The University of Genoa Hosts Two Ulysseus Blended Intensive Programmes in Robotics, Health and Ageing
Funded through the Erasmus+ programme, the two international training initiatives brought together around 40 master’s students, PhD candidates and early-career researchers from Ulysseus partner universities, offering a highly interdisciplinary learning experience.
From 22 June to 3 July 2026, the University of Genoa hosted two Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs) within the Ulysseus European University Alliance: HERO – Human-centred and Ethical Robotics for Health and Well-being and AWAKE – Ageing and Well-being: Advanced Knowledge for Equitable Health.
Organised by the Ulysseus Innovation Hub in Robotics at the University of Genoa, in collaboration with the DIBRIS and DiSSal departments and the Ulysseus Innovation Hub on Ageing & Well-being, the programmes combined one week of online activities with one week of in-person sessions held at Villa Cambiaso. The programme featured lectures, workshops, laboratory visits, poster sessions and project-based activities, fostering dialogue across disciplines ranging from robotics and artificial intelligence to biomedical sciences and public health.
One of the distinguishing features of the initiative was the creation of interdisciplinary working groups composed of participants from both programmes. Engineers, physicians, biologists and researchers from diverse academic backgrounds collaborated to develop innovative solutions addressing the challenges of healthy ageing, adopting a human-centred, ethical and responsible innovation approach.
The programmes concluded with presentations of the projects developed by the international teams, showcasing the integration of complementary expertise across research, technology and clinical applications. Alongside the academic activities, participants also had the opportunity to engage with Genoa’s innovation ecosystem, exploring topics such as entrepreneurship, technology transfer and research valorisation.
Through HERO and AWAKE, the University of Genoa further strengthens its role within the Ulysseus European University Alliance by promoting international educational initiatives that address major societal challenges through collaboration across disciplines, institutions and countries, contributing to the development of a new generation of researchers and professionals equipped to shape the future of health and well-being.
About Ulysseus
Ulysseus is one of the 73 European Universities alliances selected by the European Commission under its flagship initiative of the European strategy for universities. These alliances, co-funded by the European Commission, bring together almost 650 higher education institutions of all types from across Europe.
Led by the University of Seville, the Ulysseus European University Alliance encompasses seven other partner universities: the Université Côte d’Azur (France), University of Genoa (Italy), the Technical University of Košice (Slovakia), MCI | The Entrepreneurial School® (Austria), Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences (Finland), the University of Münster (Germany), and the University of Montenegro (Montenegro).