The Foundation
The Italian Society for Neural Networks (SIREN) was founded in 1989, born from the scientific vision of Prof. Eduardo R. Caianiello. Recognizing the emerging potential of connectionism and parallel distributed processing, Prof. Caianiello sought to create a unified national platform for researchers who, until then, had been working in fragmented groups across physics, mathematics, engineering, and biology departments.
The society was established with a clear interdisciplinary mission: to foster the study of neural networks not merely as computational tools, but as complex systems capable of modeling biological learning and cognitive processes. This holistic approach remains a cornerstone of SIREN's philosophy today.
Eduardo R. Caianiello (1921-1993)
A theoretical physicist, Eduardo Caianiello was a pioneer in cybernetics. Long before the 'Deep Learning revolution', he formulated mathematical theories on neural pulse propagation and learning equations (specifically the Mnemonic Equations). His ability to bridge the gap between 'hard' sciences and biological complexity laid the theoretical groundwork for the Italian neural network community. (foto Courtesy: SIREN / Eredi Caianiello
We are developing the E. R. Caianiello and Maria Marinaro Archives, with publication planned for 2027.
WIRN: The Annual Tradition
Since its foundation, the beating heart of SIREN has been the Italian Workshop on Neural Networks (WIRN). Traditionally held in the picturesque setting of Vietri sul Mare, the workshop has became a nexus for global scientific exchange.
Over the decades, WIRN has hosted the most prominent figures in the field, including recipients of the IEEE Frank Rosenblatt Award, Nobel Prizes, innovators and pioneers of the Connectionist movement. The workshop is characterized by its unique atmosphere, which encourages informal discussion and close interaction between senior experts and young PhD students.
Legacy and Evolution
Following the passing of Prof. Caianiello in 1993, the society continued to thrive under the guidance of prof. Maria Marinaro, his students and colleagues. Today, SIREN has evolved to embrace the rapid changes in the landscape of Artificial Intelligence.
The society actively promotes research in Deep Learning, Machine Learning, Pattern Recognition, and Big Data Analysis. It serves as the Italian Chapter of the IEEE Computational Intelligence Society and maintains strong ties with the European Neural Network Society (ENNS), acting as a bridge between Italian research excellence and the international scientific community.