Datalogic Promotes the Marconi International Fellowship Award

Datalogic, the largest European manufacturer of bar code readers, mobile computers and RFID systems has funded the event on 8^th October 2004 which accompanies the awarding of the Marconi International Fellowship, the prestigious international prize in memory of Guglielmo Marconi - scientist, engineer, inventor and entrepreneur. This year's Fellowship has been awarded to the two young scientists who are the creators of the well-known search engine called Google: Sergey Brin and Laurence Page of the University of Stanford, California. The event took place this year in Bologna, Italy, the birthplace of Marconi, thanks to the collaboration of the Guglielmo Marconi International Fellowship Foundation of Columbia University, USA and several local institutions.

Amongst these is the Marconi Foundation which Datalogic is funding for the three-year period of 2004-2006 by contribution in particular to the development of the G. Marconi museum. This museum is one of the most important locations in the development of wireless communications, for it was here that Marconi conducted his initial experiments with Wireless.

The event was divided into two parts: the technical-scientific symposium and the prize-giving ceremony. The conference was opened by Romano Volta, Datalogic Chairman of the Board, who introduced the symposium entitled "Marconi's Legacy: Telecommunications Today and Tomorrow." The conference is a meeting of scientists and pioneers of technology, who are invited to discuss current progress in the field of telecommunications and its impact on society.

In the afternoon, the prize-giving ceremony took place. Fellowships are granted to individuals who have made significant contribution to the advancement of communications or knowledge transfer through scientific or technological discoveries or innovations. Special attention is given to emerging concerns in designated subjects that are likely to benefit society not only currently but in the future. This year the International Fellowship Award was given to the founders of Google, a search engine designed to crawl and index the Web efficiently and produce more satisfying search results that other systems. Recipients of the Award are expected to pursue further creative work that will add to understanding and development of communications that and lead to the enhancement of human life.

The aim of the Foundation is to enhance the spirit of Guglielmo Marconi, his contributions to communications and information, and his determination that such knowledge be directed to the social, economic and cultural development of all humanity.