1-“Fit4MedRob: Bridging vision and practice, turning ideas into results”
Date and Time: October, 23th 2026, 10:00-11:00
Where: Aula Magna (Floor +3, Building A/B)
Short abstract:As the Fit4MedRob project nears its conclusion, this round table sets the initial expectations against the results actually achieved. It brings together representatives of the project’s three core areas (clinical translation, robotic platforms and allied digital technologies, and next-generation components) to look back on the work carried out and to discuss what worked better than expected, the barriers encountered, and the lessons learned from the many clinical trials.
Chair: Andrea Orlandini (CNR-ISTC)
Panelists: Irene Aprile (Fondazione Don Gnocchi), Giuseppe Turchetti (Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna), Manuela Chessa (University of Genoa), Marco Controzzi (Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna), Gionata Salvietti (University of Siena), Antonio Sgorbissa (University of Genoa)
Dr. Irene Giovanna Aprile – Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi
Head of the Neuromotor Rehabilitation Department of Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi
Prof. Giuseppe Turchetti – Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna
Full Professor in Economics and Management of Innovation in Healtcare at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna
Prof. Manuela Chessa – University of Genoa
Associate Professor in Computer Science at Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems Engineering of the University of Genoa
Prof. Marco Controzzi – Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna
Associate Professor of the Human-Robot-Interaction Laboratory at the BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna
Prof. Gionata Salvietti – University of Siena
Associate Professor in the Department of Information Engineering and Mathematical, University of Siena
Prof. Antonio Sgorbissa – University of Genoa
Full Professor of the Department of INformatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and System Engineering – DIBRIS, University of Genoa
2-“Artificial Intelligence and robotic agents in companies: scenarios, applications, and impact”
Date and Time: October, 23th, 2026, 11:30-13:00
Where: Aula Magna (Florr +3, Building A/B)
Short abstract: Artificial intelligence and new capabilities in autonomy are transforming the way robots are designed, programmed, and used in industrial settings. What opportunities are emerging for Italian companies, and what conditions are needed to translate them into concrete applications? The roundtable brings together technology providers, robot manufacturers, manufacturing companies, and centers of expertise to exchange experiences and perspectives. Starting with the needs of businesses, the discussion will address the most mature applications today, the timing and methods of adoption, the technological and organizational obstacles that remain, and the impact on production processes, the workforce, and skills—with a focus on opportunities for diversification into robotics for established industries such as the automotive sector. Particular attention will be given to the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises and to the role of innovation ecosystems in facilitating the transition from experimentation to production use.
Chairs: Manuel Giuseppe Catalano (IIT), Stefano Ierace (Consorzio Intellimech)
Panelists: Miriam Merenda (MADE– Competence Center Industria 4.0), Francesco Ponsetti (KUKA Roboter Italia S.p.A.), Marco Rosa (PAL Robotics), Guido Perricone (Brembo N.V.), Massimo Di Sipio (Raicam), Stefano Ierace (Consorzio Intellimech)
Miriam Merenda, Eng. – MADE, Competence Center Industria 4.0
General Manager of MADE
Francesco Ponsetti, Eng. – KUKA Roboter Italia S.p.A.
Engineering Sales Consulting at KUKA Roboter Italia S.p.A
Marco Rosa, Eng. – PAL Robotics
Senior Project Manager of PAL Robotics
Guido Perricone, PhD, Eng. – Brembo N.V.
Head of Project Funding and Institutional Relations of Brembo N.V.
Massimo Di Sipio, Eng. – Raicam
Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Raicam
Stefano Ierace, PhD, Eng. – Consorzio Intellimech
Head of Consorzio Intellimech
3-“Leading research in Robotics and Intelligent Machines”
Date and Time: October 24th 2026, 14:00-15:00
Where: Aula Magna (Floor +3, Building A/B)
Short abstract: Recent recipients of major EU and national research grants will present their planned research, their motivations, the challenges they aim to address, and the journey that led them to develop successful project proposals, fostering a fruitful exchange with colleagues and inspiring future generations of I-RIM researchers.
Chairs: Antonio Sgorbissa (University of Genoa), Matteo Matteucci (Politecnico di Milano)
Panelists: Vito Cacucciolo (Politecnico di Bari), Giacomo Moretti (University of Trento), Nicola Pedrocchi (National Research Council – STIIMA), Federica Ferraguti (University of Modena – Reggio Emilia), Giovanni Berselli (University of Genoa), Arash Ajoudani (Italian Institute of Technology)
Prof. Vito Cacucciolo – Politecnico di Bari
Associate Professor at Politecnico di Bari
Prof. Giacomo Moretti – University of Trento
Associate Professor at University of Trento
Nicola Pedrocchi, PhD – National Research Council – STIIMA
Head of the Robot Motion Control and Robotized Processes Laboratory at Institute of Intelligent Industrial Technologies and Systems for Advanced Manufacturing -National Research Council
Prof. Federica Ferraguti – University of Modena e Reggio Emilia
Associate Professor at the Department of Sciences and Methods for Engineering of the Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Prof. Giovanni Berselli – University of Genoa
Full Professor at University of Genoa
Arash Ajoudani, PhD – Italian Institute of Technology
Director of the Human-Robot Interfaces and Interaction (HRI²) laboratory at Italian Institute of Technology
