Dear colleagues,

Here are the latest news regarding activities and initiatives related to Robotics and Automation in Italy.

I remind you that the Chapter is available for the technical and cooperative sponsorships of conferences, seminars, schools, and small workshops (even at a local level) held by teachers and lecturers of international standing. Please, contact the Chapter Chair and Vice-Chair for further information. 

Table of contents

1. YABP Award 2025 (deadline: August 29, 2025)
2.  European Conference on Mobile Robots 2025 (ECMR) 
3.  Automatica.it 2025
4. International Conference on Social Robotics + AI 2025 (ICSR)
5. I-RIM 3D
6. Call for challenges I-RIM 3D 2025

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1. YABP Award 2025 (deadline: August 29, 2025)

The IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Italian Chapter (I-RAS) “Fabrizio Flacco” Young Author Best Paper (YABP) Award 2025 is given to an author or co-author of a recent paper published in one of the journals sponsored by the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS).

The following applies:

• eligible journals are listed here: http://www.ieee-ras.org/publications;

• publication date (at least online) should be ≥ 2023;

• the author must be an I-RAS member during 2025 (i.e., IEEE RAS member with an affiliation in Italy);

• the author’s birth date must be ≥ January, 1, 1990;

• it is allowed to resubmit unawarded papers of the previous call;

• researchers who have previously won the award are not eligible.

The best paper is selected by a Committee formed by 5 IEEE RAS members nominated by the Chair. The Chapter Chair and the Vice-Chair are Committee members and they will not vote.

Interested authors must send an application with

1. a letter in which the contribution of the author is clearly stated;
2. accompanying letters (optional);
3. the IEEExplore PDF of the paper;
4. copy of the ID;
5. proof of IEEE I-RAS membership for 2025.

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2. European Conference on Mobile Robots 2025 (ECMR) 

The IEEE Italy RAS Chapter is among the patrons of the European Conference on Mobile Robots (ECMR)!

ECMR is a biennial conference in the area of mobile robotics and mobile human-robot systems. The 12th ECMR will be hosted by the Department of Information Engineering – University of Padua, Italy.
The conference format is single track with invited keynotes, contributed papers, and posters. Contributed papers and posters are selected via a thorough peer review process.

Registration: https://ecmr2025.dei.unipd.it/registration/

➡ Call for late breaking results (deadline: August 5, 2025): https://ecmr2025.dei.unipd.it/call-for-late-breaking-results/

📅 September 2 - September 5, 2025
🏙 University of Padua, Italy
🌍 https://ecmr2025.dei.unipd.it/

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3. Automatica.it 2025

The IEEE Italy RAS Chapter is among the patrons of the AUTOMATICA.IT 2025!

Automatica.it is scheduled to take place in Perugia, with parts of the event in Assisi, from 3rd-5th September 2025

We extend a warm invitation to academics and professionals to discuss recent innovations in Control Systems. The event emphasizes sharing recent advancements and applications, involving young researchers, as well as both emerging and advanced scientists, fostering a vibrant environment where innovation grows through shared insights. Additionally, a round table will be organized to promote discussions on sustainability.

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4. International Conference on Social Robotics + AI 2025 (ICSR)

The IEEE Italy RAS Chapter is among the patrons of the Conference on Social Robotics + AI 2025 (ICSR)! 

It is with great pleasure that we invite you to the International Conference on Social Robotics + AI, taking place in the vibrant and historic city of Naples, Italy, from September 10 to 12, 2025. Now in its 17th edition, this prestigious event will bring together leading experts, researchers, and professionals from around the world to discuss the latest advancements in “Social Robotics and Artificial Intelligence”. The conference theme, "Emotivation at the Core: Empowering Social Robots to Inspire and Connect," highlights the essential role of “Emotivation” in social robotics. Emotivation captures the synergy between emotion and motivation, where emotions trigger and sustain motivation during interactions. In social robotics, this concept is key to building trust, fostering empathy, and supporting decision-making by enabling robots to respond sensitively to human emotions, inspiring engagement and action. For this year’s edition, we are excited to introduce several new elements designed to enhance your experience and enrich the discussions. We are confident these additions will provide fresh perspectives and offer new opportunities for interaction and collaboration. The program will also feature a variety of sessions, including keynote speeches from world-renowned experts, technical presentations, workshops, and panel discussions, covering a broad spectrum of topics in robotics and AI. Set in the enchanting city of Naples, known for its rich cultural heritage, exquisite cuisine, and vibrant atmosphere, the conference offers the perfect backdrop for professional growth and networking. A dedicated exhibition area will showcase the latest advancements in social robotics and AI, while a variety of social activities will provide ample opportunities to exchange ideas, build connections, and enjoy the unique charm of Naples. We are excited to welcome you to this inspiring event at the forefront of Social Robotics and AI.

Registration: https://icsr2025.eu/registration/ (Regular registration open until August 31, 2025)

📅 September 10 - September 12, 2025
🏙 Naples, Italy
🌍 https://icsr2025.eu/

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5. I-RIM 3D 2025

The IEEE Italy RAS Chapter is among the patrons of the I-RIM 3D 2025 conference! 

I-RIM, the Italian Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Machines, presents I-RIM 3D 2025, the VII edition of the Robotics and Intelligent Machines Conference that involves the I-RIM community with scientific dissemination events, hands-on demonstrations, exhibitions and debates. Also this year I-RIM 3D will take place in synergy with Maker Faire Rome – the European Edition.

Call for papers: https://i-rim.it/en/call-for-contributions/ (Deadline: September 23, 2025)

📅 October 17 - October 19, 2025
🏙 Rome, Italy
🌍 https://i-rim.it/en/i-rim-3d-2025-conference/

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6. Call for challenges I-RIM 3D 2025

This year, I-RIM 3D will feature two thematic challenges, designed to evaluate the real-world impact of cutting-edge research developed by the community: 

1. Human-aware navigation 
2. Human-robot collaborative manipulation

A maximum number of 5 teams will be accepted for participating in each challenge. Each team can be composed of a maximum of 6 people.  All interested teams can register for the competition by sending an email to the organizers indicating the chosen challenge, the names of the team members, and 200 words describing the proposed solution.

The winning team of each competition will receive a cash prize of 500€

🌍 Links:

• Description and instructions: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zfLlsT8bbMky6LnIW2KVTpDf4sZIjDG7/view?usp=drive_link 
• GitHub Repository: TBD

📅Important dates:

• Submission deadline: August 8, 2025
• Notification of acceptance: August 18, 2025
• Challenges dates: October 17 - October 19, 2025