RomeCup 2026: let’s listen again to the interviews with the finalists of the fourth edition of the award
The Research Award 2026 has once again established itself as the premier showcase for Italian technological innovation, highlighting a generation of researchers capable of competing at the very highest global levels. Through a rigorous selection process, involving three assessors for each proposal and a jury of over 60 members, the event recognised ingenuity applied to solving global challenges.
Research as the driving force behind the country: Paolo Dario’s call to action
Providing a meaningful framework for the entire event was the speech by Paolo Dario, who described the calibre of young Italian researchers as “spectacular” and far superior to that of many renowned countries. Dario emphasised that research is not merely an academic exercise, but an extraordinary reservoir for the country’s economic development, urging institutions to focus more decisively on scientists’ ability to devise usable solutions and bring them to practical application.
The key themes: ethics, AI and new frontiers
The award for Most Promising Researcher in Robotics and AI was presented to Massimiliano Mancini. His research tackles one of the most complex challenges of modern artificial intelligence: creating models capable of adapting to unforeseen scenarios whilst, at the same time, guaranteeing the right to be forgotten. Mancini is working on solutions that enable sensitive data to be removed from models without incurring the prohibitive economic and environmental costs of retraining. In the field of healthcare, Erik Gasparini triumphed with the LimbMATE project, a bidirectional interface that translates muscle movements into commands for prosthetics, whilst providing sensory feedback to the user. The work of Marta Gherardini follows a similar path, using magnets implanted in the muscles to recreate natural control and genuine contact between the person and their missing limb.
Technology for social good and inclusion
The 2026 edition placed a strong emphasis on the ‘Humanities’. Micol Spitale received the special Digital Humanities Award for her work on inclusive artificial intelligence, developing social robots equipped with specific models for people with cognitive disabilities. Alice Nardelli also focused on social robotics with the SONRI project, aimed at promoting intercultural integration in nursery schools by fostering acceptance of diversity.
Access to healthcare was championed by Angela Sorriento, whose project integrates AI and imaging to make ultrasound less operator-dependent and accessible in remote areas, whilst Matilde Buattini explored the use of Large Language Models to improve the therapeutic alliance and clinical outcomes in psychotherapy.
Infrastructure and Autonomous Systems
Italian research does not neglect industry and the environment. Simone Tani presented underwater robots capable of using optical and acoustic perception for seabed monitoring and the monitoring of critical infrastructure. Enrico Marchesini, meanwhile, outlined machine learning algorithms that enable robots and energy systems to operate autonomously in complex contexts.
Finally, to democratise innovation, Matteo Russo has developed an Open Access library of mechanisms to facilitate the design of soft and continuum robotics, breaking down barriers to access advanced mechanics.
This showcase of talent confirms Paolo Dario’s assertion: Italian researchers possess the methodological rigour and visionary capacity needed to lead global innovation, provided the country knows how to make the most of this invaluable human capital.
