European Digital Tech Watch — Osservatori Digital Innovation, Politecnico di Milano
Upcoming EDTW Event

Applying AI in Europe: from Startup Innovation to Industrial Impact

November 10, 2026 · 16:00–18:30 CET Onsite & Online · Brussels, Rue de la Loi, 26 - Italian Chamber of Commerce in Belgium English

Description

The event proposed by the European Digital Tech Watch aims to identify and discuss high-value AI applications that can drive competitiveness across Europe, in line with the strategic priorities of the European economy and the European Commission’s Apply AI strategy.

As a partner event of the European Commission’s AI Innovation Month, the initiative contributes to a broader programme of activities promoting AI innovation across Europe. More information is available on the AI Innovation Month webpage.

By bringing together stakeholders from both the supply side (AI startups, scale-ups, and technology providers) and the demand side (large corporations), the event will explore how AI can generate tangible economic value across sectors.

A central element of the event will be the presentation of new evidence on the EU AI ecosystem, including:

  • An analysis of the EU AI startup landscape, highlighting sectoral strengths and competitive niches.
  • The identification of geographic innovation hubs across EU Member States.

The event will also address key enablers of AI adoption, including data availability, cloud and computing infrastructures, AI skills, and technological sovereignty.

The event is designed for an expert group of senior stakeholders operating across Europe, including Heads of AI, Chief Data Officers, innovation leaders from large corporations (e.g. manufacturing, energy, banking and telecommunications), AI startups and scale-ups active in sector-specific applications, researchers, and experts in AI and industrial innovation.

Objectives & key questions

  • How is the AI startup ecosystem structured across the European Union?
  • What technologies do these startups develop, and what are their roles in the AI Value Chain?
  • Where are the main hubs of AI specialisation?
  • What are some of the top AI adoption use cases within EU companies?
  • What are the main requests for the EU to better support AI adoption in companies and the growth of European AI startups?

Programme

  • 16:00 Welcome and introduction Italian Chamber of Commerce in Brussels, European Digital Tech Watch
  • 16:10 Applying AI in Europe: Startup ecosystem and industrial Innovation European Digital Tech Watch
  • 16:30 Keynote address by the AI Office European Commission
  • 16:45 First Roundtable Discussion – perspectives from European AI and digital associations ASD, Digital SME, European Organisation for Security, SustAIn.brussels
  • 17:20 Second Roundtable Discussion – perspectives from systemic infrastructures Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, Galene.AI and Technology & Innovation Lead for S2E, JPMorgan, Leonardo Aeronautics Division
  • 17:55 Third Roundtable Discussion – perspectives from manufacturing and services Deliverect, Electrolux Group, Volvo Group, Wemanity Reply
  • 18:25 Closing remarks & networking cocktail

Topics addressed

AI & Data AI regulation Artificial Intelligence European Digital Watch

Speakers

Claudia Gherman Digital Transformation Senior Manager ASD
Alberto Storace Head of Data & Intelligence Cassa Depositi e Prestiti
Antonio Curado Head of Data Deliverect
Antonio Grasso Public Affairs Director Digital SME
Vida Ahmadi Mehri Data & AI Governance Officer Electrolux Group
Elaine Zaunseder Policy Officer in the unit for Excellence in AI and Robotics at the European AI Office European Commission
Paolo Venturoni CEO European Organisation for Security
Valérie Hoess Executive Director AI & Data Policy EMEA JPMorgan
Giorgio Mosca Head of Digital Transformation & Sustainability Governance Leonardo Aeronautics Division
Angelo Lippolis Technology & Innovation Lead Galene.AI - S2E Lux
Yavuz Sarikaya ProgrammeManager & Advisor, ResearchDepartment, Université libre de Bruxelles SustAIn.brussels
Mehrdad Mamaghani VP Head Data Science & ML Engineering Volvo Group
Anna Buttaboni Associate Partner Wemanity Reply

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