Two innovation stories compared at the sixth seminar of the P2 | Basic AI & Robotics Applications4SMEs program.
On July 9, 2025, the event “SMEs and Robotics: Smart Solutions for Production and Beyond” took place in Genoa at the Talent Garden in Giardini Baltimora. It was the sixth event of the first edition of the P2 | Basic AI & Robotics Applications4SMEs program, part of the RAISE Training Program coordinated by Spoke 5.
Participants had the opportunity to explore how recent advancements in robotic technologies can benefit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The event was centered around the experiences of two entrepreneurs: Giorgio Castagno (CEO and founder of Robota) and Gianluca Lentini (CEO and co-founder of Exsensia).
Giorgio Castagno, originally trained in dentistry, chose to focus on developing robotic and artificial intelligence solutions applied to the sterilization of surgical instruments, achieving significant results in the med-tech sector.
His journey as an innovative entrepreneur stems from the need to make medical practices more efficient through robotics and AI, making his story a prime example of user-driven innovation.
Gianluca Lentini, who holds a PhD in Robotics Engineering from the Italian Institute of Technology, presented tools and approaches for simplified and intuitive programming of robotic systems. These were developed thanks in part to his experience in technology transfer gained at the JOiiNT Lab—a joint laboratory between the Italian Institute of Technology and the Intellimech Consortium, promoted by Confindustria Bergamo, Kilometro Rosso, and the University of Bergamo.
Lentini showcased use cases where AI & Robotics-based applications led to measurable improvements in specific production processes within SMEs, yielding very satisfactory performance outcomes.
The first cycle of seminars in the inaugural edition of the P2 program – all hosted at the Talent Garden – concluded successfully, with positive feedback from both speakers and attendees. The initiative fostered the exchange of experiences, processes, and innovative ideas in the field of AI and robotics for SMEs.
The final two seminars are scheduled for early autumn. For more information about the P2 program, please visit the Training section.
Images
Author: Annamaria Falcione (UniGe, Spoke 5)
Credits: UniGe and RAISE
