The requested equipment, organised across four ISTAR laboratories and supported by shared infrastructure, is essential for achieving ISTAR’s 2025–2029 strategic plan. 

The Informatics Lab, through a state-of-the-art Data Centre, will enable large-scale Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain research, strengthening Strategic Objective SO4 [Resources]. This investment promotes open digital access for an enlarged community, offering big data and supercomputing capacity, enabling frontier innovation and partnerships with enterprises, public authorities and academic networks worldwide, advancing SO3 [Impact].

The Mixed Reality Lab will combine audiovisual and biometric sensors, 3D audio, high-performance computation and a 3D laser scanner to advance immersive environments, user-centred design and the digital-physical interface, supporting SO1 [Excellence] and SO5 [Audacity]. 

The Blockchain/Distributed Ledger Technologies Lab will consolidate secure infrastructures for decentralised and distributed systems, enhancing SO3 and SO6 [Education] by enabling advanced training and services with high societal value.

The IoT Lab will integrate prototyping tools—microcomputers, GPUs, 3D printers, LoRa gateways and specialised sensors—creating an ecosystem for experimentation and rapid innovation, contributing to SO6 through advanced training and to SO2 [Respect] by fostering inclusive, practice-oriented research. 

Finally, infrastructure upgrades (acoustic insulation, power, cabling, HVAC and safety) will ensure resilient, modern facilities, aligned with SO2 and SO4. 

Together, these investments reinforce ISTAR as a multidisciplinary, internationally recognised centre delivering research and innovation for digital transformation with societal impact.