Urban Tech 2026 exhibition to open at BolognaFiere

Urban Tech 2026, a new European exhibition hub focused on smart city management, is scheduled to begin at BolognaFiere on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, and will run through Friday, October 9.

The event covers various sectors including e-mobility, traffic, commuting, security, telecommunications, and environmental sustainability. A key highlight of the exhibition will be the Emilia 5.9, a solar-powered vehicle developed by the Onda Solare team at the University of Bologna. This Italian prototype recently won the iLumen European Solar Challenge (iESC) in the Cruiser category at the Zolder circuit in Belgium.

The Emilia 5.9 features five square meters of photovoltaic panels on its roof that power two electric motors integrated into the wheels. Constructed with carbon fiber composite materials for lightness and strength, the vehicle serves as a mobile laboratory for sustainable mobility. Additionally, the event will showcase Formula Student electric racing prototypes developed by various Italian universities, including Politecnico di Milano and the University of Florence.