Future of Manufacturing, AI & Industry 4.0

Are you an Italian or European startup revolutionizing the manufacturing sector with Artificial Intelligence and Industry 4.0 technologies? Apply to the “Future of Manufacturing, AI & Industry 4.0" call and participate in Bologna Tech Week 2025 (December 2-3, 2025) and WMF 2026 (June 24-26, 2026, BolognaFiere), in the heart of the Italian Data Valley.

The goal of the “Future of Manufacturing, AI & Industry 4.0" call is to support the growth of startups that offer innovative technologies, solid business models, and produce a positive impact on society, by providing them with access to internationalization support services and product development offered by the WMF ecosystem.

You will have the opportunity to access B2B meetings with international investors, exhibit your startup in the Startup District, and be part of the WMF global network, with opportunities for internationalization and growth.

The call closes on November 3, 2025: apply now by filling out the form!

Through the call, we aim to address the main industrial challenges, including the following technologies, products, and solutions:

• Advanced automation and generative AI;

• Machine learning and collaborative robotics;

• Digital twin for production and additive manufacturing;

• Industrial IoT, predictive maintenance, digital supply chain;

• Hyperautomation, process mining, Industrial AI;

• Advanced materials, electronics, quantum computing;

• Renewable energies, energy storage, carbon capture.

Opportunities for selected startups:

• International visibility, presenting the startup to an audience of experts, investors, and leading companies in the sector.

• Access to B2B meetings with investors and strategic partners.

• Opportunity to get an exhibition space in the Startup District during WMF 2026.

• Opportunity to participate in the WMF International Roadshow, with events and global networking opportunities.

• Collaboration with the Tecnopolo di Bologna, an innovation hub with the Leonardo supercomputer for advanced research and technological development.

The call is dedicated to startups and SMEs composed of teams with innovative projects or ideas whose core business is based on complementary technologies for the manufacturing sector.

The 6 finalists will compete live during the Bologna Tech Week 2025. Only 3 of them will gain access to the final stage at WMF (June 24-26, 2026, BolognaFiere), interacting with investors and stakeholders from all over the world and an international jury of experts.

Read the regulations and participate!

To apply, fill out the form!

The submitted projects will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Team expertise, industry knowledge, and project feasibility;

• Development stage of the product/service;

• Degree of innovation and defensibility of the proposed solution;

• Competitive environment and market positioning;

• Market and customer needs responsiveness and size;

• Business potential of the idea;

• Completeness of the submitted documentation.

We believe in the value of diversity and inclusion: startups that promote gender equality and diversity will be given special consideration in the evaluation of applications.