Emilia-Romagna returns to VivaTech for the third time
For the third time, the Emilia-Romagna innovation ecosystem took part in Viva Technology, held in Paris from 17 to 20 June 2026.
France is a particularly strategic market for Emilia-Romagna’s startups and companies, thanks to its geographical proximity, strong industrial base and dynamic innovation ecosystem. In 2025, France accounted for 10.4% of Emilia-Romagna’s exports, corresponding to approximately €8.8 billion. It was the region’s third-largest export destination overall, after Germany and the United States, and its second-largest market within the European Union.
With around 200,000 visitors, 15,000 startups and 3,600 investors, VivaTech is one of Europe’s leading events for innovation, emerging technologies and entrepreneurship. The 2026 edition placed particular emphasis on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, deep tech, health technologies, advanced materials, energy and sustainable mobility.
The event is also an important international showcase for Emilia-Romagna. By bringing together startups, investors, major corporations, institutions and innovation organisations from around the world, VivaTech provides a unique opportunity to establish relationships with different entrepreneurial ecosystems, exchange experiences and explore new partnerships across markets and continents. The event’s international reach makes it particularly valuable for promoting the region, supporting the global growth of its startups and attracting companies, talent and investment.
ART-ER represented the Emilia-Romagna Region within the Italian Pavilion organised by the Italian Trade Agency, promoting the regional innovation ecosystem and the opportunities it offers to international startups, companies and investors. Regional assets presented during the event included the DAMA Technopole, IT4LIA, the High Technology Network, the regional Clust-ER associations and the IN-ER incubator network.
Eight startups and innovative organisations connected to Emilia-Romagna exhibited in the Italian area: AVACAM, MyLime, Search Bridge, Sentric, SIS-TER, Tinental, TrueScreen and Plant Voice. Their participation showcased the variety of technologies, research expertise and entrepreneurial capabilities emerging from the regional ecosystem.
ART-ER also organised the workshop “Build, Scale, Connect. Inside Emilia-Romagna’s Innovation Ecosystem”, presenting the region as a place where startups can develop, access advanced research and technological expertise, connect with industrial partners and expand internationally.
We have generated a broad range of contacts with investors, corporate innovation teams, European startup factories, technology-transfer organisations, development agencies and international soft-landing programmes.
These meetings opened up potential opportunities for startup internationalisation, access to new markets, investment attraction, industrial collaboration and research partnerships.
The participation also strengthened relationships with innovation ecosystems in France, Germany, the United States, Japan and other international markets. These connections will support future initiatives for Emilia-Romagna startups and contribute to attracting innovative companies, talent and investment to the region.
VivaTech 2026 therefore confirmed the value of maintaining a strong regional presence at major international innovation events and reinforced Emilia-Romagna’s position within European and global innovation networks.
