Italy strengthened its presence at VivaTech 2026, one of the world’s leading technology events, which took place in Paris from June 17 to 20. Now in its tenth edition, the fair welcomed over 200,000 visitors, 500 exhibitors, and more than 15,000 startups from 165 countries.
The Italian presence, coordinated by the Italian Trade Agency through its Paris Office, centered around the Italian National Pavilion, which hosted 44 Italian startups, a significant increase compared to previous editions.
The Pavilion provided innovative Italian companies with a space for promotion and discussion with investors, industrial operators, and players of the international technology ecosystem, showcasing expertise and solutions in the fields of artificial intelligence, creative industries, greentech, deeptech, and Industry 5.0.
In this context, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation contributed to the presentation of the Italian innovation ecosystem, with particular attention to tools to support the internationalisation of startups and innovative SMEs, attracting foreign investment, and measures dedicated to international entrepreneurs and investors interested in operating in Italy.
On June 17, the Italian Pavilion hosted the panel “The Italian Innovation Ecosystem,” moderated by Counsellor of Embassy Sergio Strozzi, Head of the Foreign Ministry’s Office for Innovative Industrial Supply Chains and Startups, and introduced by Stéphanie Ricci, CEO and founder of Phoenix Advisory. Speakers included Augusto Reggiani for MIMIT, Marco D’Acunto for Invitalia, Stefano Pelagallo for CDP Venture Capital, Giovanni Castino for AI4I, Federico Novembrini for Netval, and Simone Riva for Partech.
The panel discussed the strengths of the Italian innovation system and the main measures available to foreign businesses, startups, and investors, ranging from tax and financial incentives to venture capital tools, from investor visas to startup founder visas, and the role of the public system in supporting investment attraction. Special attention was also paid to the state of the Italian artificial intelligence ecosystem, the country’s computational capabilities, and the opportunities provided to startups operating in the most advanced sectors of technological innovation.
The discussion highlighted the growth of an environment favourable to the development of innovative startups in various strategic sectors, ranging from biotechnology and life sciences to cybersecurity, from the space economy to the energy transition, from environmental technologies to microprocessors for artificial intelligence.
On June 18, at the Sovereignty Arena of VivaTech, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) also organized the session “Beyond Dependence: Europe’s Path to Economic Security and Tech Sovereignty,” dedicated to the topic of economic security and European technological sovereignty in the era of artificial intelligence. The panel saw the participation of Alessandro De Pedys, Director General for Cyber Issues, Information Technology, and Technological Innovation at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Eugenio Monteleone, Chief Operating Officer of Domyn, with Sergio Strozzi moderating the discussion.
The session explored the need for Europe to develop a more robust industrial and technological ecosystem, capable of competing globally through proprietary technologies, industrial cooperation, and greater control of critical value chains. The debate also highlighted the importance of building balanced international partnerships capable of reducing systemic risks and avoiding excessive dependence on single foreign suppliers.
Italy’s participation in VivaTech 2026 reaffirms the Ministry’s commitment, in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) and the other players of the Country System, to promoting the national innovation ecosystem abroad, supporting the international growth of Italian startups, and increasing Italy’s attractiveness as a destination for investment, talent, and advanced technologies.
