Itri

Itri is a small city and comune in the central Italian region of Latium and the Province of Latina.

Itri is an agricultural centre divided in two parts by a small river, the Pontone. It lies in a valley between the Monti Aurunci and the sea, not far from the Gulf of Gaeta. The more ancient part, with the Castle, was partly destroyed during World War II.

The Itrani speak a particular variant of the Neapolitan dialect, the Itrano.

History

The first direct documentary record of Itri dates to 914, but settlements in the neighbourhood existed from prehistoric times, as proved by findings from the Neolithic and the Bronze Ages.

According to legend, Itri's origins appear to coincide with the destruction of Amyclae, a maritime city founded by the twin sons of Zeus, Castor and Pollux, whose Spartan followers clashed with Aeneas. The Greek colony was most likely on the coast at about 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of Fondi. Amyclae was founded between Lake Fondi and the Terracina coast, on the edge of the murky waters of the swamps present at the time. The quiet Amyclaeans were plagued by the cursed and numerous evil forces of the swamp, unstoppable beings such as the monstrous serpent with nine heads, the Lernaean Hydra, which attacked with poisonous venom, and whose heads would re-grow as quickly as Hercules could slice them off with his sword. The city of Amyclae was soon annihilated. The few survivors abandoned the city and relocated a few kilometers south to the area now known as Itri. These first inhabitants of Itri supposedly adopted the emblems of the "Signum Salutis", a serpent, as their symbol of power, and "Amycleus", the dog's head, as their symbol of fidelity.

Industrial Technology Research Institute

The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI; Chinese: 工業技術研究院; pinyin: Gōngyè Jìshù Yánjiùyuàn) is a nonprofit R&D organization engaging in applied research and technical services originated from Taiwan. Founded in 1973, ITRI has played a vital role in transforming Taiwan’s economy from a labor-intensive industry to a high-tech industry. Numerous well-known, high-tech companies in Taiwan, such as leaders in the semiconductor industry TSMC and UMC, can trace their origins to ITRI. ITRI, headquartered in Taiwan, has offices in the United States, Japan, Russia, Netherlands and Germany in an effort to extend its R&D scope and promote opportunities for international cooperation.

ITRI employs 5,579 personnel, including 1,320 who hold Ph.D.s and 3,024 with master's degrees. By disseminating both technology and talent, ITRI has led the technology industry into the 21st century and has cultivated over 140 CEOs in the local high-tech industry. ITRI has played a vital role in Taiwan's economic growth as it shifted from a labor-intensive industry into a value-added, technology-driven one. Moving forward, the institute will continue serving as a pioneer for industries by strengthening its capabilities of multidisciplinary innovation and cooperation with international partners all over the world.