The inaugural edition of GITEX Europe in Berlin has established itself as the region’s largest tech and startup event, drawing over 40,000 tech professionals, 2,000+ exhibitors, and 800+ investors from 100+ countries.
During its three-day run at Messe Berlin, the event highlighted deep tech, artificial intelligence, and diversity as key drivers of Europe’s digital transformation. Here’s how it became a bold statement of the continent’s innovation ambitions.
Fostering gender balance in European tech
Diversity emerged as a central theme at GITEX Europe 2025. Events such as the Female Founders & Investors Drinks, co-hosted by Thousand Faces Org and Beyond Global, created valuable networking spaces for women leaders in innovation and investment. The Supernova Challenge, the world’s largest startup pitch competition, offered €100,000 in equity-free funding to promising startups.
Political leaders reinforced this emphasis on collaboration and diversity. Clara Chappaz, France’s Minister of AI and Digital, highlighted Europe’s collaborative approach to innovation, particularly through French-German partnerships driving digital transformation. Franziska Giffey, Berlin’s Mayor, characterised the event as a “technological sovereignty” catalyst, supporting the EU’s vision for digital independence and homegrown tech development.
European Innovation Council showcase: €1.4B in deep tech
The exhibition showcased 750+ startups from 60 countries, with the European Innovation Council (EIC) Pavilion featuring 40+ deep tech companies supported by €1.4 billion in funding.
Denmark’s ATLANT 3D showcased its NASA-partnered atomic-precision printing for microchips. Germany’s Kiuntra introduced cryogen-free sub-Kelvin cooling systems for quantum computing. The GITEX Quantum Expo, backed by IBM and QuIC, demonstrated Europe’s strength in quantum R&D.
Sustainability innovations showed strongly, though specific projects like Leafcloud’s server heat repurposing and Nash FintechX’s carbon credit NFTs require additional sourcing. The event’s Green Impact Summit emphasised climate tech solutions aligned with Europe’s €200 billion AI investment roadmap.
AI takes centre stage: Startups drive practical solutions
Artificial intelligence dominated both the exhibition and the conference. The AI Everything Europe summit featured Dr. Geoffrey Hinton, whose keynote on “AI for Humanity’s Greatest Challenges” shaped discussions about responsible AI development.
Startups demonstrated practical AI applications across sectors. For example, Latvia’s Longenesis introduced a health data exchange platform using federated learning for privacy-preserving drug discovery.
The North Star Europe Program facilitated 3,000+ investor-startup meetings, while corporate partnerships such as Solaris-Deutsche Bank blockchain payments and Qonto’s North Africa expansion remain unverified through provided sources.
GITEX Europe Berlin as a startup launchpad?
GITEX Europe 2025 has secured Berlin’s place on the global tech map. With its 5,600 startups, 25 unicorns, and strategic location, Berlin proved ideal for launching Europe’s next-generation innovations. As Europe targets 11 million new tech jobs by 2030 and seeks to expand its global VC presence, GITEX Europe is a vital bridge, connecting innovative startups to global markets while redefining responsible innovation.
