AI, innovation and competitiveness - can Europe lead?

Europe has the talent, the research and a fast-growing generation of AI startups. The question is whether it can turn that potential into global leadership.

For founders building today, the answer depends on very practical things: how quickly they can access compute and foundation models, how easily they can scale across 27 markets, how much capital they can raise and how much time they spend on compliance instead of product.

This panel brings founders, investors, regulators and policymakers together to talk openly about what it really takes for European startups to compete and win.

Speakers will look at where Europe's regulatory framework, from the AI Act to emerging cloud and data rules, can become an advantage built on trust, and where it risks raising barriers that only large incumbents can afford. They will also discuss what governments can do to make the continent the best place to start and scale an AI company, from regulatory sandboxes to simpler, interoperable rules across borders.

The conversation will draw on Portugal's experience as a small, open economy with one of Europe's most dynamic startup ecosystems. It will show how founders and policymakers can work together to keep Europe open to the global partnerships, infrastructure and investment that drive innovation, while building companies that can lead from here.

Join us during Portugal Tech Week, just ahead of Web Summit, for an informal evening of candid conversation and networking with the people shaping the future of AI in Europe.