The Padua-based startup showcased its anti-drowsiness device at the press conference promoted by MP Alessandro Giglio Vigna on innovation and Made in Italy competitiveness.
Rome, March 25, 2026
Oraigo At the Chamber of Deputies: Innovation and Competitiveness between Open Innovation and Made in Italy Technologies”
Oraigo, the neurotechnology startup founded in Padua in 2019, was among the key players at the press conference “Innovation and Competitiveness between Open Innovation and Made in Italy Technologies,” held on the evening of Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in the Press Room of the Chamber of Deputies. The event was promoted by MP Alessandro Giglio Vigna, President of the European Affairs Committee at Montecitorio, as part of a broader institutional commitment to spotlighting Italian technological excellence that combines innovation with social impact.
In a country where approximately 170,000 road accidents are recorded every year — more than 1 in 4 caused by driver fatigue, one of the most insidious hazards on the road — Oraigo offers a concrete, patented answer: Aigo, a wearable brain-computer interface that monitors a driver’s brain activity in real time, detecting the early warning signs of drowsiness before it becomes dangerous.
The device consists of a headband fitted with electrodes that detect and transmit EEG data via Bluetooth to a mobile application. A proprietary AI-based algorithm analyzes the brainwaves and, upon detecting a state of fatigue, triggers visual, vibration, and audio alerts that bring the driver back to an optimal state of alertness. Unlike other wearables such as wristbands that measure wrist movement, Aigo acts directly at the source: the brain.
The press conference fits within the framework of initiatives promoted by MP Giglio Vigna to foster constructive dialogue between institutions, academia, and innovative Italian companies, with the goal of strengthening the country’s competitiveness within the European context. Oraigo stands as a prime example of open innovation: a project born from the convergence of entrepreneurial vision, world-class scientific research, and private investment, capable of turning advanced technology into a real-world product that benefits public safety.
Adding further weight to the announcement is the news that SMET, a long-established public road transport company, has decided to launch a pilot project with Oraigo. The decision followed an in-depth evaluation of the solutions available on the market, at the end of which SMET identified in Aigo a feature absent from all other systems examined: the ability to detect drowsiness preventively, rather than merely responding to an event already underway.
For a company that manages professional drivers on urban and intercity routes every day, the difference between a reactive system and a proactive one is not a technical detail, it is a matter of human lives. SMET chose Oraigo because it shares the same philosophy: road safety is built by anticipating risk, not reacting to it.
“We must not wait for a critical event to occur and then try somehow to stop the vehicle, with enormous uncertainty about the outcome. Instead, through artificial intelligence, we act predictively to prevent it from happening in the first place.”
— Domenico de Rosa, CEO of SMET
With over 25,000 road fatalities every decade in Italy, and a significant share of accidents still attributable to fatigue-related causes that often go unreported by drivers, Oraigo’s contribution to reducing road risk is positioning itself as one of the highest-impact Made in Italy innovations of the coming years.
About Oraigo
Oraigo is an Italian startup in the field of neurotechnology, founded with the goal of revolutionizing the transportation industry through the combination of brain waves and artificial intelligence. With a vision focused on road safety and driver well-being, we develop innovative solutions designed to prevent accidents and improve individual and fleet performance.
About Smet
SMET is one of Italy’s leading companies in road freight transport, operating a fleet of vehicles at both national and international scale. The company stands out for its commitment to its people and its ongoing dedication to innovation and safety.
Contact Oraigo
Oraigo’s communication office – info@oraigo.com
Contact Smet
Smet’s communication office – comunicazione@smet.it
