SIGMA.SPACE
Research initiative of the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies
at Alma Mater Europaea
An open community for applied artificial intelligence
SIGMA.space is an open community of universities, researchers, companies, institutions and innovators connecting knowledge, research questions and real-world challenges. Together we develop research, applied pilots, education and collaborations that place artificial intelligence in the economy, places and society.
Community
SIGMA Community
SIGMA.SPACE connects students, doctoral candidates, researchers, experts, companies, public institutions and international partners in a shared development space for applied artificial intelligence.
SIGMA
Applied AI Ecosystem
Students
Doctoral candidates
Researchers
Alma Mater Europaea University
Companies
Public sector
Experts
International partners
Connecting challenges and knowledge
Together we shape research questions and develop paths toward useful solutions.
SIGMA.space is a meeting point between real-world challenges from business, the public sector and society and research, education and development expertise. The aim is to shape collaborations that lead from a question to a verifiable research or applied result.
Research and research pathways
From a research question to knowledge, experiment and use.
SIGMA.space research pathways connect academic work, doctoral research, experiments, publications, education and development pilots.
Research themes
Doctoral research, scientific questions and emerging research fields.
Researchers and mentors
People and expertise connecting doctoral candidates, professors, researchers and partners.
Results and research trail
Publications, experiments, models, prototypes and applications that can connect to pilots.
Education, Microcredentials and Events.
Education for different target groups.
SIGMA.SPACE develops education for different target groups – from AI literacy and microcredentials to professional training, research content and public events. It is intended for pupils, students, researchers, companies, public institutions and other organisations seeking to understand, develop and use artificial intelligence.
Professional training and workshops
Professional training, workshops and introductory formats for competence development in applied artificial intelligence.
Structured AI competence development
Short structured programmes with defined learning outcomes for verifiable development of AI competences.
Public presentations and meetings
Lectures, presentations, public discussions and meetings designed to share knowledge and connect communities.
Pilots and Applications
Applied artificial intelligence develops through projects, data and communities.
SIGMA.SPACE connects education, research, public pilots, responsible AI use and emerging digital twins. Individual projects create an evidence trail for the broader development of applied artificial intelligence across public, research and partner environments.
Digital twins
Public pilots
AI literacy
Responsible use
Research and outreach
DIRDET: digital twin for rural development
A cross-border project for smart, inclusive and data-supported planning of rural areas through the use of digital twin methods.
- Track
- spatial planning, scenarios, municipalities, cross-border cooperation
- SIGMA role
- evidence of linking research, data and local decision-making
BioGemTwin: biodiversity, environmental data and LiDAR
A digital twin prototype connecting expert knowledge, environmental data, artificial intelligence and scenarios for biodiversity protection.
- Track
- biodiversity, climate resilience, tree-species recognition
- SIGMA role
- methodological bridge between digital twins, AI and environmental management
BLUETWIN-CE: blue zones and well-being
A transnational project supporting rural communities through digital twin applications, data simulations and health and well-being strategies.
- Track
- local communities, health, well-being, participatory development
- SIGMA role
- evidence of AI and digital twin use in a public development context
GW-CARE: groundwater and climate risks
A project developing data-supported and interoperable approaches for more proactive groundwater management and resilient water systems.
- Track
- monitoring, models, data, decision-making, public interest
- SIGMA role
- linking AI methods, infrastructure and risk governance
Artificial intelligence for young people
An education programme for children and young people developing digital competences, AI understanding, critical judgement and safe, creative technology use.
- Track
- DigComp 2.2, practical learning, age-adapted learning pathways
- SIGMA role
- competence axis for future applied AI development
Community trail
Events, meetings and initiatives that keep SIGMA connected.
The community trail brings together events, partnerships, public presentations, conferences and other activities that open space for knowledge exchange and new collaboration.
AI Week Maribor 2026 – community in action
The four-day programme connected research, education, companies, innovation, public institutions and the city of Maribor. It included 14 events, more than 140 participants and more than 20 organisations, with digital twins and other applied AI content forming part of the programme.
Entrepreneurs Have an Advantage.
An invited lecture and workshop with Venture Factory and Matej Rus connecting entrepreneurial thinking, innovation and the opportunities opened by artificial intelligence.
Matej Rus - Venture FactoryUni.Minds: AI Innovations in Energy
A visit to the Fala Hydropower Plant and presentations of innovative solutions by researchers and start-ups will connect artificial intelligence with real challenges from Dravske elektrarne Maribor.
Dravske elektrarne MariborArtificial Intelligence: Technical and Business Perspectives
The professional event will present technical and business content in artificial intelligence, support knowledge exchange and connect researchers, experts and industry.
Jožef Stefan InstituteTechnology, media and societal transformation
UIDT contributed to an international discussion on artificial intelligence, generative media and strategic collaboration between science, industry and society.
Conference programmeFrom groundwater to artificial intelligence
The event connected environmental data, hydrogeology, artificial intelligence and international knowledge exchange for sustainable groundwater management.
Read moreEuropean artificial intelligence summit
Participation in a European AI summit strengthens the connection between SIGMA.SPACE and debates on the future of AI, research, higher education and European innovation.
Read moreArtificial intelligence: from vision to trust
UIDT follows national discussions on safe, trustworthy and responsible artificial intelligence and collaboration between researchers, the state and industry.
Partnerships and support
Institutions and partners connecting knowledge and practice.
SIGMA.space partners and supporters include institutions, municipalities, development organisations and other stakeholders contributing to knowledge, competences and regional innovation.
In Collaboration with UIDT
SIGMA.SPACE is a research initiative of the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies at Alma Mater Europaea.
UIDT provides the academic and research foundation for SIGMA, connecting research work with education, development projects, partnerships and the practical use of artificial intelligence. SIGMA.space connects the university environment with research, business and public partners.
Research Core
SIGMA.SPACE as a research community.
Strategic Coordination
Leadership and long-term directionStrategic coordination guides scientific development, international collaboration, research leadership and the long-term positioning of SIGMA.SPACE.
- Maciej Wielgosz - Strategic Lead; Machine Learning Researcher at NIBIO and Associate Professor at AGH University of Science and Technology.
- Matej Mertik - Strategic Lead; Head of the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies, Alma Mater Europaea.
Programme Coordination and Implementation Support
Programme leadership, doctoral pathway and operational deliveryThe group connects the community hub's core programme areas and provides support for research activities, the doctoral pathway and internal processes.
Programme Leads
- Matevž Vremec - Lead for Education.
- Tomaž Goričan - Lead for Research Pilots.
- Tadeu da Ponte - Lead for Research Development and Innovation.
Support and Operational Coordination
- Aleksandar Brodschneider - Doctoral Pathway and Research Process Support.
- Petra Braček Kirbiš - Operational Coordinator.
Academic and Research Associates
Researchers, educators and external academic collaboratorsAcademic and research associates contribute to education, research content, European projects and the scientific development of SIGMA.SPACE.
- Boris Podobnik - Academic Associate; professor of economics at ZSEM, research fellow at Boston University's Centre for Polymer Studies, and professor of mathematics at the University of Rijeka.
Doctoral Students
Doctoral research communityDoctoral students conduct research within the SIGMA.SPACE ecosystem and contribute to research projects, pilots, seminars and international activities.
- Andrew Vennekotter
- Dominique Ronde
- Nina Rechberger
- Louis Denis Mono Tsango
- Anna-Katharina Herke
- Ilona Negro
Strategic Partners
Institutional, research and innovation partnersStrategic partners collaborate with SIGMA.SPACE on education development, research projects, pilot environments, knowledge transfer and the broader applied use of artificial intelligence.