Robotics, AI and networking: at Nervi, the third edition of the DRIMS2 Doctoral School

Genova Nervi has recently hosted the 3rd edition of the DRIMS2 Doctoral School, an Advanced Training Program organized as part of RAISE Spoke 5 – Boosting PhD students’ career activity.

This challenging event, which also provided a great networking opportunity for the participants, took place in the last week of August and brought together 90 participants from national and international institutions.

As part of the national PhD Program in Robotics and Intelligent Machines, the School offered several transversal activities aimed at Doctoral students from several disciplines, including a full day dedicated to the RAISE Ecosystem. The topics of Robotics and AI, Human-Centric Design of Sustainable Mechatronics Systems, as well as Advanced Manufacturing, have been discussed.

The Local Chair of the conference, Prof. Giovanni Berselli (University of Genoa and ADVR, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia) comments:
“We had the pleasure to host the 3rd edition of DRIMS2 in Genova and we really have to thank many people who made this possible. It has been a truly successful edition, with high satisfaction by the participants. A special thanks to the contributing companies (Oversonic Robotics, PAL Robotics and FunctionBay S.r.l.), to all the Keynote Speakers and Tutors coming from all over Italy, as well as to the representatives of the National and Local Doctoral Schools. The results and feedbacks of the School will be presented at the national conference of the Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Machines that will be held in Rome between 17 and 19 October 2025”.

Beatrice Sola, one the students, added:
“I had the privilege of participating in the Summer School of Robotics and Intelligent Machines, organized by the I-RIM Institute and held at the Emiliani College in Nervi (Genoa), a unique location: classrooms with sea view, the cliff and the small port a few steps away, a context that made the experience even more special.
It was not just a school, but an intense week of learning, challenges, new encounters and lots of fun. Mornings were dedicated to stimulating lessons, while afternoons took place in hands-on workshops, where we applied what we learned to a group project for the final challenge. With my team we managed to win third place: a result that enhances not only the finish line, but above all the shared path and the moments lived together.
We also had the privilege of listening to speakers of the highest level, including Arash Ajoudani, Gianluca Palli, Francesco Nori, Antonio Bicchi and Elena De Momi, who shared valuable reflections and knowledge. The meeting with representatives of industry – PAL Robotics, FunctionBay GmbH and Oversonic – also offered a concrete perspective on the fact that research and industry do not replace each other but proceed on parallel and complementary lines.
The challenge allowed us to work on collaborative robots, delving into aspects such as design, computer vision, tactile sensors and control.
The Summer School was not just study: the program also left room for extra activities such as kayaking, SUP, snorkeling, and even a team treasure hunt, which made the group even more united. But one of the most valuable teachings goes beyond the technical side: I return from this experience with new friends and colleagues with whom I can compare ideas and discussions and also for the more human side of the doctoral path”.

We would like to thank Prof. Arash Ajoudani (IIT), Prof. Elena De Momi (Milan Polytechnic), Prof. Gianluca Palli (University of Bologna), Prof. Francesco Nori (Google DeepMind), and Prof. Antonio Bicchi (IIT and University of Pisa).

A thank you also goes to all the members of the DRIMS2 Steering Committee: Calogero Oddo (Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies), Andrea Zanchettin (Milan Polytechnic), Matteo Matteucci (Milan Polytechnic), Gabriele Costante (University of Perugia), Gionata Salvietti (University of Siena), Nicola Pedrocchi (CNR), and of course the students and fantastic tutors who participated in the school.

Last but not least, thanks to the National Doctoral Coordinator, Prof. Antonio Sgorbissa, the Vice-Rector for Research, Prof. Laura Gaggero, for their continued support within RAISE Spoke 5, Oversonic Robotics, PAL Robotics, and Function Bay for sponsoring the School and participating in our “round tables with industry”.