european economics at SMAU | Italy RestartsUp in Paris
The european economics team attended SMAU | Italy RestartsUp at Station F (Paris).
Organised in collaboration with ITA – Italian Trade Agency, the event brought together start-ups, corporates, investors and innovation stakeholders from Italy and France around a clear objective: strengthening the links between the Italian innovation ecosystem, the Paris hub and the French market. The 2026 edition notably featured a selection of 50 Italian start-ups and innovation teams from approximately 15 major Italian corporates, with strong sectoral diversity ranging from industry to mobility, including retail, smart communities, agrifood and healthtech.
The day of 15 April was structured around pitches, panel discussions and networking sessions. The programme highlighted key themes at the core of current transformations across European ecosystems: artificial intelligence and digital transformation, the creation of new ecosystems, open innovation, strategic collaboration, sustainable growth and the future of work.
A strong track record in State aid and public funding
Since 2009, european economics has been supporting strategic projects across Europe.
At SMAU Paris, we highlighted several key figures: over €43 billion in secured public funding, more than 250 strategic projects supported since 2009, and €16 billion in IPCEI State aid secured across 150 supported projects within 11 IPCEIs in 13 Member States. This includes a 100% success rate on individual State aid notifications.
This experience enables us to support the entire value chain of innovative projects, from structuring through to the effective securing of public funding.
An edition focused on Franco-Italian connections
SMAU | Italy RestartsUp in Paris confirmed its role as a bridge between the Italian and French ecosystems. The objective was not only to showcase start-ups, but to activate business relationships, innovation partnerships and investment opportunities between stakeholders in both markets.
This approach was reflected in a format designed as a connection journey: an opening reception at the Embassy of Italy in France on 14 April, a full day of meetings at Station F on 15 April, followed by visits to Paris-based incubators and accelerators on 16 April. The 2026 edition was also designated as an official event of the National Made in Italy Day by the Embassy of Italy in France.
Focused discussions on scale-up, sector innovation and European cooperation
The programme highlighted several key themes for companies in the scale-up phase: AI and digital transformation, the creation of new ecosystems, open innovation, sustainable growth and the evolution of skills in the age of AI. These topics reflect current priorities across European innovation ecosystems: building the right connections, accelerating high-impact projects and enabling international growth.
For european economics, this edition provided a valuable opportunity to engage with start-ups, investors and industrial players on scale-up strategies, public funding for innovation and cross-border development. The firm was represented by Carlotta Varriale, Maria Teresa Aguilar Rojas and David Fawaz Salihou.
A relevant framework to accelerate innovation in Europe
SMAU | Italy RestartsUp Paris 2026 confirms a broader trend: the growth of innovative projects increasingly depends on the quality of connections between start-ups, corporates, investors and institutions, beyond national borders. By bringing these stakeholders together through a format combining pitches, panels, networking and meetings with Paris-based incubators and accelerators, the event provided a concrete framework to foster high-potential Franco-Italian collaborations.
Would you like to assess the public funding potential of your innovative project or your scale-up strategy in Europe? Contact us to arrange a meeting.
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