Capio Robotics at RomeCup 2026: an interview with Niccolò Pagliarani
Robots capable of picking up fruit and vegetables without damaging them, adapting to the shape and texture of the produce. At the demonstration area of the RomeCup 2026 (Rome, 28–30 April), among the technologies dedicated to smart agriculture and sustainability, Capio Robotics will also be present, a start-up currently being established by the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa.
The project was created to tackle one of the most complex challenges of robotics applied to agriculture: the handling of fragile and variable organic produce. Traditional robotic systems, designed for standardised industrial environments, are often unsuitable for handling delicate fruit and vegetables.
Capio Robotics, on the other hand, develops soft robotics solutions, featuring robotic grippers made from soft materials such as silicone, integrated with 3D vision systems and sensor fusion. This combination allows the robots to adapt to the shape of the produce and handle it without damaging it, opening up new prospects for the automation of the agri-food supply chain.
Alberta Testa discussed the project in depth with Niccolò Pagliarani, a researcher and chief development officer at the start-up.
Niccolò, tell us about your background and how Capio Robotics came about.
I am 28 years old and work as a researcher at the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, where I studied bionic engineering and then completed my PhD. During this time, I had the opportunity to undertake research placements in the United States and Switzerland.
Capio Robotics was born out of the research carried out at Sant’Anna. At the end of 2025, we secured €150,000 in pre-seed funding from RoboIT (CDP) and filed two patents for our technology. We are currently working on closing a €1.5 million investment round to bring our solutions to market.
What specific problem do you aim to solve with your technology?
Our aim is to automate certain stages of the agri-food industry, particularly those involving delicate products. Today, many industrial robots are unable to handle fruit and vegetables because they are too rigid and lack adaptability.
Our technology also stems from the European SoftGrip project, a €3 million initiative completed in 2024, which aimed to develop robotic systems for the automated harvesting of mushrooms. Having validated the technology on this type of crop, we are now working to apply it to other products such as raspberries, apples and kiwis.
What is the biggest technical challenge when designing ‘soft’ robots?
The main challenge is finding the right balance between delicacy and performance. The robot must be soft enough not to damage the produce, yet sufficiently precise and stable to grasp it quickly and consistently.
Furthermore, in agriculture, every fruit is different: they vary in size, shape and degree of ripeness. soft robotics allows this adaptability to be built directly into the structure of the robotic gripper.
Is there already concrete demand from the agricultural sector?
Yes, the market is showing a great deal of interest. We are collaborating, for example, with organisations such as the Melinda consortium. Automation can help the agri-food supply chain tackle some major challenges: labour shortages, reducing waste and improving the quality of the harvested produce.
Furthermore, these technologies can help make the supply chain more transparent and traceable, with benefits for consumers too.
There is often a fear that robots will replace human labour. What is your view?
I believe that technology should support human labour, not replace it. In agriculture, many tasks are physically very demanding. The idea is to use robots to carry out the heaviest or most repetitive tasks, leaving people in roles involving control, supervision and system management. In this sense, innovation can also become an opportunity to develop new skills.
At RomeCup you will meet many students. What advice would you give to those who dream of setting up a tech start-up?
My advice is always to start with a real problem. It’s not enough to develop an interesting technology: you need to understand whether there is a genuine need and whether the market is ready to embrace it. Then you need a range of skills: research, engineering, but also communication and entrepreneurial skills. And above all, plenty of patience and perseverance, because turning an idea into a start-up takes time and many attempts.
