Antonio Bicchi Wins 2025 Pioneer in Robotics and Automation Award from IEEE RAS

Atlanta (USA) – Genova/Pisa (Italy), 23 May 2025 – Antonio Bicchi has recently been awarded the prestigious 2025 Pioneer in Robotics and Automation Award from the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS). This recognition highlights his “pioneering fundamental contributions to artificial hands, haptics, and human-robot collaboration, and their applications in robotics and prosthetics.” The award ceremony took place on May 22 during the 2025 International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) in Atlanta, marking a significant milestone in Bicchi’s illustrious career.

This award, established in 1999, celebrates individuals who have had a transformative impact in robotics and automation through groundbreaking research and development. It is aimed at professionals who are in the mid to late stages of their careers, emphasizing the continuous evolution and expansion of these fields.

Bicchi stands as a beacon of innovation as the third Italian researcher, among a total of seven from Europe, to receive this acknowledgment. This milestone underscores the advancements in robotics research not only in Italy but across Europe as a whole.

Reflecting on this prestigious recognition, Bicchi stated, “Receiving the recognition as a Pioneer from the world robotics society is, of course, a great honor. In a field where tens of thousands of researchers are now contributing with increasing enthusiasm, being among the few who have received this award—and one of the very few in Europe—means many things. Perhaps the most important is that, while many individuals have abilities equal to or even greater than mine, few have had the privilege of working with people of the quality and passion of those I’ve had as students and collaborators; of having mentors who showed me the way but never restricted my freedom, even the freedom to make mistakes; and of working in institutions like IIT and the University of Pisa, which prioritize research and actively support and value their researchers.”

Bicchi’s role as a Senior Researcher at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) is complemented by his position as a Professor of Robotics at the University of Pisa. He coordinates the Soft Robotics for Human Cooperation and Rehabilitation Research Unit, focusing on both fundamental and applied aspects of robotics technology. His groundbreaking work has led to innovations in the design of robotic hands, merging biomechanical functionality with user-friendly control.

Throughout his career, Antonio Bicchi has made significant strides in developing “natural” prosthetic limbs that respond intuitively to the user’s movements. His commitment to merging scientific inquiry with practical application is evident in his receipt of multiple grants from the European Research Council, including a noteworthy Synergy Grant in 2018 for the Natural BionicS project. This initiative aims to create prosthetic limbs that integrate seamlessly with the central nervous system, offering a more organic user experience.

Among his numerous achievements, Bicchi’s Advanced Grant in 2012 was a landmark moment for Italian robotics, leading to the invention of the SoftHand. This robotic hand design is versatile, with applications ranging from humanoid robotics to advanced prosthetics used in clinical settings in both Italy and the United States. Additionally, the technology has been commercialized by the innovative start-up qbrobotics, established as an IIT initiative in 2021.

Bicchi continues to push the boundaries of robotics through his recent work, including a Proof-of-Concept grant for the VSoftPro project, in collaboration with qbrobotics. This project is pioneering a transhumeral prosthesis that utilizes the principles of soft robotics to replicate the features of a human limb, showcasing the potential of technology to enhance the quality of life for prosthetic users.