EDIH Summit 2026: Strengthening the AI Innovation Ecosystem

9 – 10 Jun 2026 | Brussels, Belgium

Wednesday, 10 June 2026 | 11:00 - 12:30

TWG Tourism

Format:In-personLocation:Studio 215, 2 Floor

The Future of Tourism: AI and Robotics

This session examines how artificial intelligence and robotics are reshaping the European tourism sector from operational efficiency in SMEs to destination-level governance.  The discussion is structured around three segments: a scenario analysis of current AI and robotics impacts on tourism businesses and territories; an EDIH roundtable showcasing real-world deployments and the European perspective from DG MOVE in conversation with the European capital of smart tourism. The session aims to produce a shared vision and concrete collaboration pathways among EDIHs, SMEs and European institutions.  

Speakers:  

  • Alessio Pisa, Professor, IULM University 

  • Roberto Carraro ,CEO, Carraro Lab  

  • Maiju Viiki, Account Manager at Visit Tampere - 2026 European Capital of Smart Tourism 

  • Olivia Zechner, Project Coordinator, Crowd In motion EDIH (Austria) 

  • Anca Albu, Member, CITY INNOHUB (Romania) 

  • Catalina Nicolescu, Member, CITY INNOHUB (Romania) 

  • Mike Conroy, Director and Program Coordinator, Data2Sustain EDIH (Ireland) 

  • Laura Plunkett, Programme Manager, CeADAR (EDIH for AI) (Ireland) 

  • Antonio Collado, Coordinator, CIDIHUB (Spain) 

  • Stig Michelsen, Managing Director, Oceanopolis (Norway) 

  • Petri Salo, Coordinator, Robocoast EDIH (Finland) 

  • Michail Vamvakouris, Tourism Unit member, Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE), European Commission 

  • Nicola Bianchi, Project manager, AI-Catalyst (Italy) 

  • Edoardo Colombo, Member, AI-Catalyst (Italy) 

  • Alessandro Ciccone, Senior Innovation Consultant, EDI (Italy)