The award ceremony in the Esedra hall of the Capitoline Museums as part of RomeCup
The third edition of the Most Promising Researcher in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence award, promoted with the University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome and the University of Roma Tre as part of the RomeCup 2025, received almost 300 applications from all over Italy, confirming the growing interest of the scientific community in the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence.
The 2025 edition saw a highly qualified and diverse participation with 273 applications.
- Gender distribution: 65% men, 35% women
- Average age: 29 years
- Geographical origin: 50% from Northern Italy, 29% from Central Italy, 21% from Southern Italy and the islands.
The candidates come from over 50 academic institutions and research centres, including the National Research Council (CNR), the Polytechnic University of Milan, the University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’, the Italian Institute of Technology and the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies. The presence of institutions of excellence such as the Gran Sasso Science Institute, the Bruno Kessler Foundation and the IRCCS Humanitas Clinical Institute highlights the prestige of the award and the high quality of the research presented.
The winners are selected by a jury of experts in the field, made up of academics from prestigious universities and senior researchers. The evaluation follows strict criteria, with particular attention to the innovation and originality of the research, its potential impact on society and industrial applications, and its scientific and methodological soundness.
The 10 finalists will have the opportunity to present their work during the official ceremony, which will be held on 8 May 2025 in the Esedra dei Musei Capitolini hall. The event will be moderated by the journalist Massimo Sideri, columnist for the daily newspaper Corriere della Sera, and will be streamed on the RCS MediaGroup platforms.
The award ceremony is not only a recognition for young researchers, but also an opportunity for visibility and networking with the academic and industrial world, contributing to the dissemination of Italian research in the technological field.
In previous editions, the award recognised high-impact projects in the field of applied research: in 2023, the winner was Marta Lagomarsino, with a project on bio-cooperative robotics (CoBots) to improve the quality and safety of working life. In 2024, the prize was awarded to Mihai Dragusanu, author of an advanced robotic suit for rehabilitation, an innovative solution that combines biomechanics and artificial intelligence to improve motor recovery.
