Emilia-Romagna at the heart of international innovation
On 11th and 12th May 2026, Bologna and Emilia-Romagna welcomed the fourth edition of The Bologna Gathering (TBG), a leading international event bringing together the worlds of venture capital, startups and emerging technologies.
Organised by founding partners ART-ER, the Emilia-Romagna Region, the Metropolitan City of Bologna and the Municipality of Bologna, the event brought together investors, startups, businesses and innovation leaders from across Europe, the Americas and Asia. It further strengthened Emilia-Romagna’s position as a dynamic hub for innovative entrepreneurship and international investment.
Two days of connections, conversations and new opportunities
The programme kicked off on 11th May with four parallel Opening Dinners, bringing together carefully selected groups of investors, institutions, businesses and innovation leaders for informal discussion and networking.
The dinner hosted by ART-ER focused on dialogue between European institutions, international investors, venture capital funds and key players from the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Discussions explored some of the key issues shaping the future of innovation, including support for innovative startups, access to finance, European competitiveness, scale-up growth and the role of regional ecosystems in driving technology-led development.
Guests included Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, and Alessandro Scortecci, Chief Investment Officer at CDP Venture Capital, alongside representatives from leading Italian and international investment funds.
The discussion with ART-ER’s President also explored European policies aimed at helping innovative businesses scale, as well as the growing importance of European technological sovereignty.
The main event, held on 12th May at Tecnopolo DAMA, brought the community together for a full day of networking, knowledge sharing and discussion around the priorities of startups, investors, corporates and organisations supporting innovation.
More than 690 participants from around the world
The 2026 edition saw strong growth, attracting 694 participants, including:
- 174 investors;
- 160 startups;
- 131 representatives of established companies;
- 156 representatives of the Italian and international innovation ecosystem.
The event also attracted a significant international audience, with 117 participants travelling from outside Italy, representing 16% of the total. They included 62 investors, 22 startups and 24 innovation professionals.
By bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, businesses and talent, The Bologna Gathering created new opportunities to connect innovative companies with capital, expertise and international markets.
Bringing research and investment closer together
A key feature of the 2026 edition was its collaboration with Research to Innovate Italy, helping to strengthen links between research, technology transfer, business and investment.
The partnership further underlined Emilia-Romagna’s role as a platform for developing new technologies, supporting startup growth and turning research into real-world innovation.
The impact of the event was also reflected in the many posts and testimonials shared on social media by investors, startups, businesses and innovation professionals, highlighting the quality of the conversations, connections and collaboration opportunities generated throughout the two days.
The fourth edition of The Bologna Gathering once again demonstrated Emilia-Romagna’s ability to bring together talent, capital and innovation from around the world, while helping Italian startups connect with international markets and global innovation networks.
