Bologna Gathering showcases Italy’s rising innovation momentum

The Bologna Gathering, a recent event in Northern Italy, highlighted Italy's rising innovation momentum, showcasing the country's efforts to foster a thriving tech ecosystem beyond traditional hubs. This event, which included 300 innovation leaders, demonstrates Italy's push to develop its digital sovereignty and cultivate its young tech companies into global champions. The Bologna Gathering, and similar events, aim to accelerate this process. A key development highlighted at the event was the opening of the Leonardo supercomputer to the private sector, facilitated by the €300 million IT4LIA AI Factory project. Managed by Cineca and co-funded by EuroHPC JU and the Italian government, Leonardo offers a peak performance of around 250 petaflops, making it a significant resource for AI development. Currently, 30% of European capacity is dedicated to private companies. The impact of these initiatives extends to various stakeholders, particularly industrial players seeking access to advanced computing resources. Companies can collaborate with the IT4LIA infrastructure, potentially moving their data to the supercomputer and receiving support for scaling up projects. With demand exceeding supply, Leonardo's opening to the private sector positions Bologna as a strategic European AI and HPC hub, contributing to both innovation and digital sovereignty. These efforts reflect a broader push to redefine Italy's innovation narrative, moving beyond its traditional strengths in sectors like fashion and tourism to embrace its potential in deep tech, manufacturing, and logistics. This shift is crucial in a time of geopolitical uncertainty, as Europe seeks to strengthen its technological independence.