Day One and a Report on the Opening Conference
AThe 19th edition of the event organised by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale has kicked off at Sapienza University of Rome. Three days of talks, competitions, workshops and demonstrations to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, robotics and the humanities.
With a lecture theatre packed with students, RomeCup 2026 officially opened yesterday. The event, organised by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, has been introducing the younger generation to robotics, artificial intelligence and the professions of the future for nineteen years. This year’s edition holds special significance: it marks the start of celebrations for the 25th anniversary of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale and focuses on young talent in the dialogue between artificial intelligence, robotics and the humanities.
Leading the opening morning in the Aula Magna of the Marco Polo Building at Sapienza University of Rome was Riccardo Luna, journalist and columnist for Corriere della Sera, who introduced the key theme of this year’s event: putting young people back at the heart of innovation, not merely as users of technology, but as protagonists capable of understanding, governing and directing it towards the common good.
The opening address was delivered by Luigia Carlucci Aiello, founder and first president of the Italian Association for Artificial Intelligence, who also welcomed the students in her capacity as Sapienza ambassador: “It is truly a pleasure to enter this hall because there is a crowd of enthusiastic young people who give us hope for the best during these days”. Next, Arianna Punzi, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy, emphasised the value of choosing to host the RomeCup in a space where the humanities engage with the sciences and technology. A concrete sign of a transformation that is now necessary: “The world has changed, and it is precisely through the union of the humanities and STEM that we all grow.”
In her speech, Mirta Michilli, Director General of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, recalled the deep connection with Sapienza University and with the legacy of Tullio De Mauro, the Foundation’s long-standing president, “a pioneer in the application of machine learning to language”. RomeCup, she explained, is the way in which the Foundation continues to work towards a “democratic knowledge society”, supporting individuals, schools and communities to make the most of the opportunities offered by technological development. “The challenge for the future is not to chase after technology, but to work towards ensuring there is a widespread ability to understand and manage it”.
The figures for the 2026 edition illustrate the scale of the ecosystem: over 4,000 participants, including 3,500 students, 100 teams competing in robotics competitions, 37 educational workshops, 32 creative contests, 17 university guidance talks and 53 organisations present in the demonstration area. Added to these are the 256 young researchers nominated for the Most Promising Researcher in Robotics and AI award, assessed by a jury of 63 experts from universities and research centres.
The first session, dedicated to high-tech companies that create jobs and make an impact, was opened by Paolo Dario, professor emeritus of biomedical robotics at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa and chair of the Research Award jury. Dario urged the students to recognise the value of Italian education and to transform it into ambition, enterprise and responsibility. “Our education system remains perhaps the best in the world,” he stated, noting how a solid grounding—capable of bringing together science, technology and the humanities—is a fundamental asset today. Quoting Dante, he highlighted two key words: “virtue and knowledge”. Understanding technologies, grasping what lies “within” programmes, robots and artificial intelligence systems, means being able to take the lead rather than passively consuming change.
Speaking on how research can become business were Massimiliano Simi, VP Global R&D and co-founder of MMI Medical Micro Instruments, Daniele Spaccini, founder and Chief Innovation Officer of WSense, and Andrea Pagnin, co-founder and Chief Business Officer of Generative Bionics. Three different stories, united by the choice to build innovation in Italy: from robotic microsurgery, with instruments capable of operating on structures measuring a millimetre or smaller, to underwater wireless networks for environmental monitoring, security and marine robotics, right through to humanoids designed to collaborate with people. “In Italy, you can dream,” Simi reminded the students, urging them not to give up on their ideas too soon: “Sometimes you hesitate, you’re afraid of your own ideas. Don’t let others say it, don’t be the first to say it yourselves.”
The discussion then shifted directly to the students, with questions on artificial intelligence, critical thinking, responsibility and human-machine collaboration. With Alfio Ferrara, full professor of Computer Science at the University of Milan, and Luca Iocchi, full professor of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics at Sapienza University, the discussion addressed the risk of delegating tasks to machines. Ferrara emphasised the importance of not losing one’s own presence in texts, decisions and projects built with the help of AI: “The main risk is delegating my presence in what I do and what I write to the machine.” The antidote, he explained, is not just to acquire operational skills, but to develop knowledge: knowing how these systems work in order to use them creatively and consciously.
Iocchi invited the students to “open the box” of technology: not to stop at the surface of the tools, but to ask how they work, what data they use, what limitations they have, and what choices they incorporate. The RomeCup, she noted, is also this: a place where technology is not merely discussed, but shown, taken apart, and examined through prototypes, robots, competitions and demonstrations.
The morning also addressed the theme of gender and online representation, with Leopoldina Fortunati, Professor of Sociology of Communication and Culture at the University of Udine, and Tiziana Catarci, Senior Professor of Computer Engineering at Sapienza University of Rome.
Starting with questions from the students, the discussion explored the influence of algorithms, social media and beauty standards on identity formation, as well as the persistence of stereotypes that still deter many girls from pursuing technological studies. Catarci highlighted the need to intervene very early on, as early as primary school, to counter the idea that some subjects are ‘for boys’ and others ‘for girls’: “It is not a women’s issue, it is a human issue”.
In the institutional conclusions, Davide D’Amico, Director-General for Information Systems and Statistics at the Ministry of Education and Merit, emphasised the importance of better linking schools, universities, businesses and local communities, integrating technologies into academic disciplines rather than treating them as a separate field. The challenge, he explained, is to train teachers capable of using artificial intelligence even within the humanities, to make innovation a living part of educational processes.
Mirta Michilli brought the opening conference to a close with a special thank you to the teachers: “We would never have been able to do all the work we have been doing for 25 years without the constant support of your teachers.” The Director-General then launched the event’s activities: robotics competitions, creative contests, workshops, career guidance talks, workshops with companies and a demonstration area. The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the exhibition area, attended by Senator Licia Renzulli, Vice-President of the Senate, officially opened the space dedicated to prototypes, robots, research solutions and projects developed by schools, universities, start-ups, companies and research centres.
Throughout the day, RomeCup also hosted a Rai News corner, featuring interviews with key figures in innovation and the event’s partners. From healthcare to education, from the cloud to cybersecurity, from AI for businesses to collaborative robotics, the testimonials highlighted the richness of an ecosystem that invests in young people to build skills, confidence and awareness.
RomeCup 2026 continues until 30 April at Sapienza University of Rome and the Campidoglio, featuring the competitions of the 19th International City of Rome Robotics Trophy, creative contests, educational workshops, meetings with universities and events with companies. On 29 April, in the Sala Esedra of the Capitoline Museums, the award ceremony for the Most Promising Researcher in Robotics and AI will take place, an award dedicated to young researchers who are helping to redefine the future of robotics and artificial intelligence.
RomeCup 2026 is organised in partnership with Sapienza University of Rome, under the patronage of the Ministry of Education and Merit, the Ministry of University and Research, the Lazio Region, Roma Capitale, the Italian Institute of Technology, the National Research Council, I-RIM – Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Machines and SIRI – Italian Association of Robotics and Automation. It is organised in partnership with INAIL and in collaboration with Microsoft Italia, Raspberry Pi Foundation, Amazon, Johnson & Johnson, Opening Future – a joint project by Google Cloud, Intesa Sanpaolo and TIM Enterprise – and SAP. Media partners: Corriere della Sera, Rai Scuola, RaiNews.it and Tgr Rai. Mobility partner: Atac.
