The first protagonists of WMF – We Make Future 2026, scheduled from 24 to 26 June at BolognaFiere, come from the United States, United Kingdom, South Korea, India, Qatar, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia and many other countries. With the announcement of the first 150 namesthe WMF, International B2B Fair and Festival on Innovation: AI, Tech and Digitalin fact, reveals a first, significant preview of the international parterre that will gather in Europe and Italy, confirming the global dimension of the event.
After the 73,000 attendees from 90 countries, the over 1,000 speakers and the more than 700 exhibitors and sponsors of the last edition, entrepreneurs, researchers, Artificial Intelligence experts, big tech managers, investors, institutional representatives, journalists, activists, creators and protagonists from the cultural and entertainment world will gather at the event to contribute to the discussion on the future by exploring it through the 14 strategic sectors and responding to the Challenges of the Future that have always structured the WMF.
From AI to robotics, from advanced manufacturing to the space economy, from health to finance, from public policies to rights, up to media, culture, information and social impact, WMF 2026 will offer a broad and transversal interpretation of the great technological, economic and social transformations underway.
Among the first names announced, representatives of companies and institutions such as OpenAI, NVIDIA, Anthropic, Microsoft, Google, Lenovo and The LEGO Group stand out, together with universities, research centers, space agencies, accelerators, investment funds and large technology companies, who will bring skills, visions and experiences from the main global innovation ecosystems to Italy.
“The WMF was created to connect different and complementary worlds – research, business, institutions, investments and society – around the great challenges of our time”explains Cosmano Lombardo, Founder and CEO of Search On Media Group and creator of the WMF. “With the 2026 edition we are bringing Italy and Bologna back to the center of the global debate on Artificial Intelligence, emerging technologies and social impact, welcoming voices, skills and visions from all over the world. The first 150 names announced represent only a preview of an international ecosystem which, in June, will discuss innovation, development and the future, creating concrete connections between ideas, capital and people”.
The photograph that emerges, thanks to the first tranche of names announced, is therefore clear of the themes that will animate WMF 2026: artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced manufacturing, scientific research, public policies, finance and investments, information, culture and social impact.
Areas that find a voice in experts and representatives of global ecosystems, from academic research to the technology industry, from institutions to large digital platforms, up to the world of information and content creation.
Research, Artificial Intelligence and robotics
Scientific research, Artificial Intelligence and robotics return to the center of the WMF through the voices of protagonists of international technological and scientific innovation. Among the first names announced also Alberto Sangiovanni Vincentelli, Italian electronic and computer engineer, professor at Berkeley, known for having revolutionized chip design (Electronic Design Automation – EDA) and for having co-founded industry giants such as Cadence and Synopsys, Nestor Maslej, Research Manager Human-Centered AI of Stanford University, Corey Ching, OpenAI Developer ExperienceKaren Zhou, Member of Technical Staff at AnthropicMarco Pavone, Director of Autonomous Vehicle Research at NVIDIAGiorgio Metta, Scientific Director of the Italian Institute of TechnologyDaniele Pucci, CEO of Generative Bionics, Alessio Pomaro, Head of AI at Search On Media Group e Nasser bin Saeed Al-Hajrimember of the Saudi International Council for Business and Investment and Chairman of the Board of Directors of PNG. A comparison that globally spans the development of AI, humanoid robotics and autonomous systems, bringing advanced research and industrial applications into dialogue.
Industry, manufacturing and technological innovation
The WMF will also host representatives of the industrial world and applied technological innovation, with contributions from international entities active in digital transformation processes. Among these Aprajita Jain, Chief Brand of GoogleMassimo Chiriatti, Chief Technical & Innovation Officer of LenovoMatteo MilleChief Sales Enablement & Operations of Microsoft Italy, Federico Menna, CEO of EIT Digital, and Elisabetta Bracci, Manager of Clust-ER Innovatefor a comparison on new production models, the role of AI in businesses and technological growth strategies.
Space economy, scientific research and new scenarios
There will also be space for the space economy and international scientific research, with the participation of Veronica La Regina, Space Mentor, Claudio Iacopino, Head of Φ-lab Explore Office and Pierre-Philippe Mathieu Implementation Manager, ESA Civil Security from Space Programme of ESA – European Space Agencytogether with Simone Bianco, Principal Investigator and Director of Computational Biology at Altos Labs Bay Area Institute of Science e Nino Cartabellotta President GIMBE Foundation. A story that crosses space exploration, applied research and new technological frontiers.
Policy, institutions, security and rights
Themes related to policy, security, rights and public services will be addressed thanks to the contribution of representatives of the institutions and the legal world. Among the first names announced also Susanna Camusso, Senator of the Italian RepublicLuigi Di Maio, EU Special Representative for the Gulf RegionAntonella CirielloHead of the Justice Technological Innovation Department of the Ministry of JusticePierpaolo Bombardieri, General secretary of the UILNicola Gratteri, Public Prosecutor at the Court of Naples, and Giuseppe Lombardo, Deputy Public Prosecutor at the Court of Reggio Calabria.
Investments, venture capital, scaleups and innovative startups
Ample space will also be dedicated to the world of investments and open innovation, with the presence of VCs, investors, accelerators and international funds. Among the first confirmations: Alchemist Accelerator & Waterman Ventures with the Coach and Venture Partner Jonathan Speed, Sansar Ventures with the Venture Partners Jonathan Eade, Zest Investments with the CEO Gabriele Ronchini, Silicon Allee with the Operations Director Florin Catalin, Centrepolis Accelerator with the Director Dan Radomski, Sofia Tech Park with the CEO Todor Mladenov, Create Business Incubator with the CEO Madeleine Pilstrand, and the Department of Science and Technology of the Government of India with Ramanan Ramanathan, Board Member and Advisor.
Journalism, Content creation, art, entertainment and social innovation
The voice of the world of information and international journalism will also be strong, with the participation of Enrico Mentana, journalist and director of TG La7Corrado Formigli, La7 journalistCecilia Sala, Chora News journalistLorenzo Tondo, journalist from The GuardianLeyla Elchekhly, TV presenter and journalist for Al Jazeera Media Network, Fjona Cakalli, Tech Reporter and Presenter of TechPrincess.it and Veronica Maffei, journalist and host. Alongside technological and institutional themes, the WMF will explore the role of digital culture, creativity and social innovation. Among the announced protagonists there are also Jakidale, content creator, the two Standard Bearers of the Italian Republic Luisa Rizzo, Drone Racing Pilotand Nadia Lauricella, influencer and activistPegah Moshir Pour, activist and writerSiyabulela Mandela visiting Prof. Politics & International Relations, University of Kurdistan HewlêrAyumi Moore Aoki, Founder & CEO of Women in Tech® Globaltogether with exponents of the world of entertainment and music such as Pau, singer and performer of Negrita, Karma B, drag artists, Beatrice Rigillo, comedian and content creator, Michele Basile, actor and content creator, and Alessio Marzilli, director and host.
Towards WMF 2026: global event
The first 150 names are only the first announcement of a program destined to expand further in the coming weeks. WMF 2026 is thus preparing to bring Europe and Italy back to the center of the global debate on Artificial Intelligence, emerging technologies, innovation and social impact, confirming its role as an international platform for meeting, discussing and building the future.
Institutional information
WMF – We Make Future is conceived, organized and produced by Search On Media Group.
The event takes place under the patronage of the European Commission, the Emilia-Romagna Region and the Municipality of Bologna, with the support of the MAECI – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, of ICE – Agency for the promotion abroad and the internationalization of Italian companies and of the Emilia-Romagna Region. With the collaboration of BolognaFiere, Cineca and ESA – European Space Agency and the premium sponsorship of Dell Technologies and Intel.
USEFUL LINKS
– top 150 names of the WMF 2026
– the press conference of 10/02 at MIMIT