Italy’s Lazio region and Qatar are exploring opportunities for cooperation in smart city technologies and cultural heritage preservation, according to a regional development official. Speaking on the sidelines of Maker Faire Rome 2026, Andrea Romagnoli, project manager for Startup Internationalisation at Lazio Innova, highlighted several areas where the two regions’ challenges and innovations align.
Maker Faire Rome 2026, held at the Gazometro Ostiense, is an annual event that showcases advanced European developments in sectors such as smart mobility, circular economy, and agricultural technology, drawing participants from around the world. Romagnoli noted that urban management issues faced by European cities like Rome closely mirror infrastructure priorities in Gulf countries such as Qatar.
“Smart cities are a crucial topic for us. Rome faces major challenges with mobility and energy, and countries like Qatar are addressing these issues effectively,” Romagnoli said in an interview. He explained that while Italian research institutions develop specialized technologies, local implementation is often limited by financial constraints, creating potential for international collaboration.
Lazio has also cultivated a particular expertise in technologies aimed at protecting cultural heritage. With Rome’s ancient infrastructure requiring ongoing preservation, local startups have developed innovations in structural health monitoring and early-warning disaster systems. These solutions have applications in safeguarding historical sites that are thousands of years old from threats such as earthquakes.
Romagnoli emphasized the economic importance of cultural preservation for Lazio. The region is unique in Italy for having a dedicated public fund that finances projects within its technology district focused on culture. This fund supports private companies collaborating with museums and archaeological authorities to protect historic locations.
“Protecting our beauty means protecting our primary source of income,” Romagnoli said. “Technologies that help safeguard cultural heritage are also driving the creation of innovative startups. We aim to bring this added value to countries around the world that have heritage to protect.”
Looking ahead, Lazio Innova is preparing Italian technology firms for potential entry into the Qatari market through virtual platforms. Priority sectors for cooperation include smart energy grids, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and smart finance, according to Romagnoli.
“Technology collaborations are ongoing. Qatar and Italy can support each other and advance the deployment of our technology,” he added, underscoring the mutual benefits of partnership in addressing urban and cultural challenges through innovation.