Where is GITEX AI Mediterranean being held?

The conference is being held in Rome, ITA.

What is the primary focus of GITEX AI Mediterranean?

The primary focus is on artificial intelligence's role in technological innovation and global economic diplomacy, particularly within the Mediterranean region.

Who is hosting this event?

ITA is hosting GITEX AI Mediterranean, reinforcing its role in global technological innovation.

GITEX AI Mediterranean/Italy 2027

Name: GITEX AI Mediterranean/Italy 2027
Start: 2027-04-21T00:00:00Z
End: 2027-04-22T00:00:00Z
Location: Rome

Apr 21–22, 2027Rome, ItalyIn-person

Registration open

GITEX AI Mediterranean is an international conference focused on artificial intelligence, hosted in Rome, Italy. This event serves as a critical platform for discussions on AI's role in technological innovation, economic diplomacy, and global partnerships. It brings together stakeholders from various sectors to explore advancements and strategic applications of AI, particularly within the Mediterranean region and beyond. The conference underscores Italy's commitment to strengthening its position in the global technological landscape. By hosting this event, Italy aims to foster collaboration, attract investment, and facilitate the exchange of knowledge among leading experts, policymakers, and industry leaders in the field of artificial intelligence.

Committees & topics

Topics
Governing Artificial Intelligence: Frontier Models, Safety, and Sovereignty · Cybersecurity in an Era of State-Sponsored Intrusion and Critical Infrastructure Risk · Quantum Technologies: Computing, Communications, and the Post-Quantum Transition · Digital Infrastructure: Cables, Data Centres, and Connectivity Across the Mediterranean · Advanced Mobility: Electrification, Autonomy, and Mediterranean Supply Chains · Smart Manufacturing: Industry 4.0, Reshoring, and the Mediterranean Industrial Base · Energy Security and the Mediterranean Transition · Life Sciences: Biotech, Pandemic Preparedness, and Health Sovereignty

Why it matters

The convergence of artificial intelligence with geopolitical and economic strategies is a defining characteristic of the current global landscape. Events like GITEX AI Mediterranean are crucial because they provide a forum for countries to articulate their national AI strategies, identify areas for international cooperation, and address the ethical and regulatory challenges posed by rapid technological advancement. The discussions held here can influence future policy decisions and investment flows in AI research and development.

Furthermore, the focus on the Mediterranean region highlights the growing importance of this geographical area as a hub for technological innovation and cross-cultural collaboration. The strategic location of ITA positions it as a bridge between Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, making it an ideal venue for discussions that have broad regional and international implications. The outcomes of this conference could shape the competitive dynamics of AI development and adoption among participating nations.

For Model Diplomat, understanding the narratives and priorities emerging from such conferences is essential for effective dynamic analysis. The event offers insights into how nations like ITA are leveraging AI for economic growth, national security, and diplomatic influence. It also reveals potential areas of friction or cooperation regarding AI governance, data privacy, and the responsible deployment of AI technologies.

How to prepare

Delegates preparing for GITEX AI Mediterranean should conduct thorough stakeholder mapping to identify key players from government, industry, and academia who will be present. Understanding the diverse interests and objectives of these stakeholders is paramount for effective engagement. Particular attention should be paid to the national AI strategies of countries like USA, CHN, DEU, FRA, and ARE, as their approaches often set global trends and standards.

It is advisable to research recent developments in AI policy and investment within the Mediterranean basin, including countries such as EGY, MAR, ESP, and DZA. This will provide context for discussions on regional collaboration and potential partnerships. Delegates should also be prepared to discuss the ethical implications of AI, including issues of bias, transparency, and accountability, which are frequently central to international AI dialogues.

Consider how different national perspectives on AI regulation and innovation might converge or diverge. For example, the European Union's regulatory approach often differs significantly from that of the USA or CHN. Understanding these nuances will enable delegates to contribute constructively to discussions on global AI governance frameworks and foster engagement strategies that resonate across cultural and political divides. The conference also presents an opportunity to identify hidden stakeholders whose influence might not be immediately apparent but who play a crucial role in shaping the AI ecosystem.

Country perspectives

Where the most-relevant 4 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile.

Italy

Actively positioning itself as a leader in AI innovation and a hub for international collaboration in the Mediterranean.

Role in topic

As the host nation, ITA is showcasing its commitment to advancing technological innovation and economic diplomacy through AI. It aims to foster partnerships and attract investment in its burgeoning AI sector, leveraging its strategic location to connect European, African, and Middle Eastern stakeholders.

United Arab Emirates

A significant investor and developer in AI, seeking to expand its influence and partnerships globally.

Role in topic

The ARE has made substantial investments in AI and views it as a critical component of its future economy. Its participation in GITEX AI Mediterranean indicates a desire to forge new alliances and explore collaboration opportunities in the European and Mediterranean markets, particularly in areas of mutual technological interest.

United States

A global leader in AI research and development, focused on innovation, ethical guidelines, and strategic competition.

Role in topic

The USA's involvement in such conferences is driven by its interest in shaping global AI norms, promoting its technological standards, and exploring international partnerships that align with its strategic objectives. It will likely emphasize the importance of open innovation while also addressing concerns about data security and ethical AI development.

China

A major global player in AI, focused on rapid development, application, and establishing technological leadership.

Role in topic

CHN's presence would highlight its advancements in AI and its interest in expanding its technological footprint and partnerships, particularly in emerging markets and strategic regions like the Mediterranean. Discussions might center on infrastructure development, smart city initiatives, and other large-scale AI applications.

Topics & background

The background behind each topic and the actors that shape it.

Governing Artificial Intelligence: Frontier Models, Safety, and Sovereignty

The rapid diffusion of large-scale AI systems since the 2022 release of general-purpose generative models has reshaped industrial policy and national security planning across the Mediterranean and beyond. The EU AI Act, adopted in 2024 and entering staged application through 2026-2027, established the world's first horizontal regulatory regime, classifying systems by risk and imposing obligations on general-purpose model providers. In parallel, the United States has relied on executive action and voluntary commitments from frontier labs, while China has pursued its own generative AI measures emphasizing content control and indigenous compute capacity. The core dispute centers on how to reconcile innovation, safety, and sovereignty. Italy and other Mediterranean states have pushed for sovereign AI capacity, exemplified by Italy's national AI strategy and the iGenius-Cineca 'Modello Italia' initiative, while debating dependence on US hyperscaler infrastructure and Gulf capital. Compute export controls, the Bletchley-Seoul-Paris AI Safety Summit track, and UNESCO's Recommendation on the Ethics of AI form the emerging global scaffolding, though enforcement and interoperability between the EU, US, and Chinese regimes remain unresolved. Today, attention has shifted to frontier model evaluations, agentic systems, AI in defense, and the concentration of compute in a handful of jurisdictions. Mediterranean states in particular are negotiating their role as data, talent, and energy hubs between the EU regulatory bloc, US technology stack, and Gulf investors financing new gigawatt-scale data centers.

Key players

Cybersecurity in an Era of State-Sponsored Intrusion and Critical Infrastructure Risk

Cybersecurity has moved from a technical concern to a top-tier strategic issue following a decade of escalating state-linked operations, from NotPetya (2017) and SolarWinds (2020) to ransomware campaigns against hospitals, pipelines, and ports. The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine catalyzed an unprecedented integration of offensive cyber, influence operations, and kinetic warfare, while exposing the vulnerability of undersea cables, satellite links, and industrial control systems across NATO's southern flank. Normative work at the UN has advanced through the Open-Ended Working Group on ICT security, which extended its mandate to 2025, alongside the 2024 UN Convention against Cybercrime — a treaty contested by civil society and several Western states over human rights safeguards. The EU has tightened obligations through the NIS2 Directive, the Cyber Resilience Act, and the Cyber Solidarity Act, while Italy established the National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN) in 2021 to coordinate critical infrastructure defense. Current debates focus on attribution and accountability for state-sponsored attacks, protection of submarine cables in the Mediterranean, AI-enabled offensive tooling, and the spyware market exposed by Pegasus and Predator investigations. The Mediterranean basin — a chokepoint for data, energy, and shipping cables linking Europe, Africa, and Asia — is a frontline for hybrid threats from state and non-state actors alike.

Key players

Quantum Technologies: Computing, Communications, and the Post-Quantum Transition

Quantum technologies have moved from laboratory curiosity to a strategic competition spanning computing, secure communications, and sensing. Demonstrations of quantum advantage by Google (2019) and Chinese teams using Jiuzhang and Zuchongzhi processors intensified state investment, with the US National Quantum Initiative, the EU Quantum Flagship, and China's multi-billion-dollar Hefei National Laboratory program now anchoring rival ecosystems. NIST's 2024 finalization of post-quantum cryptography standards (ML-KEM, ML-DSA, SLH-DSA) set a global migration clock for governments and industry. The core disputes involve export controls on quantum hardware and cryogenic components, talent flows, and the timeline for cryptographically relevant quantum computers — the point at which RSA and elliptic-curve cryptography become breakable. 'Harvest now, decrypt later' concerns have already pushed defense and financial sectors toward hybrid post-quantum deployments. Quantum key distribution networks, including China's Micius satellite and the EU's EuroQCI initiative with strong Italian participation, raise parallel questions about standards and interoperability. For the Mediterranean, the question is whether the region becomes a node in European quantum infrastructure — through testbeds in Italy, Spain, and France — or a peripheral consumer. Italy's role in EuroQCI, CNR research, and the Trieste-based ICTP gives it leverage, but financing and industrial scale remain concentrated in a small number of states.

Key players

Digital Infrastructure: Cables, Data Centres, and Connectivity Across the Mediterranean

Digital infrastructure — submarine cables, data centres, terrestrial fibre, and satellite constellations — has become a contested strategic asset. Roughly 99 percent of intercontinental data traffic moves through submarine cables, and the Mediterranean is one of the densest cable corridors in the world, linking Europe to Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia via chokepoints near Sicily, Marseille, and the Suez approaches. Incidents in the Baltic and Red Seas in 2023-2024 highlighted both deliberate sabotage risks and the fragility of repair logistics. Data centre capacity is shifting under the combined pressure of AI compute demand, energy costs, and EU sovereignty rules including the Data Act and GAIA-X. Italy, Greece, and Spain are positioning as landing-station hubs and renewable-powered compute sites, with major investments around Genoa, Milan, Marseille, and Athens. The 2024 UN Global Digital Compact set ambitions for universal meaningful connectivity, while the ITU and the World Bank push digital public infrastructure as a development priority across North Africa. Current debates concern cable protection under UNCLOS, foreign ownership of critical telecom assets, Open RAN versus integrated vendor stacks (notably the Huawei question in Europe), and the geopolitics of LEO constellations led by Starlink, OneWeb/Eutelsat, and China's Guowang. The Mediterranean is increasingly framed as a 'digital bridge' between Europe, Africa, and the Gulf — a framing with significant commercial and security implications.

Key players

Advanced Mobility: Electrification, Autonomy, and Mediterranean Supply Chains

The mobility sector is undergoing its deepest transformation in a century, driven by electrification, software-defined vehicles, and the slow maturation of autonomous driving. The EU's 2035 ban on new internal combustion passenger cars, finalized in 2023 with an e-fuels carve-out, has reordered industrial strategy across Italy, Germany, France, and Spain. Chinese EV makers led by BYD, SAIC, and Geely captured rapid global market share, prompting EU countervailing duties in 2024 and renewed debate about industrial policy and joint ventures. The core disputes are supply-chain dependence on Chinese batteries and critical minerals, the pace of charging infrastructure rollout, certification of automated driving systems under UNECE WP.29, and the future of European auto employment. Italy's Stellantis-anchored cluster, Spain's vehicle assembly base, and emerging North African production in Morocco and Tunisia make the Mediterranean a pivotal manufacturing arc. Advanced air mobility, hydrogen trucking, and maritime electrification add further dimensions, with ports in Genoa, Valencia, and Piraeus piloting shore power and automated logistics. Today's policy frontier includes the Critical Raw Materials Act, the Net-Zero Industry Act, battery passport requirements, and the negotiation of reciprocal market access with China. Autonomy timelines have lengthened as Cruise's 2023 setbacks and Waymo's measured expansion temper earlier projections, even as L3 systems from Mercedes-Benz and BMW reach Mediterranean roads.

Key players

Smart Manufacturing: Industry 4.0, Reshoring, and the Mediterranean Industrial Base

Smart manufacturing — the integration of IoT, robotics, AI, additive manufacturing, and digital twins into industrial production — has matured from pilot projects into a central pillar of European competitiveness strategy. Italy's 'Industria 4.0' plan, launched in 2016 and renewed as 'Transizione 4.0' and the 2024 'Industria 5.0' framework, made the country an early policy mover, alongside Germany's Plattform Industrie 4.0 and France's industrial recovery plans. The COVID-19 supply shocks and the 2021-2022 chip shortage accelerated reshoring and friend-shoring debates. The core disputes involve subsidy competition with the US Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS Act, EU State Aid flexibility, workforce reskilling, and the cybersecurity of operational technology in factories. Mediterranean economies face the dual challenge of small and medium enterprises lagging in digital adoption while large champions in aerospace, automotive, pharmaceuticals, and machinery push toward fully connected production. The EU Chips Act and projects such as STMicroelectronics' Catania silicon carbide fab and Italy's investment in Intel-linked packaging illustrate the regional stakes. Current priorities include AI-driven quality control, sustainable manufacturing under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, circular economy mandates, and the slow standardization of data spaces such as Manufacturing-X. The Mediterranean's position depends heavily on whether SMEs can access the capital, skills, and connectivity to participate in these data ecosystems.

Key players

Energy Security and the Mediterranean Transition

Europe's energy system was upended by the 2022 cut-off of most Russian pipeline gas, redirecting flows to LNG and elevating the Mediterranean as a critical energy crossroads. Italy reduced Russian gas from roughly 40 percent of imports in 2021 to near zero by 2024, expanding pipeline links with Algeria, Azerbaijan via TAP, and new floating LNG terminals at Piombino and Ravenna. The 'Mattei Plan' announced in 2024 framed Italy as an energy bridge between Africa and Europe, while the EastMed gas discoveries off Israel, Cyprus, and Egypt remain entangled in maritime delimitation disputes. In parallel, the EU Green Deal, REPowerEU, and the Net-Zero Industry Act push aggressive deployment of renewables, hydrogen, and grid interconnection. North African solar potential — channelled through projects such as Morocco-UK Xlinks and proposed Tunisia-Italy ELMED interconnector — and offshore wind in the Adriatic and Aegean are reshaping the generation mix. Nuclear has returned to the European agenda, with France leading and Italy reopening domestic debate after its 1987 and 2011 referenda. Current disputes include the pace of fossil phase-out, methane emissions regulation, hydrogen colour standards, carbon border adjustment effects on neighbours, and competition for critical minerals. The Mediterranean's role as both transit zone and renewable powerhouse makes it central to whether the EU meets its 2030 and 2040 climate targets.

Key players

Life Sciences: Biotech, Pandemic Preparedness, and Health Sovereignty

The life sciences sector has been reshaped by the COVID-19 mRNA platform breakthrough, the rise of GLP-1 obesity therapeutics, and rapid advances in AI-driven drug discovery exemplified by AlphaFold and a new generation of generative biology tools. The 2024 collapse and subsequent reopening of WHO Pandemic Agreement negotiations underscored deep North-South divisions over pathogen access and benefit sharing, technology transfer, and intellectual property. The EU's revised pharmaceutical legislation, advancing through 2024-2026, recalibrates data exclusivity, access, and supply-chain resilience. The Mediterranean hosts significant life sciences capacity: Italy is Europe's largest pharmaceutical producer by output, with clusters in Lombardy, Lazio, and Tuscany; France and Spain anchor vaccines, biosimilars, and clinical research; Israel leads in digital health and medtech. Dependence on Chinese and Indian APIs, the Critical Medicines Act under negotiation, and antimicrobial resistance — recognized at the 2024 UN High-Level Meeting on AMR — frame current policy. Key disputes include equitable access to next-generation therapeutics, regulation of AI in medical devices under the EU AI Act and MDR, governance of human genome editing following the 2023 Third Summit, and biosecurity oversight of dual-use research and AI-enabled biology. Mediterranean states must balance industrial ambition, universal health system pressures, and demographic ageing that is among the most pronounced in the world.

Key players