Organized by MIT Technology Review Italia and theUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, EmTech Italy returns to Cu.Bo (CUltural BOx) of theUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma.
A two-day international conference is planned to discuss the impact of emerging technologies on health, energy, the environment, and AI-driven transformations, with a focus this year on the opportunities offered by the development of quantum technologies.
Rome, April 9, 2026 - After the success of the first edition, it returns to Rome EmTech Italy, the flagship international format of MIT Technology Review dedicated to emerging technologies, which will bring together on 14 and 15 AprilUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, in the spaces of Cu.Bo (CUltural BOx), representatives from the scientific, academic, industrial, and institutional worlds to discuss the major transformations underway driven by AI.
This new edition follows the great success of last year, which recorded over 1.300 participants and a packed program of panels and keynotes, confirming the growing interest in a structured discussion on innovation issues.
The event is presented in Rome Thursday 9 April 2026, At the Press Room of the Chamber of DeputiesDuring the launch press conference, the key themes and the programme of work will be previewed, with speeches by Dr. Tommaso Canonici (Editor of MIT Technology Review Italia), and of Silvia Amato (General manager of Opinno Italy), of Prof. Rocco Papalia (Rector of theUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma) and Dr. Andrea Rossi, CEO and DG ofUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, moderated by theEng. Claudio Di Mario (Founding Partner of ADL Consulting).
The 2026 edition: “Tech for Humanity"
Promoted by MIT Technology Review Italy together withUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, EmTech Italy proposes itself as one open dialogue space between different skills and perspectives, with the aim of analyzing how innovation can help address some of the most significant challenges of our time, from the energy transition to the evolution of healthcare systems, to sustainable development and transformations in work.
If the 2025 edition explored the "Human & Tech" duo as two entities in dialogue, 2026 marks a paradigm shift towards "Tech for Humanity"The goal is no longer just to analyze the coexistence between man and machine, but establish how innovation should be designed, from the outset, to respond to global societal challenges: from the energy transition to the evolution of healthcare systems, up to the sustainability and well-being of society.
EmTech Italy 2026 thus proposes itself as a thought platform: a space where multidisciplinary skills converge to define a "technological agenda" that places collective well-being at the center of scientific, algorithmic, and industrial development.
During the event, they will alternate keynotes, round tables and in-depth discussions dedicated to the role of artificial intelligence as a lever for change on a global scale, with particular attention to applications in the sectors of health, energy and industry and the ethical and social implications linked to its diffusion.
Alongside these themes, the 2026 edition will also broaden its scope towards the exploration of Quantum EraThe potential of quantum computing and the impact this new frontier of computation will have on solving complex problems will be analyzed, opening up unprecedented scenarios for scientific research, security, and industrial development on a global scale.
An international comparison between speakers of extraordinary importance
On stage, during the two days, there will be more than 50 speakers leading experts and leaders from academia, science and industry, including Philippe Aghion, awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Economics, Thomas Poggio of MIT (considered among the founders of computational neuroscience), Jeff Grover, scientific researcher in quantum physics, Nils Olaya Fonstad of the MIT Center for Information Systems Research, Theodoros Evgeniou by INSEAD, Mercedes Balcells-Camps, Principal Research Scientist at MIT, Sangeet Paul Choudary, world expert on platform economics, together with numerous other protagonists of the international and national scene.
The comparison will also see the participation of leaders of the industrial world, the innovation ecosystem and institutions, offering a multidisciplinary perspective on the major changes driven by emerging technologies and the opportunities they open up for economic growth, sustainability, and social well-being.
"In a global context characterized by increasingly rapid transformations, EmTech Italy confirms its position as an open dialogue platform capable of connecting diverse skills and visions, fostering collaboration between research, businesses, and the institutional context to accelerate the adoption of innovative technologies in sectors strategic to the country's growth and promote responsible innovation, geared towards people's well-being." comments Thomas Canonici, editor of MIT Technology Review Italia.
We live in an age where technology is profoundly intervening in biological processes, healthcare systems, and the decision-making dynamics of our societies, to the point of helping define the very conditions of our future. In this scenario, the crucial challenge is not only the degree of advancement of innovation, but the vision of humanity and society it helps generate. It is within this perspective that the principle of Tech for Humanity fits: an explicit assumption of cultural, scientific, and institutional responsibility, which directs research and technological development toward life, human dignity, and the common good.
The presence of the fits into this horizonUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma at EmTech Italy 2026, not only as a partner, but as an actor that interprets and shares a profoundly human-oriented vision of science and technology. Our vision is that of a Human-Centered Science and Technology for Life, where knowledge is never separated from responsibility. This perspective embraces the Engineering Health paradigm, which integrates medicine, engineering, and data science to overcome a fragmented view of disease and promote a systemic understanding of individuals across the lifespan, from prevention to longevity. Similarly, the Planetary Health perspective reminds us that human health, the environment, and society are interconnected elements of a single global system, requiring integrated approaches and shared responsibilities.
The task before us is not simply to innovate, but to direct innovation, so that science and technology, also through the contribution of UCBM and of the international scientific community, are always at the service of life and capable of generating truly fair, sustainable and human progress" observes Rocco Papalia, Rector ofUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma.
“EmTech Italy offers the opportunity to bring a truly global perspective on innovation to Italy.
What I find particularly relevant about this edition is the common thread that runs through it: from health and longevity to energy, from sustainability to artificial intelligence, and even the future of work. Different fields, but united by a single question that, today more than ever, concerns us all: how to drive technological innovation to generate real value, for people and for the country as a whole. concludes Silvia Amato, General Manager of Opinno Italy.
The event's partners
EmTech Italy 2026 is made with the support of Intesa Sanpaolo e Takeda, the initiative's main partner and one of the key players in the innovation ecosystem. For theUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma and the Banking Group will be an opportunity to present the first results of the Global Health Observatory "Tech4GlobalHealth”.
They are joined by a group of companies engaged in the digital and technological transition, which helps to outline the overall profile of the edition: argenx, A2A, Bracco, Cisco, eFM, Enel, Experis - brands of ManpowerGroup, Federchimica Assobiotec, Gruppo FS, IBM, LB Servizi per le aziende, Poste Italiane and ROAD – Rome Advanced District.
The second Italian edition of EmTech is coordinated by knowledge partners Opinion, ADL Consulting e Good & Partners.
To learn more about the event, speakers, and agenda: www.emtechitaly.com
