The event "AI Italia – AI Between Innovation and Digital Sovereignty," organized by Engineering Group, was held at the Sala Zuccari of Palazzo Giustiniani at the Senate of the Republic. The event brought together leading figures from the institutional, academic, and industrial worlds for an open discussion on the challenges and opportunities of developing an Italian and sovereign approach to Artificial Intelligence. In particular, the conversation focused on how, in a period of increasingly rapid and impactful technological growth, it is essential to develop solutions based on fully governable, secure AI that complies with the AI Act, fostering close collaboration between institutions, businesses, and research.

The event, moderated by Michelangelo Suigo, Group Chief Public Affairs, Corporate Communication & Sustainability Officer at Engineering, opened with institutional greetings from Senator Licia Ronzulli, Vice President of the Senate, and Senator Alberto Barachini, Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers for Information and Publishing. The closing remarks were delivered by Senator Alessio Butti, Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers for Technological Innovation and Digital Transition.

Following the institutional greetings, Aldo Bisio, CEO of Engineering Group, opened the debate with a reflection on sovereign AI — one that must not only protect the data and cognitive assets of Italian businesses and Public Administrations, but also be open, transparent, and auditable. The CEO then presented IS-IA – Italy's Sovereign Intelligence Architecture, Engineering's architectural approach based on the concept of Italian, governable, and secure Artificial Intelligence, built on the proprietary GenAI platform EngGPT 2.

The discussion continued with remarks from Admiral Andrea Billet, Director of the National Evaluation and Certification Centre of the National Cybersecurity Agency, who addressed the close synergy between cybersecurity and artificial intelligence and the importance of international cooperation in defending against threats.

The afternoon was structured around two roundtables. The first, titled "Sovereign, Secure and Sustainable AI," featured cross-party members of Parliament: Senators Lorenzo Basso and Guido Liris, and Members of Parliament Giulio Centemero and Giulia Pastorella.

The second roundtable, "AI Everywhere: AI Applications Across Market Verticals," explored concrete AI applications across industrial sectors and the opportunity to leverage the technology as a strategic driver for national development. Participants included Fabio Momola, EVP Engineering Group; Stefania Bandini, Full Professor of Computer Science at the University of Milano-Bicocca and President of the Italian Institute of Artificial Intelligence AI4I; Enzo Peruffo, Pro-Rector of LUISS; and Donatella Proto, Director General for New Enabling Technologies at MIMIT.

Following the two panels, Mario Nobile, Director General of AgID, spoke on the importance of promoting and developing sovereign AI to cultivate talent and achieve cognitive sovereignty in Italy.

Senator Alessio Butti, Undersecretary for Technological Innovation and Digital Transition stated: "The artificial intelligence challenge is, first and foremost, a matter of digital sovereignty — it means the ability to govern the data, infrastructure, and algorithms that determine development and security. With Italy's AI legislation, we have chosen a clear model: certain rules, national governance, and a €1 billion investment to support businesses and innovation. The work of the private sector and the development of Italian LLMs are equally fundamental. Those who do not govern these technologies risk being governed by them; we are building the conditions for Italy to be a leading player."

Aldo Bisio, CEO of Engineering stated: "The country's true competitive advantage lies not only in infrastructure, but in the body of knowledge, data, and expertise built over time by businesses and institutions. Preserving and enhancing this capital is essential: when it is processed without adequate governance, it risks becoming an asset for others. This is why developing a Sovereign Artificial Intelligence — governable, transparent, and capable of operating within secure perimeters without dispersing know-how — is so important. At Engineering, we have developed IS-IA, our Italy's Sovereign Intelligence Architecture, together with the private GenAI platform EngGPT 2: an architectural approach that keeps models and data within secure, controllable, and transparent perimeters. In this way, Artificial Intelligence offers businesses and Public Administrations a lasting competitive advantage, ensuring autonomy in technology choices and full awareness in the use and development of the technology."

The event reaffirmed Engineering's commitment to actively contributing to the public debate on artificial intelligence, bringing its vision and technological expertise to the venues where the country's industrial and digital policies are shaped.