April 10, 2025
With the announcement of landmark initiatives to open new frontiers in European digital sovereignty, including a €200 billion pledge for artificial intelligence and an unprecedented focus on quantum computing, cloud computing, semiconductors, and data storage, there is a sense of determination across the continent to reimagine the status quo and reshape critical technology infrastructure.
GITEX Europe “All About AI” (May 21-23, Messe Berlin) is perfectly timed to harness Europe’s inherent innovation prowess and strengthen its position among the leading digital economies.
Germany, the world’s third-largest economy and host of GITEX AI Europe, is increasingly highlighting its role as a European economic and technological leader, as transatlantic tensions mount in the race for global leadership in digitalization and AI. The German ICT sector is expected to reach €232.8 billion in 2025.
GITEX Europe now stands out as Europe’s largest inaugural event for technology, startups, and digital investment. It is organized by Kaon International, in partnership with the Berlin Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy, and Public Enterprises, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, the Berlin Partner for Business and Technology, and the European Innovation Council.
Franziska Giffey, Mayor of Berlin and Member of the Senate for Economic Affairs, Energy, and Public Enterprises, stated: “Partnering with one of the world’s largest events for technology and startups, and hosting the first edition of GITEX Europe in Berlin, reinforces our commitment to establishing Germany as a global destination for investment and pioneering technologies, contributing to Europe’s position in the next digital decade.”
Global technology actively participates in cross-border and cross-sector partnerships:
The landmark inaugural edition brings together more than 1,400 major technology companies, startups, and SMEs, including Platinum Sponsors AWS and IBM, along with Cisco, Cloudflare, Dell, Fortinet, Lenovo, NTT, Nutanix, Nvidia, Opswatt, and SAP, to reach consensus on new partnerships and business outcomes for more resilient, responsible, and business-friendly global digital ecosystems.
GITEX Europe, the world’s premier technology and startup event, features a distinguished lineup of technology companies from over 100 countries and 34 European countries, including tech pavilions from India, Italy, Morocco, the Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and more.
As Trixie LohMirmand, CEO of Kaon International, organizer of GITEX World, explained: “Amidst the AI vortex, there is a coordinated consensus and a renewed need and unity across Europe to assert its digital sovereignty and leadership as a global innovation powerhouse.
The region is paving the way to become a key hub for discussing, developing, and expanding the reach of AI, quantum technology, and deep technology. Strategically located in this strategic region and pivotal point in history, GITEX Europe will shape Europe’s technological future in an era where leadership is achieved through bold action and solidarity.”
Influential global leaders discuss the EU’s critical technology crossroads:
More than 500 global speakers—nearly half of whom are addressing the tech community for the first time on a German tech platform—will discuss new strategic priorities, from AI and quantum supremacy to cloud computing and data sovereignty.
Prominent international speakers include Geoffrey Hinton, Nobel Prize laureate in Physics (2024), the “godfather of AI,” and a neural network pioneer who sparked global controversy with his questions about the consequences of AI; Kai Wegener, Mayor of Berlin; H.E. Jelena Izetbegovic, Serbian Minister of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation; Antonio Henriques, CEO of Payson Bank; Jagger McConnell, CEO of Crunchbase; Mark Surman, President of Mozilla; and Sandro Giannella, Head of Policy and Partnerships EMEA at OpenAI.
Europe’s Steps in AI, Deep Tech, and Quantum:
Europe is cementing its leadership position in AI, focusing on cross-sector use cases, new investments, and international partnerships. Ai Everything Europe, the leading AI exhibition and conference, brings together one of the largest gatherings of AI designers, startups, and investors, offering a comprehensive, in-depth, and globally influential showcase of AI systems.
Influential AI experts address the most pressing industry topics on stage, from EuroStack’s ambitions to the tangible implications of agent AI. Speakers include Martin Kuhn, President and COO of Coher, a $5.5 billion Canadian AI startup; Daniel Vertin, Strategic Partner at Synthesia, a $2.1 billion UK-based startup backed by NVIDIA; Professor Antonio Krüger, CEO of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI)
GITEX wants to become the world’s top tech show – and it might just succeed | TechRadar
Across the exhibition, various achievements in the field of artificial intelligence are on display, from Brazilian company Ubivis, which offers smart factories powered by the Internet of Things and digital twins, to Hexess’ AI-powered feeding system, trusted by over 500 Olympic and elite athletes.
With investments in quantum computing approaching €7 billion, ranking second only to China, Europe is accelerating its efforts to lead the field by 2030. GITEX Quantum Expo (GQX), in partnership with IBM and Quant, Europe’s largest quantum computing industry association, focuses on advanced quantum computing research and its impact on various sectors through exclusive presentations and conferences. Speakers include: Myra Wolf-Bauwens, Head of Responsible Quantum Computing at IBM Research, Switzerland; Joachim Mnich, Director of Research and Computing at CERN, Switzerland; Neil Abrouge, Head of the French National Quantum Strategy at the French National Research Institute for Quantum Computing (INRIA); and Jan Goetz, CEO and Co-Founder of IQM Quantum Computing, Finland.
“IBM’s investments in AI and quantum computing directly reflect our commitment to Europe and underscore the pivotal role of collaboration with industry, academia, and policymakers in building a comprehensive European ecosystem,” said Alessandro Curioni, IBM Fellow, Vice President for Europe and Africa, and Director of IBM Research in Zurich. “These cutting-edge technologies and facilities will foster innovation, create new opportunities to attract talent, and ensure that Europe remains at the forefront of global technological developments.”
Cybersecurity Valley: Building a Unified and Resilient Cyber Frontline:
With cloud breaches multiplying and AI-driven attacks adding complexity to the equation, threat response and cyber resilience are a key focus of this event.
Fortinet, CrowdStrike, Kaspersky, Noby4, and Proofpoint are among a host of leading cybersecurity companies exhibiting at GITEX Cybersecurity Valley, alongside law enforcement leaders, global CISOs, and policymakers on stage, including Brigadier General Dr. Volker Pötsch, Head of Cybersecurity/IT & AI, Federal Ministry of Defense, Germany; H.E. Dr. Mohammed Al Kuwaiti, Chief Cybersecurity Officer, Government of the United Arab Emirates; Miguel De Bruyckere, Director General of the Cybersecurity Center of Belgium; and Ugo Vignolo Lotati, Chief Information Security Officer, Prada Group.
GITEX Green Impact: Leveraging Climate Imperatives for a Sustainable Future:
GITEX Green Impact connects the true accelerators of the green transformation—innovators and investors—with over 100 startups and investors exploring how green hydrogen, bioenergy, and next-generation energy storage can move from research and development to deployment. Keynote speakers include: Gavin Towler, Chief Scientist and Chief Technology Officer of Honeywell Sustainability Technologies; Julie Kitcher, Chief Sustainability Officer of Airbus; Lisa Rehten, Managing Director of Bosch Climate Solutions; Massimo Falcioni, Chief Competitiveness Officer of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office; and Mounir Ben Aija, Chief Technology Officer of Electric Vehicle and Charging Infrastructure, TotalEnergies.
Bringing together the largest and best global startup ecosystem from over 60 countries:
GITEX Europe x Ai Everything launches Expand North Star Europe, the first edition of the world’s largest startup event, bringing together over 750 startups and 20 global startups – Qonto, Flutterwave, reMarkable, TransferMate, Solarisbank AG, Bolt, Flix, and Glovo.
The event features a select international group of early-stage and growth-stage startups from Belgium, France, Hungary, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Serbia, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and more. Among the most prominent startups are Neurocast.ai from the Netherlands, which is developing AI-powered neurotechnology for Alzheimer’s disease research; CloudBees from Switzerland, a delivery startup backed by Goldman Sachs, HSBC, and Lightspeed; and Semiqon from Finland, which is developing the world’s first CMOS transistor capable of operating in cryogenic conditions.
More than 600 investors with $1 trillion in assets under management will be seeking new funding opportunities, including Germany’s Earlybird VC, Austria’s SpeedInvest, Switzerland’s B2Venture, Estonia’s Startup Wise Guys, and the US’s SOSV.
GITEX is launching ScaleX, the first-of-its-kind growth platform for startups and late-stage companies, in partnership with AWS.
Since SMEs comprise 99% of European companies, GITEX SMEdex connects these companies to international business networks and investors, providing funding, legal advice, and market access to scale innovations globally.
Also supported by the European Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (EISMEA) Digital Standards Initiative and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the event features on-stage SME ecosystem leaders providing advice, including Milena Stoicheva, Chair of the Innovation Council at the Ministry of Innovation and Growth of Bulgaria; Oliver Gruen, President of the European Digital Alliance for SMEs and BITMi Institute; and others.
