UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI CASSINO E DEL LAZIO MERIDIONALE

Their core work

UNICAS is an Italian university based in Cassino (Lazio region) with strong research groups in robotics, wireless communications, and geotechnical engineering. Their robotics teams work on multi-robot systems for both underwater exploration and precision agriculture, while their telecommunications researchers focus on next-generation wireless networks including massive MIMO, radar-communication co-design, and terahertz antenna systems. They also contribute expertise in environmental geomaterials, soil stabilisation, and public health research on topics like smoking prevention and vaccine hesitancy.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015-2018), UNICAS focused heavily on underwater and aerial robotics — participating in multiple marine exploration and aerial manipulation projects — alongside geotechnical engineering and public health. From 2019 onward, their activity shifted markedly toward advanced wireless communications (massive MIMO, radar sensing, terahertz systems) and applied robotics for agriculture, while maintaining a thread in geomaterials research. The transition from subsea/aerial robotics to telecommunications and precision agriculture suggests a strategic pivot toward higher-TRL application domains with clearer commercial pathways.

UNICAS is converging on the intersection of wireless networks, machine learning, and radar sensing — positioning them well for 6G research and intelligent sensing applications in Horizon Europe.

How they like to work

UNICAS operates flexibly across roles: they coordinated 4 projects (often MSCA training networks) but participated as third party in 5 others, typically contributing specialised robotics or engineering expertise to larger consortia. With 168 unique partners across 35 countries, they maintain a broad European network rather than relying on a tight circle of repeat collaborators. Their frequent third-party role suggests they are valued for specific technical contributions that complement larger teams.

UNICAS has collaborated with 168 unique partners across 35 countries, indicating a wide and well-distributed European network built through diverse project types from MSCA training networks to large RIA consortia.

What sets them apart

UNICAS combines deep robotics experience (underwater, aerial, agricultural) with a fast-growing wireless communications group working on next-generation technologies like terahertz antennas and radar-communication co-design — a combination rarely found in a single institution. Their track record of coordinating MSCA projects shows they can lead international training and research mobility initiatives. For consortium builders, they offer the dual advantage of hands-on robotic systems engineering and advanced signal processing / machine learning for wireless networks.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ABWET
  Their largest coordinated project (EUR 1M) on biological waste-to-energy, demonstrating capacity to lead substantial international research initiatives.
• CANOPIES
  Significant participant funding (EUR 739K) applying multi-robot systems to precision agriculture — their highest-funded participant role and a bridge between their robotics heritage and agri-tech applications.
• RaSeCoL
  Coordinated project on joint radar sensing and communication design for next-gen wireless networks, representing their newest research direction at the frontier of 6G technologies.