INSME actively participated in the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM Congress) 2025, held in Abu Dhabi from April 7 to 9 under the theme Mapping the Future of Global Investment: Towards a New Balanced World Structure. As a premier global platform for investment and economic cooperation, AIM Congress convened policymakers, investors, and innovators from around the world to shape the future of investment in an increasingly interconnected landscape.
As part of the congress’s comprehensive programme, INSME Secretary General Giovanni Zazzerini moderated a high-level panel discussion titled Enabling the Transformation of Industry 5.0: The Role of SMEs in Creating Future Factories. Organized in collaboration with Enterprise Greece and AMEC – Asociación de las Empresas Industriales Internacionalizadas, the session gathered prominent voices in innovation and industry to explore the strategic role of SMEs in driving the transition to Industry 5.0. The discussion placed particular emphasis on the evolving relationship between humans and intelligent systems in the context of modern production. Zazzerini, together with panelists Sonia Fernandez, Director of AMEC, and Marinos Giannopoulos, CEO of Enterprise Greece, led an engaging dialogue on how SMEs can effectively leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to develop more responsive, creative, and efficient production environments—commonly referred to as the “factories of the future.” The panel underscored that, within SMEs, these technologies are not intended to replace human labour, but rather to enhance human capabilities. AI and ML are enabling a new paradigm of collaboration, where intelligent systems support real-time decision-making, enable tailored solutions, and stimulate innovation. At the core of this transformation is the concept of the Smart Factory: a flexible, technology-driven production model that balances process optimization with a strong human-centric approach. Within the Industry 5.0 framework, AI and ML are proving to be critical tools for SMEs to improve operational efficiency, nurture creativity, and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving industrial landscape. By embracing this synergy between human and artificial intelligence, SMEs are positioned to become key actors in building a more inclusive, adaptive, and forward-looking industrial future.
This panel formed part of AIM Congress’s broader mission to promote knowledge exchange and foster strategic partnerships across the global investment ecosystem. It offered attendees practical and forward-thinking insights into how technological advancement can empower SMEs to lead innovation within a human-centred industrial paradigm.
Source: INSME Secretariat
