Morning and afternoon activities at Sapienza University of Rome. Evening at the Campidoglio
The second day of the RomeCup 2026 gets into full swing with a programme spread across the premises of Sapienza University of Rome, where students, lecturers, researchers, companies and institutions come together to discuss some of the major challenges of innovation: digital wellbeing, health, career guidance for the professions of the future, artificial languages, educational robotics and research applications.
The morning and early afternoon are dedicated to projects carried out with companies, university guidance sessions, creative contests, robotics competitions, educational workshops and the demonstration area, featuring prototypes from schools, universities, research centres, start-ups and businesses. The day also centres on a tribute to Tullio De Mauro, the first president of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, featuring a discussion on the transition from natural language to artificial language and the skills needed to navigate the era of artificial intelligence with awareness.
In the evening, RomeCup moves to the Campidoglio, in the Sala Esedra of the Capitoline Museums, for the RomeCup Research Award Night: the finalists for the Most Promising Researcher in Robotics & AI award present their research projects and the winner of the fourth edition is announced. A symbolic conclusion to a day that brings together education, experimentation, cultural heritage and scientific talent.
Wednesday 29 April | Sapienza University of Rome
10.00–13.00 | PROJECTS WITH COMPANIES
Classrooms T1, 105, 108
Projects in partnership with companies provide spaces for practical experimentation, where students, lecturers, researchers and professionals collaborate to transform technological innovation into opportunities for learning, career guidance and social impact. An alliance between industry, education and research that helps build a shared governance of innovation, founded on responsibility, inclusion and sustainable development.
Digital and generations: building wellbeing with Google [Lecture Theatre 105]
Caring for the psychological wellbeing of millions of people who, every day, use the internet, search engines and artificial intelligence. An interactive workshop for teachers and students, with an opening address by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità.
At the forefront for young people and schools with Amazon [Room T1]
A programme dedicated to young people aged 16 to 25 to develop entrepreneurial and innovative skills through practical experiences and future-oriented guidance. The event is also an opportunity to showcase the results of ‘Un click per la scuola 2026’, an initiative supporting the education system.
The Future of Care. Health Bot Contest with Johnson & Johnson and Microsoft Italia [Room 108]
An educational contest for secondary school students focused on artificial intelligence solutions applied to healthcare. Now in its third edition, it forms part of the ‘The Future of Care’ programme.
10.00 - 11.30 | TRIBUTE TO TULLIO DE MAURO. FROM NATURAL LANGUAGE TO ARTIFICIAL LANGUAGE [Room T3] live streaming on Corriere.it
The conference reflects on how language, now increasingly mediated by intelligent systems, is transforming knowledge, education and citizenship. Building on the scientific and civic legacy of Tullio De Mauro, linguist and first president of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, the meeting brings together the humanities and computational sciences, schools, universities and institutions to explore the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence applied to languages, and the skills required for shared governance in the digital age.
Moderated by Alessia Crucian, journalist at Corriere della Sera
OPENING REMARKS
- Cecilia D’Elia, Senator of the Italian Republic
Remembering De Mauro, believing in education and teaching the future
The De Mauro method: language as a common good and a lever for emancipation, a critical foundation for understanding and managing the technological transformations of our time
- Alfonso Molina, Scientific Director of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale and Personal Chair in Technology Strategy at the University of Edinburgh.
Are languages still necessary? Teaching, machine translation and the role of the teacher in the age of AI
Some argue that, within a few years, the role of the university language teacher is destined to disappear. Can artificial intelligence really replace language teaching, or is it radically changing its very meaning?
- Monica Barni, Full Professor of Modern Language Teaching, Sapienza University of Rome
Not just speaking, but meaning. Language, meaning and relationships in the age of algorithms
Language is not merely the production of correct sentences, but the construction of meaning and social relationships. AI can imitate language, but can it truly understand its meaning? And what role does technological mediation play in the socialisation processes of the younger generations?
- Filomena Diodato, Associate Professor of Semantics, Cognitive Semantics and Language Theory and AI at Sapienza University of Rome
What is artificial intelligence really for? Opportunities, limitations and responsibilities in linguistic systems
If AI does not ‘understand’ in the same way as humans, what then is its true potential?
How can it become a tool to support knowledge, research and education, without leading to standardisation or a loss of meaning?
Alfio Ferrara, Full Professor of Computer Science at the University of Milan and AI Literacy Ambassador
Maurizio Lenzerini, Full Professor of Computer Engineering at Sapienza University of Rome
Conclusions by Walter Quattrociocchi, Full Professor at Sapienza University of Rome. Chair of the Data Science degree programme and Director of the Centre for Data Science and Complexity for Society (CDCS).
10.00–13.30 | STUDENTS MEET THE UNIVERSITIES
Orientation sessions organised by partner universities [Lecture Theatres 106, 107, 110, 201]
10.00–13.00 | CREATIVE CONTESTS [Main Lecture Theatre]
Design challenges based on the creation of robotic prototypes inspired by real-world problems and community needs (care, agriculture, etc.). Teams present their solutions through short pitches and demonstrations, showcasing their design skills, social vision and the integration of technology, sustainability and human impact. Following the brief presentation session (elevator pitch), the jury evaluates the entries and awards prizes to the winners in each category (AgroBOT, CoBOT, DroneBOT, MareBOT, NonniBOT, TirBOT).
10.00–13.00 | ROBOTICS COMPETITIONS
- 19th International City of Rome Robotics Trophy (Rescue Line, Soccer, On Stage First Step, On Stage Primary, On Stage Advanced, Explorer Junior, Explorer Senior)
- Robotic arms
10.00–13.00 | DEMONSTRATION AREA
Prototypes from universities, schools, companies, start-ups and research centres on display
Humanoid Lab Corner. A dedicated area is devoted to the development of humanoid robotics: from the journey of the SPQR Sapienza team (Nao) to the new frontiers of humanoid robots (Booster T1).
Cooperative UXV Platforms. Link-up between the RomeCup exhibition area and the University of Rome Tor Vergata for the conference ‘Cooperative UXV Platforms’. Technologies and methodologies for cooperative autonomous vehicles used in rescue, patrol and search operations. Event funded by the European Union, MUR’s PRIN2020 funds and in partnership with Italia domani.
10.00–13.30 | EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS
Educational robotics workshops for students and teachers from schools of all levels, organised by FMD and its partners [Classrooms T2, 101, 102, 103, 104, 107, 109, 201].
Learning Convergence Lab on Cyber Humanities. Teaching, applied research and global perspectives
For the first time, the educational activities of the university hosting RomeCup are not being suspended, but integrated into the programme with open workshops that combine university teaching, research and experimentation on topics in the digital humanities: augmented languages, algorithm ethics, generative artificial intelligence, new forms of storytelling and knowledge.
29 APRIL | CAMPIDOGLIO, CAPITOLINE MUSEUMS, SALA ESEDRA
21.00–22.30
live streaming on Corriere.it
Moderated by Riccardo Luna, journalist and columnist for Corriere della Sera
ROMECUP RESEARCH AWARD NIGHT
The finalists for the “Most Promising Researcher in Robotics & AI” present their research work. At the end, the winner of the fourth edition of the award is announced.
OPENING SPEECHES
Given the high prestige of the award, a video message and honour from the President of the Republic have been requested.
- Alfonso Molina, Scientific Director of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale ETS and Personal Chair in Technology Strategy, University of Edinburgh
- Paolo Dario, Professor Emeritus of Biomedical Robotics at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa
INNOVATION WALK-AROUND: THE 10 ITALIAN RESEARCH TALENTS INTRODUCE THEMSELVES
The finalists present their projects in a dynamic format, encouraging direct interaction with the jury, businesses and the public.
AWARD CEREMONY AND CLOSING REMARKS
The winners are announced by Mirta Michilli, Director General of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale ETS
The awards are presented by Roberto Gualtieri, Mayor of Rome
- RomeCup Research Award 2026
- Cyber Humanities Award “Tullio De Mauro”
