IRPPS is an Interdisciplinary Research Institute that conducts studies on demographic and migration issues, welfare systems and social policies, on policies regarding science, technology and higher education, on the relations between science and society, as well as on the creation of, access to and dissemination of knowledge and information technology.

Among other research activities is also social informatics. The evolution of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and the pervasive use of new devices enables a wide access of data and information by the population, and an effective use of new services. In this scenario the emerging technologies have to be developed taking into account that they will be used by very heterogeneous people considering their social, cultural and technological features. The group of Social ICT carries out studies and researches on the dynamic influences of the evolution of ICTs and changes in the society. These researches aim:

• to produce theoretical and technological innovation for reducing the population digital divide, improving the availability and access to services, information and knowledge using ICTs.

• to analyse the impact of the emerging technologies on people, and the people expectances in term of evolution and perspectives of technologies.