialization school to become a psychotherapist. She has experience in the educational field with children, youngsters, and disabilities. She is involved in projects about education, inclusive living, caregivers and members of the association.