17-06-2026

"Europe must leverage its own model, built on rules, ethics, and the protection of intellectual property. We need to stop looking at the world through other people's lenses and start viewing it through our own." These were the words of Valeria Sandei, Chief Global AI Almaviva Group and CEO of Almawave, speaking at the 19th COTEC EUROPE SUMMIT "Rethinking Work in the Age of AI: Transformation, Opportunity, Governance", underway in Venice with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, King Felipe VI of Spain, and President of Portugal Antonio José Seguro in attendance.

“It’s possible to develop competitive artificial intelligence solutions starting from European data and the linguistic and cultural specificities of our continent,” Sandei continued. “We need greater confidence in Europe's technological capabilities and stronger support for initiatives aimed at digital sovereignty.

We must proceed with ‘small steps’: starting with concrete and sustainable use cases, strengthening research and innovation, and encouraging adoption by businesses. Technological growth occurs through the market and practical application. Despite intense international competition, the competition is still open. The goal must be to ensure that the economic value generated by AI remains within European countries, recognizing it as a strategic productive factor for the future.

Italy is facing the challenge of artificial intelligence on two fronts. On the one hand, large companies, which have already launched projects in this area, and on the other, SMEs, which face greater difficulties. However, many initiatives undertaken by large companies have not yet generated the expected value, indicating that the transformation is still in its early stages. Adopting AI requires not only technology, but also clear business models, measurement of results, and organizational changes. Its impact must be assessed in terms of efficiency, sustainability, and economic return."