NetZero Milan aims to become the benchmark for the transition and industry
The event, which runs until 22 October in Milan, opened with a focus on decarbonisation and business competitiveness
The second edition of NetZero Milan kicked off on 20 October at the Allianz MiCo, Fiera Milano’s Expo Summit, which, until 22 October, will bring together industry, finance, institutions, research and innovation to discuss the role of electrification in the economy, focusing on the technological solutions, investments and policies needed to combine energy security with industrial development.
The 2026 edition is sponsored by the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Ministry of the Environment and Economic Security, and the Ministry for Italian Industry and ‘Made in Italy’.
The day began with a video message from Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Italia’s Minister for the Environment and Energy Security, who emphasised the current need to bring about an energy and environmental transition capable of driving development and growth, in a context where the digital transition is reshaping the economy and society. According to the minister, energy independence, electrification and green technologies must guide nations into a new phase in Europe’s history.
Carlo Bonomi, president of Fiera Milano, pointed out that an efficient transition requires an industrial policy capable of bringing together energy, innovation, infrastructure and investment. It is within this framework that NetZero Milan is situated: “We have chosen to focus on the relationship between the energy transition and industrial competitiveness, creating a meeting point between institutions and businesses. Our aim is to gradually establish NetZero Milan as a regular event dedicated to the themes of energy and competitiveness,” he said.
During the fair’s opening event, Paolo Gentiloni, Chair of the European Investment Bank’s Global Advisory Council, was among those who took the floor, emphasising Europe’s significant commitment to the climate transition. According to Gentiloni, this is evidenced by various packages of measures, such as the investments under Next Generation Europe, a third of which are dedicated to the transition. For Italia, in particular, this amounts to 70–80 billion euros. Gentiloni went on to point out that Europe, together with Japan, is currently among the regions most consistently pursuing a path towards decarbonisation: indeed, 6 per cent of the world’s population lives in Europe, whilst the EU accounts for 6 per cent of global emissions.
