From June 4 to 6, 2025, the city of Bologna became a global epicenter for technological foresight and collaborative innovation. The 13th edition of WMF – We Make Future | One World, One Future gathered over 1,000 speakers, more than 100 thematic stages, and tens of thousands of participants from over 90 countries. As Europe’s most ambitious festival dedicated to artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and digital sustainability, WMF 2025 offered more than discussion — it demonstrated how purpose-driven innovation can become a vehicle for systemic change.

Yet the most significant development of this edition wasn’t what happened on stage — it was what comes next. On the second day, organizers announced a landmark expansion: WMF Riyadh 2026, a full-scale international edition set to take place in Saudi Arabia from December 8 to 10, 2026. The announcement marked a strategic evolution from European hub to global innovation platform — a realization of the One World, One Future vision that underpins WMF’s mission.

Artificial Intelligence emerged as the central pillar of the event, not merely as a tool but as a public infrastructure shaping governance, education, health, and climate resilience. IBM’s Francesca Rossi emphasized that ethics must be embedded from the start. Luc Julia, the co-creator of Siri, noted that AI’s role is not to replace but to augment human capability — and that it must be transparent and explainable.

This focus on infrastructure extended to quantum computing, blockchain, and decentralized data ecosystems, with Alicia Hanf highlighting that digital sovereignty is becoming as critical as geographic sovereignty. She argued that control over data defines 21st-century power — a point echoed in sessions on Web3, ethical infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks.

Sustainability was treated not as a track but as a lens across the entire program. In his keynote, Nobel Peace Laureate Riccardo Valentini introduced Nature 4.0 — a vision in which robotics, AI, and environmental sensing come together to regenerate ecosystems rather than merely protect them. Panels explored AI-enabled biodiversity restoration, robotic reforestation, and smart systems for anticipating environmental shocks.

Another narrative thread focused on the algorithmic curation of reality. In a provocative address, journalist Enrico Mentana warned that what people believe today is increasingly shaped by opaque algorithms rather than by editors or institutions. This prompted discussions about AI-generated content, synthetic media governance, and the emerging ethics of digital storytelling.

At the policy and governance level, WMF – We Make Future | One World, One Future emphasized that inclusion must be designed by default, not added after the fact. From open civic platforms to equitable procurement, sessions illustrated how GovTech, LegalTech, and EduTech are critical levers for building digital citizenship in practice. Initiatives like Girls Code It Better were cited as tangible models for participatory transformation.

The Mainstage brought together some of the event’s most impactful voices. Cosmano Lombardo, founder of WMF, called for ecosystems that integrate innovation with responsibility. Anna Ascani, Vice-President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, detailed Italy’s AI and education strategy. Giuseppe Borghi from ESA showcased space-based AI for environmental monitoring, while Simonetta Di Pippo explored how space policy intersects with innovation and foresight. The atmosphere was energized by hosts Veronica Maffei, Gabriele Vagnato, and the performance duo Karma B.

The defining moment came with the announcement of WMF Riyadh 2026, which will not be a roadshow but a full international edition. Cosmano Lombardo described it as “the concrete confirmation of our global vision — not just an event, but a true international platform designed to activate a global ecosystem built on technology, AI, and digital for inclusion, entrepreneurship, and sustainability.” Saud Al-Yami, CEO of PNG Saudi Arabia, added that “Riyadh affirms itself as one of the world’s innovation capitals,” stating that the 2026 edition would carry the theme “Saudi Arabia Creates the Future.”

Backed by the strategic direction of Vision 2030, the Riyadh edition will explore how emerging technologies can serve sustainable urbanism, climate resilience, heritage preservation, and regional entrepreneurship. In doing so, it extends the vision of WMF – We Make Future | One World, One Future from a European flagship into a transnational platform for innovation diplomacy.

WMF 2025 also underscored its commitment to startup acceleration. The final round of Italy’s largest startup competition saw Invigilo AI, a Singapore-based company using computer vision for industrial safety, win the Jury Award and secure entry into the Startup World Cup in San Francisco. Electra Vehicles, based in the U.S. and focused on EV battery optimization, received the Special Audience Award and €25,000 in consulting support from Search On Media Group. Both startups are expected to be featured in Riyadh next year, demonstrating WMF’s function as a global launchpad for early-stage ventures with real-world impact.

What ultimately set WMF 2025 apart was its ability to weave together emerging technologies, institutional leadership, cultural transformation, and planetary ethics into a coherent and forward-looking narrative. Rather than showcasing the future as a spectacle, the event worked to curate it — drawing stakeholders from policy, business, science, and civil society into shared dialogue and deliberate action.

Reflecting on this journey, I would like to express my sincere thanks for the many conversations and invitations that emerged during these days. As someone engaged in the intersection of AI, governance, and exponential innovation, I’m particularly encouraged by the collective momentum. These exchanges reaffirm that in moments like this, collaboration is more than strategic — it is essential. WMF – We Make Future | One World, One Future is proving that the most powerful innovation is not disruptive — it’s shared intent.