At RomeCup 2026: Technologies That Expand Human Capabilities
Robotic hands capable of replicating complex movements, increasingly lightweight and natural-looking prosthetics, and devices designed to collaborate with humans in work settings and rehabilitation. At the demonstration area of the RomeCup 2026, scheduled in Rome from April 28 to 30, researchers and startups will present prototypes of advanced robotics and prosthetics that demonstrate how technology can expand human capabilities and improve quality of life.
RomeCup, the multi-event promoted by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale ETS and titled this year “What’s next? Intelligence and Talent in Dialogue,” explores the future of education, research, and business through the dialogue between the humanities and computational sciences, with a focus on augmented languages. In the demonstration area, innovators and research centers present concrete solutions, offering the public the opportunity to observe up close technologies that are redefining the relationship between humans and machines.
Among the key players in this area is Prensilia, a spin-off of the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, active in the development of advanced systems for robotic manipulation. At RomeCup, it is presenting several devices that represent the state of the art in the field of anthropomorphic robotics.
Among these is the Azzurra robotic hand, an extremely lightweight device designed for scientific research in fields such as prosthetics, neuroscience, and rehabilitation. Thanks to its modular structure and ability to replicate complex movements, Azzurra is used as an experimental platform to study new modes of interaction between robotic systems and the human body.
Alongside this research platform, Prensilia is also presenting Mia Hand, available in two configurations. The first is an advanced prosthetic hand, designed to allow users to perform most daily activities independently, with natural movements and intuitive control.
The second version is designed for the manufacturing sector: a flexible anthropomorphic gripper for collaborative robotics, designed to work alongside operators in the most complex industrial processes, improving precision and safety in handling tasks.
Through these prototypes, the RomeCup demonstration area offers a concrete glimpse into one of the most promising frontiers of technological research: robotics that is increasingly capable of adapting to humans, supporting their daily activities, work, and rehabilitation journeys.
