On May 21–22, INSME attended AGORADA 2025, EURADA’s annual flagship event dedicated to the future of regional development, held in Brussels. The event provided a timely platform to reflect on the role of regional development agencies (RDAs) in an increasingly complex and fast-changing environment.
INSME’s Secretary General, Giovanni Zazzerini, was a speaker during the panel on “Regional Development and Emerging New Technologies”. Zazzerini highlighted how, according to the latest D4SME data of the OECD, 40% of European SMEs now adopt AI tools to enhance efficiency, creativity, and customer engagement — a significant rise from previous years. However, to innovate means to change, and change has its perks and obstacles.
AI enables SMEs to automate processes, optimize data analysis, reduce costs, and develop differentiated services. However, challenges remain. Many SMEs lack robust data governance and digital security frameworks; two out of three report insufficient safeguards. Legal uncertainty, intellectual property concerns, and misinformation risks also persist, especially with AI-generated content.
Zazzerini emphasized the importance of independent innovation among SMEs and warned against over-reliance on dominant global tech providers. There is a growing skills gap, with shortages in technical expertise, and only a minority of SMEs are aware of or able to access existing digitalization support programs.
The discussion echoed broader concerns around market concentration, job displacement, and unequal digital access. Participants called for streamlined policy instruments, regional investment in infrastructure, and inclusive, strategic capacity-building. To ensure long-term, equitable growth, coordinated efforts at national and European levels are essential.
Source: INSME Secretariat
