Pordenone is home to EUREKA, the trade fair for Italian cultural and creative enterprises
The sector currently accounts for 15.4 per cent of GDP, including related economic activity – major companies present, including FAO, MidaTicket and the 24 ORE Cultura Advisory Department
Key points
EUREKA 2026, the trade fair for Italian cultural and creative enterprises, gets underway on Thursday 5 November and is scheduled to run at Pordenone Fiere until 6 November 2026.
In Hall 5 and the conference facilities of the Exhibition Centre’s Services Centre, over 100 ICCs from across Italia – a sector that currently accounts for 15.4 per cent of GDP, including related economic activity – will be gathering, providing a large area dedicated to business matching, with B2B meetings bookable via a digital calendar to bring together ‘traditional’ companies and highly innovative start-ups.
This is a project organised by the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia – Department of Culture.
The opening ceremony
The opening ceremony is scheduled for Thursday 5th at 10.00 am in the Zuliani Room at the Pordenone Fiere Conference Centre, and at 10.45 am, EUREKA 2026 will host the inaugural round table on the theme ‘Artistic and creative talent in the workplace and corporate cultural projects’. The impact of their respective contributions, organised by the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, with the participation of national companies: introduced by Guido Guerzoni, Adjunct Professor of Heritage, Museums and Digital Culture, at the “L. Bocconi” Business School; speakers will include Matteo Ferrario, Chief Operating Officer of the Ermenegildo Zegna ETS Foundation; Francesca Maurigh, Head of Customer Quality at Acciaierie Bertoli Safau Spa, who emphasises the importance for her company of ‘interaction with worlds seemingly far removed from production’, as well as Paolo Candotti, Managing Director of Marine Interiors Cabins – Fincantieri Group. Also speaking will be Maria Teresa Innocente, Head of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Division at Crédit Agricole Italia; Michele Pecchi, Board Member of Ennio Riccesi Holding Srl; and Paolo Vernier, entrepreneur and founder of MIDJ, who describes creativity as “an essential element within a company for the design of a new model”.
This discussion aims to explore the role of creativity and the contribution that cultural, design and creative skills can make to business development processes. Drawing on the experiences of major companies and foundations, the discussion will highlight the methods, tools and pathways through which creative talents can engage with the world of business, contributing to the creation of new visions, languages and forms of value. Today, the creative economy has become a macroeconomic driver: incorporating designers, storytelling experts, cultural planners and artists into Research and Development teams, or into strategic divisions, enables businesses to be more competitive.
