As Europe accelerates its mission to supercharge the continent’s AI readiness and digital economy, influential leaders rallied together at the GITEX EUROPE x Ai Everything press preview in Berlin to address the strategic imperatives, progressive commitments and investments aimed at transforming Europe’s tech industry and talent pool into powerful engines driving the AI leadership agenda.
GITEX EUROPE x Ai Everything, taking place from 21–23 May at Messe Berlin, brings together over 1,400 tech companies and startups exhibiting from 67 countries and 600-plus investors, with the mission of igniting a future where big tech, startups, and SMEs can access solid, scalable, and sustainable public digital infrastructure – from data centres, cloud connectivity to semiconductors – and enable a more flexible regulatory framework to fast-track the AI Continent vision.
The event is organised by KAOUN International, in partnership with the Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises, Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Berlin Partner for Business and Technology, and the European Innovation Council (EIC).
Addressing Europe’s Digital Priorities Amid Changing Global Dynamics
In the lead-up to the show, senior government officials, investors, and ecosystem leaders echoed the progressive economic impact of the GITEX platform and its role in catalysing public-private partnerships, cross-sector collaborations, digital competitiveness, and multi-sector investments, while also reaffirming Germany and Berlin readiness, accessibility, and momentum to connect with the global tech ecosystem.
Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin, remarked, “The GITEX tech fair is taking place in Berlin for the first time. This is a big achievement that confirms Berlin’s importance as an international location for industry events and innovation. Berlin is Germany’s startup capital and one of the top three cities for startups in Europe, alongside London and Paris. With GITEX, Berlin can further develop this leading position and gain additional momentum on the way to becoming Europe’s number one innovation hub”.
Franziska Giffey, Mayor of Berlin & Senator for Economic Affairs, added, “Berlin and GITEX are a perfect match. Together, we build a unique opportunity for industry innovators, startups and scale-ups to meet, foster progress and fuel economic growth. As Europe’s startup and innovation capital, and as a city deeply rooted in the spirit of international cooperation, we cordially welcome all GITEX EUROPE participants to Berlin”.
Trixie LohMirmand, CEO of KAOUN International and organiser of GITEX worldwide, shared, “Germany as the world’s third largest economy and GITEX as the world’s largest tech event brand across continents have a shared commitment to forge collaboration in research and application of tech to solve global challenges. The inaugural edition of GITEX in Germany shall be the largest tech and digital investment launch ever in Europe, and certainly the most global with over 90% of its international startups choosing to experience the trendy Berlin innovation hub for the first time. This is a powerful time in the epoch of Berlin with GITEX marking the symbolic rise of a bolder and more competitive Europe”.
Matthias Notz, Global CEO, Start2 Group, reinforced the call for startup acceleration: “the European startup ecosystem is bursting with breakthrough ideas and talent, yet what we need now is a recalibrated rhythm, where European nations join forces to empower founders, startups, and especially scale-ups, and where funding moves as fast as ideas do”.
European-Led, Global Convergence of Tech & Business
With participation from 34 European states, the event unlocks fast, seamless corridors for Pan-European as well as global digital trade, with prominent tech pavilions from France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, the UK, among many more. During the press briefing, representatives from the Embassy of Netherlands, Britain and Italy commented on the importance of aligning innovation agendas and deeper cross-ecosystem integration.
Speakers included Robert-Jan Sieben, Head of Economic Department, and Eva Vergles, Startup Liaison Officer, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Berlin; Benjamin Wannenwetsch, Deputy Director & COO, British Embassy Berlin; Francesco Sordini, Head of Economic Affairs, Italian Embassy Berlin; and Francesco Dell’Anna, Deputy Director, Italian Trade Agency.
Europe’s Innovation Potential Scales Globally with North Star Europe
In a defining moment for Europe’s entrepreneurial landscape, GITEX EUROPE x Ai Everything features North Star Europe, the region’s exclusive edition of the world’s largest startup showcase, uniting over 750 startups including 32 unicorns, from growth-stage AI pioneers to deeptech scale-ups, representing over 60 countries, alongside over 600 global investors with $1 trillion assets under management (AUM).
At the press briefing, leading founders from Germany and Poland spoke about how GITEX platform enables new capital routes, global connections and visibility, especially in today’s mercurial market environment. Among them were Germany’s mobility budget platform Navit & AI-powered Industrial tech for manufacturing efficiency Ailoys, and Poland’s BrainScan, the AI-fueled startup transforming medical imaging with faster and more accurate diagnoses which has achieved significant success across Europe.
The Most Comprehensive Deep Dive Across Tech Frontiers
From AI and quantum breakthroughs to climate-driven innovations, each sector-led showcase unpacks the technologies reshaping industry, security, and sustainability at systemic scale.
Ai Everything Europe dives into scaling AI and its potential in recalibrating economic transformation with industry use-cases and talks from AWS, IBM, Cisco, Lenovo, Nvidia, Open AI, Qualcomm, SAP, among others.
GITEX Quantum Expo (GQX), in partnership with IBM and Quantum Business Network (QBN), spotlights the advanced research and exponential business impact from IBM Research, CERN, INRIA, IQM Quantum Computers.
GITEX Cyber Valley reinforces cyber resilience and threat response with frontline showcases, exclusive programmes and activations from CrowdStrike, Fortinet, Kaspersky, Knowbe4, Proofpoint and many more, alongside talks with defence ministries and global CISOs from Germany, UAE, and Belgium.
Green Digital Action Summit, hosted in partnership with ITU and the German Environment Agency (UBA), focuses on accelerating tech-driven climate action and tackling key priorities – from AI intricacies to adoption of green technical standards.
GITEX Green Impact connects green tech founders and investors, with featured speakers from Airbus, Honeywell, and TotalEnergies, accelerating the commercialisation of bioenergy, green hydrogen, storage and electric mobility.
GITEX SMEDEX, backed by EISMEA and the ICC Digital Standards Initiative, includes a showcase and an expertly curated conference which empowers the engine of European economy – SMEs, by unlocking new opportunities for international trade, funding, and legal advisory.
GITEX ScaleX, in partnership with AWS, focuses on scale-ups and late-stage companies seeking new market entries, mentorship and corporate partnerships.
GITEX EUROPE is part of the GITEX global network of tech and startup events, taking place in Germany, Morocco, Nigeria, Singapore, Thailand, UAE, and Vietnam. For more information, visit: www.gitex-europe.com
Image Credit: GITEX Europe
