a podcast in Italian by Cristina Giordano and Daniela Nosari for WDR-ARD
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The guest in this episode is a professor and researcher based in Dresden, where he develops inventions at the intersection of materials science, biosensors, and artificial intelligence—innovations that often find real industrial applications. And it is a great time to be a scientist, says Gianaurelio Cuniberti in conversation with Cristina Giordano—especially in Germany. But what exactly does Cuniberti do, and how can his research improve the world we live in?
Who Is Gianaurelio Cuniberti?
He is a scientist with a long career that began in Genoa and led him to the Technical University of Dresden. Since 2007 he has been Professor of Nanotechnology and Materials Science there, as well as co-leader of an Excellence Cluster in the field of electronics.
Among his many honors is the “Stella d’Italia”, awarded to him in 2024 by Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
As Cuniberti explains in his interview, building networks is essential for any scientist. He is a member of the German Academy of Science and Engineering, the American Physical Society, and is director and co-founder of SIGN, the Network of Italian Scientists in Germany.
The SIGN Network for Italian Scientists in Germany
SIGN supports young Italians in Germany, because being a brilliant scientist is not enough to integrate into the German academic system. It is also crucial to understand a few unwritten but fundamental cultural rules to have a real chance at building a successful career, Cuniberti emphasizes.
Nanotechnologies and Their Applications
At TU Dresden, Cuniberti teaches and leads a research group focused on materials used in nanotechnology, particularly in the study of biosensors. Sensors are now everywhere, from cars to household devices, but the next frontier is already here. “We want to give robots the ability to see, hear, and feel the world,” Cuniberti explains.
These technologies are already embedded in countless everyday objects, from smartphones and computers to sunscreens and stain-resistant fabrics. Now, with the help of artificial intelligence, they could even revolutionize medicine.
One of Cuniberti’s ongoing projects is digital olfaction, which may one day allow robotic “dogs” to detect serious diseases many years in advance. This research points toward what many call the “Internet of Senses”, the next evolution beyond today’s “Internet of Things.”
Germany: A Country of Scientists
For Cuniberti, Germany remains a paradise for research and innovation, a country with science written into its DNA. He is deeply grateful for the opportunities it has given him. Saxony, in particular, is heavily investing in research, to the point that people now refer to it as “Saxony Valley,” a nod to California’s Silicon Valley. Still, he notes that high-level research is expensive and could be affected by future economic challenges.
In any case, artificial intelligence already plays a central role in his work, especially in materials discovery. “If someone had told me back when I was studying in Genoa in the 1990s that this would be possible, I would have bet against it,” he says.
Finally, speaking about his personal journey, Cuniberti notes that Saxony, his current home, and Liguria, his birthplace, actually share many similarities.
