The future of business is increasingly shaped by innovation and artificial intelligence. That will be the focus of the 13th edition of InnovAzioni, Italy’s innovation festival, taking place October 22–23 at the Aurum in Pescara.
The two-day event will bring together businesses, startups, researchers, students, and industry professionals to explore the technologies and new skills transforming the way companies operate and make decisions. This year’s theme, “Intelligent Business: AI Agents and New Decision-Making Models,” will focus on the growing role of artificial intelligence in business processes and organizational strategies.
Among the keynote speakers will be our President, Fabio De Furia (who also leads Star Italia Accelerator), participating in the international panel discussion “AI Agents for Business: Global Ecosystems and Capital.” He will bring to the festival his extensive international expertise in innovation, research, technology, and Italy-U.S. business and academic relations. Our participation will enrich the conversation with a global perspective, creating a strategic bridge between the local innovation ecosystem and the dynamic American technology and research landscape.
InnovAzioni will also feature Campioni di InnovAzioni, the national competition showcasing innovative projects developed by small and medium-sized businesses, startups, and university spin-offs. Twenty finalists will have the opportunity to take the stage at the Aurum and present their projects in five-minute pitches.
The program will also include the ninth edition of the Innovation Hackathon and a new award dedicated to ITS institutions in Abruzzo, further strengthening the connection between education, young talent, technology, and the business community.
InnovAzioni is designed not only for technology professionals, but for anyone interested in understanding how innovation is reshaping the business world. Artificial intelligence is already becoming part of everyday operations for many companies, and the next challenge is learning how to integrate these technologies effectively into business processes and long-term strategies.
For two days, Pescara will become a meeting point for businesses, startups, researchers, and the next generation of innovators creating opportunities to exchange ideas, build connections, and explore how today’s technologies can become tomorrow’s opportunities.
Program
Thursday, October 22, 2026
Aurum Pescara – D’Annunzio Hall
Presented by: Evelina Frisa, journalist
Moderated by: Luca Telese, Director of the newspaper “Il Centro”
INSTITUTIONAL GREETINGS
- Carlo Masci – Mayor of Pescara
INTRODUCTION
- Lorenzo Dattoli – President of Confindustria Abruzzo Medio Adriatico
PRESENTATION OF CONTEST FINALIST PROJECTS
SME AND STARTUP INNOVATION CHAMPIONS – ROUND 1
Presentation of the Open InnovAtion Labs project and the Jury
- With Luigi Di Giosaffatte, General Director of Confindustria Abruzzo Medio Adriatico
INSTITUTIONAL ADDRESS
- Emanuele Orsini – President of Confindustria
PANEL DISCUSSION
AI Agents and Decision Intelligence for Industrial Competitiveness
- Valentina Buttaroni – Microsoft Sales Lead Italy, Spain, Portugal
- Giammaria De Paulis – Entrepreneur and science communicator
- Riccardo Di Nisio – Data Scientist, CEO of Diskover Srl
- Leonardo D’Onofrio – CEO & Co-Founder of e-Group Italy
EUROPEAN INNOVATION AND COOPERATION IN THE ERA OF AI AGENTS
- Fabrice Le Saché – Vice President of MEDEF with responsibility for Europe
Thursday, October 22, 2026
Aurum Pescara – D’Annunzio Hall
KEYNOTE SPEECH
Innovation and Connections for the Country’s Competitiveness
- Pietro Labriola – Special Advisor for Digital Transition at Confindustria and CEO of TIM
FROM RESEARCH TO ENTERPRISE
Building Bridges Between Italy and the US Innovation Ecosystem
- Fabio De Furia – President of Miami Scientific Italian Community and President of Star Italia Accelerator
PRESENTATION OF CONTEST FINALIST PROJECTS
SME AND STARTUP INNOVATIONS – ROUND 2
SILICON VALLEY
Opportunities for Startups and Internationalization
- Lidia Schwarz – Senior Operations & Communication Manager at INNOVIT
SPECIAL ADDRESS
Innovation and Human Centricity: A Perspective for the Future
- H.E. Card. Angelo Bagnasco – Archbishop Emeritus of Genoa, former President of CEI (Italian Episcopal Conference)
Friday, October 23, 2026
Aurum Pescara – D’Annunzio Hall
Presented and moderated by: Evelina Frisa, journalist
- 09:00 PARTICIPANTS REGISTRATION
- 09:15 – 13:00 EVENT PROCEEDINGS
INSTITUTIONAL GREETINGS
- Massimo Cesarino – President of the Innovative Services Section, Confindustria Abruzzo Medio Adriatico
- Mattia Travaglini – Vice President of Young Entrepreneurs, Confindustria Abruzzo Medio Adriatico
- Gennaro Strever – President of the Chieti Pescara Chamber of Commerce
- Antonella Ballone – President of the Gran Sasso d’Italia Chamber of Commerce
ITALY AND LEBANON
Building the Future of Innovation Together
- Albert Aoun – President of Lebitalia – Lebanese Italian Business Council; Chairman & CEO, IFP Group
INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE
AI, Technological Sovereignty, and Competitiveness: The European Challenge
- Leonard Cox – Senior Advisor & Executive Partner at Horkos Partners
AI AGENTS FOR ENTERPRISES
Between Global Ecosystems and Capitals
- Andrea Riva – Head of Open Innovation at Crédit Agricole Italia
- Mirko Rocci – Head of Open Innovation CTS at Abruzzo Aerospace District (DAAB) and Technologist at Thales Alenia Space
- Andrea Savi – Senior Regulatory Development Manager at Janus Henderson; Co-founder of Flyber Aerospace Composites
Friday, October 23, 2026
Aurum Pescara – D’Annunzio Hall
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AS A WORK ALLY:
AI Agents for Efficiency, Speed, and Public Value
- Donatella Proto – Directorate-General for New Enabling Technologies – MIMIT (Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy)
PANEL DISCUSSION
AI Agents and Productivity: How Work and Organizations Are Changing
- Matteo Borsa – Country Manager at Canva Italy
- Marco Giorgino – Full Professor of Financial Institutions and Markets at Politecnico di Milano, President of Nedcommunity
- Ruben Razzante – Professor of Information Law at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan and President of Polisophia – Community for Responsible Innovation
AWARDS CEREMONY
“SME / START-UP / SPIN-OFF INNOVATION CHAMPIONS” AND “ITS ABRUZZO INNOVATIONS”
- With:
- Giovanni Brugnoli – President of the Foundation for Enterprises and Skills for Made in Italy
- Nicola Mattoscio – President of the PescarAbruzzo Foundation
- Giacomo D’Ignazio – President of FIRA
- Luigi Di Giosaffatte – General Director of Confindustria Abruzzo Medio Adriatico
CONCLUSIONS
- Lorenzo Dattoli – President of Confindustria Abruzzo Medio Adriatico
