The sixth stage of the “Fabbrica della Realtà” Roadshow took place in Genoa on June 16th at the Galata Museo del Mare, dedicated to the theme “Embodied AI, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for the Future of the Planet”.
The event, promoted by ANSA in collaboration with the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), represented an important opportunity for discussion among institutions, research centers, companies, and startups engaged in the development of artificial intelligence solutions applied to robotics, with particular attention to the excellence present in the Ligurian region.
RAISE actively participated in the event with two contributions highlighting the strategic value of emerging technologies for environmental sustainability and industrial innovation.
Marco Faimali, Director of the Institute for the Study of Anthropogenic Impacts and Sustainability in the Marine Environment (IAS-CNR) and leader of Spoke 3, opened RAISE’s contribution by illustrating the opportunities offered by ecobotronics, a rapidly expanding field that integrates robotics and artificial intelligence for environmental protection and monitoring. During his presentation, Faimali shared application cases and research projects that demonstrate how autonomous robotic solutions can monitor, analyze, and intervene in the environment effectively and non-invasively. He also emphasized the potential of these technologies to support environmental remediation, pollution control, and biodiversity protection, contributing concretely to environmental sustainability goals set at European and international levels. On this occasion, Faimali also described RAISE’s broader contribution to robotics and sustainability, highlighting the value that the ecosystem is bringing to the Ligurian region and its future development prospects, with the aim of ensuring continuity of activities even beyond the conclusion of the NRRP, in order to consolidate technologies and solutions for the benefit of society and the environment.
In the following panel, Cristina Battaglia, RAISE Programme Manager, explored the topic of technology transfer, focusing on the dynamics of enhancing scientific research through industrialization processes and dissemination in various production sectors. Battaglia illustrated the operational methods adopted by RAISE to foster dialogue between academia, the entrepreneurial system, and public administration, underlining the importance of creating an innovation chain capable of transforming scientific and technological skills into concrete application solutions. Her speech also highlighted RAISE’s strategic role as a facilitator of systemic and integrated innovation processes, with particular attention to the need to ensure continuity of the results achieved and the technologies developed, even after the end of the NRRP, in order to support over time the impact of the initiatives undertaken on the local economy and the production system.
The event offered an overview of the most advanced applications of “Embodied AI”, or artificial intelligence embodied in robotic systems capable of learning through interaction with the physical environment. This approach paves the way for new models of automation and functional autonomy for robots, with direct implications in strategic areas such as industrial production, logistics, precision agriculture, healthcare, space industry, and environmental protection.
Many experts took part during the day, including representatives from the Italian Institute of Technology, the University of Genoa, Deloitte Consulting, and innovative companies specializing in AI-based solutions.
The event hosted the official greetings from the President of the Liguria Region, Marco Bucci, and from City Councilor Vittoria Cerchi Canessa, representing the Mayor of Genoa, Silvia Salis.
Among the speakers, Giorgio Metta, Scientific Director of the Italian Institute of Technology, stood out by presenting the latest research developed in IIT laboratories; Federico Cardone, Director at Deloitte Consulting, focused on the opportunities of artificial intelligence in business processes; Antonio Sgorbissa, Professor at the University of Genoa, explored the theme of collaborative robotics; Jacopo Zenzeri, CEO of ReWing, provided a testimony on technological entrepreneurship; Francesca Negrello, Technology Manager at JOiiNT LAB, presented technology transfer projects in the industrial field; Emilio Alacevich, Chiara Bartolozzi, and Daniele Pucci from IIT demonstrated the application potential of “Embodied AI” systems in various sectors. Finally, Eleonora Servodio, Coordinator of the H4E incubator for startups, described initiatives supporting young innovative enterprises.
The conference was moderated by Alessio Jacona, curator of the ANSA.it Artificial Intelligence Observatory, and journalist Massimo Sebastiani.
ANSA’s CEO, Stefano De Alessandri, concluded the meeting by emphasizing the crucial role of information in fostering understanding of ongoing technological transformations and in promoting a widespread culture of innovation.
