The report filmed on the final day of the event
On the final day of the event, the Sala della Protomoteca was transformed into an arena for autonomous robots, featuring races, challenges and young talent. The report by TGR Lazio covers the 19th edition of the event organised by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale in partnership with Sapienza University of Rome.
RomeCup 2026 concluded at the Campidoglio with the robotics competition finals and the award ceremony for the 19th International City of Rome Trophy. TGR Lazio, the initiative’s media partner, also covered the final day of the event with a report filmed in the Sala della Protomoteca, which was transformed into a robot arena for the day (TGR, 30 April 2026, 7.30 pm edition).
Footballers, 3D-printed robotic arms, dancing robots and rescue robots: the report captures the energy of a day dedicated to educational robotics, experimentation and the talent of the younger generation. ‘They can’t go out of bounds, they can’t enter the penalty area. No one can help them. They are completely autonomous,” explains one of the voices recorded during the competitions, highlighting the complexity of the challenges faced by the teams.
Organised for 19 years by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale and held this year in partnership with Sapienza University of Rome, the RomeCup brings together schools, universities, companies and institutions to explore the frontiers of robotics and artificial intelligence. The 2026 edition, entitled “Intelligence and talent in dialogue”, involved over 4,000 participants in three days of activities including conferences, career guidance, a demonstration area, creative contests, hackathons and competitions.
The report also highlights the educational value of the experience: seeing students, even very young ones, design and develop autonomous robots using accessible tools – from educational kits to self-made devices – brings them into concrete contact with STEM subjects and the professions of the future. “Getting hands-on, that is, working with robots and artificial intelligence, is fundamental because it allows for an informed choice of which subjects might appeal to them for further study,” says a teacher interviewed.
The RomeCup is also a training ground for growth that nurtures passions, educational choices and career paths over time. In the report, a young participant explains how the experience sparked her passion to the point of shaping her university path: first a bachelor’s degree, then a master’s in computer engineering.
‘We have many young people who started attending our workshops in Quadraro, Rome, as early as primary school. Today they are engineers and master’s students. It is very pleasing to see how the impact of our work is reflected in young talent,’ concludes Mirta Michilli, general director of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale.
