Some Research Trends in KR&DB (position paper)

In recent years, applications based on database tools and those based on Description Logic systems are progressively converging towards integrated technologies that try to overcome the limits of each single discipline. Therefore, a great call for an integrated view of Description Logics and Database is emerging. In this position paper, some research topic in the database area for which Description Logics seem very promising, due to their richer formalism and inference mechanisms, are mentioned. In particular we list some of them in the field of database conceptual modeling, and in the field of intelligent information access. Moreover, our past and present efforts in devising some technologies for integrating the access to knowledge bases and databases are recalled, together with a couple of application examples realized, or under development, at our Institute. Also some other relevant application fields are mentioned