Athens welcomed technology leaders, startups, investors, policymakers and innovators from across Europe and beyond for three days of conversations, collaboration and discovery at BEYOND 2026.
This year’s event further strengthened BEYOND’s position as one of Southeast Europe’s leading technology and innovation gatherings, bringing together more than 300 exhibitors from 11 countries — Cyprus, Belgium, Slovakia, Hungary, Denmark, Germany, France, Portugal, Bulgaria, Tunisia and Hong Kong — alongside approximately 100 startups. The event also attracted businesses, research institutions, investors and public sector representatives from Greece and abroad.
Under the theme “BEYOND FRACTURES. Where Innovation Meets the Real Market,” this year’s programme explored how technology can help address some of the most pressing economic and societal challenges of our time. Across three days of keynotes, panel discussions, workshops, presentations and networking sessions, participants examined the opportunities and responsibilities that come with the next wave of technological transformation.
The strong engagement between exhibitors, speakers, investors and visitors once again highlighted BEYOND’s role as a platform for knowledge exchange, partnership building and business development. The event showcased emerging technologies, innovative ideas and real-world applications that are expected to shape the future of digital transformation across industries.
On the final day, discussions focused on the technologies driving the next phase of growth, the challenges of AI adoption, innovation financing and the skills that will define organizational competitiveness in the years ahead.
BEYOND will return from 1 to 3 April 2027, continuing its mission to bring together the technology, innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem from across the region and beyond.
The Exhibition
With more than 300 exhibitors from 11 countries and around 100 startups, BEYOND 2026 once again provided a vibrant platform for networking, collaboration and business development across the Greek and international technology ecosystem.
This year’s exhibition showcased a wide range of technologies already transforming industries and society, featuring solutions in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data centres, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, smart cities, education and sustainable resource management. Through exhibitor showcases, product demonstrations and business meetings, visitors had the opportunity to explore how innovation is being translated into practical solutions with measurable impact for both businesses and society.
The AI Forum
The AI Forum concluded its three-day programme with a series of thought-provoking discussions, keynote presentations and expert insights exploring the technological, societal, creative and business implications of artificial intelligence.
Among the highlights of the final day:
Visual AI and Trust | The keynote session “Computer Vision as Critical Infrastructure: Why Visual AI Will Define the Next Decade” explored the growing importance of visual AI in a world increasingly shaped by cameras, sensors and image-based data. From smartphones and drones to transportation networks and surveillance systems, visual technologies are becoming embedded in everyday life. Speakers examined the opportunities this creates, alongside the challenges posed by deepfakes, synthetic media and the growing need to verify the authenticity of digital content. A key takeaway from the session was that innovation and regulation do not need to be opposing forces. With the right frameworks in place, societies can foster technological progress while protecting democratic institutions and public trust. Content verification and detection tools were identified as essential components of the future digital ecosystem.
Connected Cities | The panel “The Connected City: Data, Mobility and Better Urban Living” explored how cities are evolving beyond the traditional concept of the “smart city” towards more connected and integrated urban environments. Drawing on examples from mobility, local government, environmental monitoring and municipal services, speakers demonstrated how data can support better decision-making and more efficient public services. The discussion also highlighted the importance of open and reliable data, as well as the opportunities created when AI is combined with modern digital infrastructure. Participants agreed that digitalisation and automation have the potential to improve quality of life, enhance service delivery and strengthen citizen participation in shaping the cities of the future.
Culture, Data and Liveable Cities | The fireside chat “Beyond the Tourist Trail – How Cities Use Tech and Culture to Stay Liveable” examined how destinations can balance tourism growth with the needs of local communities. Using Valletta, Malta, as a case study, speakers demonstrated how cities can leverage data, sensors and visitor-flow analytics to better understand how residents and visitors interact with public spaces. The conversation highlighted the value of combining technology with social research to support better policymaking, improve visitor experiences and strengthen residents’ connection to their city. Speakers agreed that data and AI can become powerful tools for addressing complex urban challenges when deployed in ways that support long-term sustainability and community wellbeing.
Mediterranean Tech Ecosystems | In his keynote “From Accidental to Intentional: What Mediterranean Tech Needs to Do Next,” Christopher Locke explored the trends shaping innovation and entrepreneurship across the Mediterranean region and beyond. His presentation highlighted the declining barriers to launching and scaling new ventures, the growing importance of cross-sector collaboration and the role of regulation in shaping competitiveness. Locke also pointed to Greece’s emergence as an increasingly important hub connecting talent, ideas and entrepreneurial activity across the region. His message was clear: technology alone is not the differentiator. Long-term success depends on vision, collaboration and the ability to turn opportunity into meaningful impact.
AI Ethics and Accountability | The panel “AI & Society: The Big Ethical Questions We’re Not Asking” tackled some of the most important ethical, legal and societal questions emerging from the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. Speakers stressed the need for clear governance frameworks and robust safeguards to ensure that humans remain accountable for decisions supported by AI systems. The discussion also addressed broader questions of responsibility, transparency and trust as increasingly autonomous technologies become embedded in everyday life. Participants agreed that effective AI adoption requires more than regulation alone. Ethical principles, accountability mechanisms and safety-by-design approaches must be embedded into technologies from the earliest stages of development.
B2B Meetings
B2B meetings once again served as a cornerstone of business activity at BEYOND 2026. Through the official B2B Matchmaking Event, organised in collaboration with the Federation of Industries of Greece (SBE), a member of the Enterprise Europe Network Hellas, participants were able to connect with potential partners, explore new opportunities and develop meaningful business relationships.
Guided by the philosophy “Connect. Collaborate. Grow.”, businesses, startups, investors, research institutions and organisations came together to create commercial and technological synergies. The strong level of engagement throughout the programme reinforced BEYOND’s role as a meeting point for organisations seeking growth, international expansion and new partnerships in Greece and beyond.
The BEYOND Marketplace
Throughout BEYOND 2026, the BEYOND Marketplace – Open Stage served as a hub for businesses, investors and industry professionals, showcasing how emerging technologies are being applied across a wide range of sectors.
Through a series of presentations and discussions, participating organizations demonstrated how innovation is moving beyond theory and into practical, market-ready applications. The sessions reflected this year’s theme, “Where Innovation Meets the Real Market,” highlighting how new technologies are creating tangible business opportunities, commercial partnerships and measurable impact across industries.
The Startup Village
The Beyond Tomorrow Startup Village once again confirmed its role as a key meeting point for the Greek and international startup ecosystem. Through presentations, pitching sessions, targeted meetings, and networking opportunities with investors and organizations, participating startups had the chance to showcase their solutions, exchange experiences, and explore new opportunities for growth and international expansion.
A prominent highlight of the program was the Startup World Cup, one of the world’s most prestigious startup competitions. During the final round, held as part of BEYOND 2026, twelve startups presented their ideas and solutions before a panel of judges and investors, competing for the title of Regional Champion and a place in the global finals in San Francisco. The winning startup was OmniLoc.ai.
In addition, a dedicated competition for startups in the creative industries was organized, with the prize being participation in the Creative Business Cup (CBC) Final 2026 in Copenhagen. The winning startup was Video Games Museum.
At the same time, the Sustainability-Energy & Defence Hackathon, organized in collaboration with ACE, brought together teams developing solutions in the fields of sustainable energy, defence technology, and dual-use applications. Through three days of collaboration, mentoring, and knowledge exchange, participants had the opportunity to further develop their ideas and test them in an environment that closely simulated real market conditions. Following the final presentations, BENET emerged as the winning team.
Workshops
Alongside the main conference programme, a series of specialized workshops provided participants with deeper insights into some of the most important challenges and opportunities shaping the digital economy.
Led by public institutions, industry organizations and global companies—including the General Secretariat for Communication and Information, the Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation (OBI), Microsoft & KPMG, the Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Companies (SFEE) and the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE-TCG) —the workshops explored emerging technologies, modern business practices and innovation-driven solutions already influencing the way businesses, organizations and public institutions operate
Designed to combine strategic thinking with practical application, the sessions offered participants valuable perspectives on the technologies and capabilities shaping the future of work, business and society.