Francesco Puja is the Founder and CEO of AIThera AI Solutions, an international company pioneering the application of artificial intelligence across multiple industries. AIThera is currently leading a multimillion-euro transformation program that is redefining how telecom companies operate. Beyond telco, the company develops AI-driven platforms, cognitive services, and computer vision solutions that accelerate digital transformation in energy, retail, manufacturing, and healthcare, delivering measurable impact on efficiency, safety, and customer experience.
He is also the Founder of NeuroFix, an Italian venture focused on the manufacturing and industrial markets. NeuroFix specializes in Industry 4.0 technologies including predictive maintenance, digital twins, IIoT, and collaborative robotics, supporting Italian enterprises in their journey toward innovation and automation.
Francesco combines academic rigor with entrepreneurial vision. Holding a PhD in Artificial Intelligence from Sapienza University of Rome, he was a key contributor to the EU H2020 SecondHands project, advancing distributed robotics and cognitive architectures for collaborative robots. He has published multiple research papers in AI, robotics, and biologically inspired cognitive systems, contributing to the advancement of human-like perception in artificial intelligence. He also earned executive certifications in Disruptive Strategy and Business Strategy from Harvard Business School, reinforcing his ability to connect advanced AI research with business impact. During his tenure at Konica Minolta Europe, he led the development of the first assistive robot for hospitals, tested in a geriatric ward, showcasing the power of AI to support healthcare staff and patients. His research also contributed to the OpenCV library, one of the world’s most widely used AI frameworks.
Before founding his ventures, Francesco built and directed the AI Solutions division of Konica Minolta Europe, managing teams across Germany, Italy, Japan, the Czech Republic, and the United States. He launched Forxai Mirror, the company’s first AI-powered business solution, successfully aligning advanced R&D with business growth.
Today, Francesco leads with a global mindset, passionate about mentoring young talents and bridging academia and industry. His work shows how AI, guided by ethics and human-centered design, can both transform enterprises and improve lives worldwide.
