When innovation is a shared creative process
Creative contests are one of the most representative formats of the 19th edition of RomeCup, held in the capital from 28 to 30 April 2026. The contests are designed to promote concrete encounters between schools, universities and research. An educational experience that focuses on collaborative design and the ability of young people to transform emerging technologies into useful solutions for society.
The 2026 edition features teams from 27 schools, engaged in a co-design process with 12 Italian universities. The students, supported by university lecturers and tutors, develop functional prototypes based on real challenges, applying design methodologies, problem solving and teamwork.
The projects are presented and evaluated during the RomeCup with an elevator pitch lasting a maximum of five minutes. The jury analyses the prototype's compliance with criteria such as originality, sustainability, technical feasibility and social impact.
Contest categories and participating teams
The thematic areas guiding the creative contests and the schools and universities involved are as follows:
AGROBOT. Robotics for agriculture
Technological solutions for the efficient use of water resources, crop care and automated harvesting, with a focus on environmental sustainability.
Schools: A. Giordano in Venafro, Giorgi Woolf in Rome, Russell in Cles and Fermi in Francavilla Fontana
Universities: University of Pisa and Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome.
NONNIBOT. Robotics for elderly care
Projects dedicated to improving the domestic autonomy, safety and quality of life of elderly and frail people.
Schools: A. Giordano in Venafro, Majorana in Pozzuoli, Panella Vallauri in Reggio Calabria and Virginia Bracelli in Rome.
Universities: University of Naples Federico II and University of Chieti-Pescara.
COBOT. Collaborative robotics
Systems designed to work alongside humans, with applications ranging from motor control to pick and place processes.
Schools: A. Giordano in Venafro and Avogadro in Vercelli.
Universities: University of Catania and University of Eastern Piedmont.
MAREBOT. Marine robotics
Solutions for marine environmental protection, monitoring and inspection of port and coastal infrastructure.
Schools: Russell in Cles, Guglielmo Marconi in Nocera Inferiore, Panella Vallauri in Reggio Calabria, GD Cassini in Sanremo, Vito Volterra in Ciampino and Marconi Pieralisi in Jesi.
Universities: University of Florence, Turin Polytechnic, University of Pisa and University of Marche.
TIRBOT. Autonomous vehicles and smart roads
Projects focused on autonomous driving, road safety and intelligent management of urban traffic flows and parking.
Schools: Panella Vallauri in Reggio Calabria
Universities: Roma Tre University.
DRONEBOT. Unmanned systems and artificial intelligence
Applications of drones and autonomous systems for exploration, mapping and navigation in complex environments.
Schools: Vincenzo Arangio Ruiz in Rome, G. Giorgi in Milan, Bachelet Einstein in Rome, G.B. Vaccarini in Catania, Vito Volterra in Ciampino, Istituto Maria Immacolata in Gorgonzola, Enzo Ferrari in Rome and Fermi in Rome.
Universities: University of Rome Tor Vergata.
From smart agriculture to collaborative robotics, from elderly care to marine environmental protection, to autonomous vehicles and drone systems, the contests showcase a generation that uses technology to care for people, territories and communities.
RomeCup 2026 thus confirms its vocation: to be a space where innovation is born from the encounter between knowledge, grows through collaboration and takes shape thanks to the talent of young people.
