AI4I participated in Tour in the Future 2026: the event organised by CDI (Club Digitale Innovazione) Torino that brings together companies, institutions and technology leaders to discuss the future of innovation and Europe’s role in the global digital landscape.
During the session dedicated to AI acceleration, Antonio Emilio Calegari, Director of AI4I, delivered a keynote focused on the current state of Artificial Intelligence and its implications for European competitiveness.
Europe between adoption and structural gaps
The analysis highlighted a dual trend. On the one hand, AI adoption across Europe is progressing at a pace comparable to other global regions, confirming the readiness of companies to experiment with new technologies. On the other, significant gaps persist in terms of investment, scale-up capabilities and the ability to translate innovation into industrial impact.
In particular, the European ecosystem faces challenges in enabling startups to grow and scale, with limited access to large markets and fewer opportunities to validate solutions in industrial contexts compared to more integrated ecosystems.
From experimentation to impact
Another key insight concerns the maturity of AI adoption. While many organizations are actively experimenting with AI, the transition to structured, large-scale deployment remains limited.
This gap is especially relevant for small and medium-sized enterprises, which often lack the resources and capabilities required to operationalise AI within core processes.
Calegari pointed to the need to close the gap between research, experimentation and industrial deployment—the so-called “last mile” of AI adoption.
In this context, AI4I’s role is to act as a connector across the ecosystem, supporting both the development of AI technologies and their integration into business environments. Through initiatives such as the System for User Knowledge (SUK), the Institute helps companies identify relevant use cases, assess their readiness and connect with technology providers.
A strategic challenge for Europe
Calegari also underlined a broader strategic dimension: the future of Europe in AI will depend not only on technological capabilities, but also on the ability to create a supportive ecosystem—combining investment, market access, industrial demand and collaboration between research, industry and institutions.
By addressing these challenges, AI4I aims to strengthening the role of Italy and Europe in the global AI landscape, moving from experimentation to concrete, scalable impact.
