Rome Smart City Awards 2025

Rome is changing, aware of the goals it has achieved and the many challenges still ahead: this is the meaning of the second edition of the Rome Smart City Awards, held at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni on Friday 14 November. The initiative, promoted by Smart People FLM Communications, was sponsored by the Municipality of Rome and supported by the Department of Digital Transformation. It aims to promote projects and visions that make cities more sustainable, participatory and digital. Fondazione Mondo Digitale actively collaborated as a partner and member of the jury [see the news item Innovation that improves life in cities].

The long marathon of discussions was moderated by Andrea Fragasso, university professor, promoter of the manifesto for the protection of local radio and television broadcasters and director of Terzo Millennio TV, together with the Smart People FLM Communications team. ‘The event comes at a significant time for the capital, as Rome was recently awarded at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona. This was an international recognition that highlighted the quality of the digital policies developed in recent years, from innovative public services to data governance,’ Andrea pointed out.

In his speech, Riccardo Corbucci, President of the Rome Capital, Statute and Technological Innovation Commission, noted that ‘after three years of tireless work with the idea of always being on time, Rome has been recognised for its transformations and its strategy.’ For the administration, the goal is for innovations to ‘become part of our daily lives and our relationships with the public administration.’

Antonella Melito, Vice-President of the Rome Capital, Statute and Technological Innovation Commission, highlighted how the concept of Smart City translates into a series of real changes, for example in mobility, and that the city's institutions have started with a unified vision and a clear path to follow. ‘We are keeping our feet on the ground and looking to the horizon,’ she commented. Rome is digital, or is becoming so, and now we need to create the digital citizen: this is the message.

Maria Sabrina Sarto, Vice-Rector for Research at La Sapienza University, mentioned the Rome Technopole and spoke of a ‘geopardised approach to the digital, energy, health and bio-pharmaceutical transition’. Onelia Onorati, press office of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, explained how, through a vertical alliance between various social actors (educational communities, companies, public administration), even the large suburbs of Rome were able to participate and co-design spaces for innovation and digital transformation as part of the Smart&Heart Rome project, thanks also to the synergy with the Department of Digital Transformation of Roma Capitale.

In the second half of the afternoon, the awards were presented, giving the floor to companies, schools, third sector organisations and personalities who distinguished themselves in 2025 for their social, technological and environmental impact. Among them were several protagonists of RomeCup 2025:

• Marco Stefanelli and Gianmarco Grippo for H4O Hydroponic Organic
• Carlo Ottaviani from Officine Robotiche and Giuseppe Cincaglini from IC Fratelli Cervi in Rome
• Mina Luiso from the Einstein Bachelet High School, together with a young student
• Maria Rosaria Autiero, headmistress of the Edoardo Amaldi High School in Rome

Finally, among the special mentions were the Digital Facilitation Centres. The award was collected by Vincenzo Sivero, project manager, who thanked the partner associations, not forgetting the role of Roma Capitale, which co-designs and co-manages the centres. The initiative is part of the “Digital Facilitation Services Network” project, part of national measure 1.7.2 of the PNRR implemented through the Lazio Region.

The awards and motivations

• Jazz'inn, a living Open Innovation laboratory that for nine years has been transforming villages and inland areas into capitals of social innovation, promoting relationships and sustainable development
• Associazione Roma Startup, a reference point for Rome's innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem, promoting connections, growth and business culture
• SCAI Comunicazione, an agency that combines strategy, creativity and technology and organises Rome Future Week, an event dedicated to innovation and the future
• Ecorecycling, for its innovative processes for recovering metals from waste and secondary raw materials, contributing to a sustainable circular economy model
• Wonder Souvenir Card, which reinterprets the authentic emotion of postcards through technology, guaranteeing uniqueness and lasting memories
• Istituto di Istruzione Superiore Einstein Bachelet, for the A.R.I.A. 2.0 project, a prototype dedicated to raising awareness of air quality, created in collaboration with the University of Tuscia
• AWARE Think Tank, a non-profit association founded by young people under 35 with the aim of contributing to the definition of public policies relating to the dual energy and digital transition
• Technotown (Zètema Progetto Città & Assessorato Scuola, Lavoro e Formazione del Comune di Roma), a space where science and technology become tools for creativity and collaboration
• H4O, for its innovative soilless cultivation module that combines simplicity, sustainability and high yield thanks to a patented hydroponic system
• CNA Digitale Roma, for its commitment to digital training and support for the technological transformation of local businesses
• Barbara Carfagna, journalist and RAI presenter of the programme “Codice: la vita è digitale” (Code: life is digital), for her ability to recount technological transformation and the future of society
• Translated, a pioneering company in the field of online translation and the use of artificial intelligence to support translators, also promoter of Pi Campus for young entrepreneurs
• Roma in Tempo, a project that transforms the way public administration communicates through gamification, making public information more accessible, participatory and rewarding
• Officine Robotiche in collaboration with the Istituto Comprensivo Fratelli Cervi, a project that combines ancient arts, digital manufacturing and the Internet of Things in teaching
• Liceo Amaldi, with the “Scrigno di Erone” project, a tinkering and robotics experience that combines logic, creativity and play to bring students closer to technology
• TWM Factory, for the “Riscatti di Città” project, which combines art, research and civic participation in the urban regeneration of the capital
• Res Smart, for the development of technological systems to support the well-being and health of citizens, with smart living and smart health solutions
• Intelligeheart, for Monnalisa technology, which uses citizen science and image analysis to monitor and protect cultural and environmental heritage
• Handy Science, for its AI-based Italian sign language assistance app, which makes communication more accessible and inclusive.
• Splastica, an innovative sustainable material made from completely biodegradable and compostable organic waste, a virtuous example of the circular economy.
• Special award from the organisation to Julia 2.0, the virtual assistant of Roma Capitale, which offers real-time information services, improving digital accessibility and communication with citizens.

Special mentions and reasons

• Fondazione Mondo Digitale for its service to citizens in the field of Digital Facilitation Centres
• Cristina Colaninno, Digital Ambassador at Caravaggio High School and promoter of the Digital Meet of the Italian Manifesto for the equality of girls, women and technology
• Eleonora Mattia, regional councillor, promoter of the first regional law on artificial intelligence
• Smart Cable Project, developed in collaboration with the University of L'Aquila, smart cables that integrate sensors and connectivity for innovative infrastructure.
• Fondazione Rome Technopole, for establishing a regional innovation ecosystem that integrates universities, research centres, businesses and institutions with a focus on digital, energy and biopharmaceutical transition.
• Gianluca Mansueto, GI.MA. 2009 - Quality Pan, for his entrepreneurial vision and the sustainable quality he constantly pursues in the bakery sector
• ONAF, in particular Domenico Villani, for spreading a culture of quality in the promotion of food and wine heritage and contributing to the promotion of local excellence
• Umberto Trombelli, nationally renowned oenologist and consultant, for his ability to promote territories, vines and tradition with an innovative and sustainable approach, describing wine as art and culture.

 The story is by Onelia Onorati, press office of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale.