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About

Erica Palmerini is a leading scholar at the intersection of law, ethics, and emerging technologies, with a particular focus on robotics regulation and human-robot interaction. Her work has played a foundational role in shaping European legal frameworks for robotics, most notably through her contributions to the RoboLaw project, which advanced proposals for EU-level regulation of robotic technologies. Her most cited paper, "Regulatory Challenges of Robotics" (2017, 200 citations), remains a landmark reference for legal scholars and policymakers grappling with the ethical and regulatory dilemmas posed by autonomous systems entering everyday life. Palmerini's scholarship spans liability and risk management in robotics, responsible research and innovation, and the philosophical question of legal subjectivity for autonomous agents. More recently, she has ventured into the neuroscience-informed study of human augmentation, exploring how extra robotic limbs challenge neural resource allocation — a striking interdisciplinary turn that bridges law with cognitive science and engineering. With contributions to European Parliament briefings, edited volumes on law and technology, and guidelines directly informing robotics governance, Palmerini's influence extends well beyond academia into active policymaking, making her an essential voice in the global conversation about regulating transformative technologies responsibly.