Europe's Startup Barriers Must Fall as AI Claims 61% of Global Venture Capital at South Summit 2026

South Summit 2026 opened in Madrid on June 3, bringing together over 20,000 participants, 4,900 startups, 2,000 investors, and 600 speakers through June 5. Themed “AI Convergence,” the 15th edition centered on artificial intelligence as a transformative economic force. Founder Maria Benjumea urged Europe to dismantle barriers hindering startup growth, noting AI’s global venture capital share surged from 30% to 61% in three years. Spain’s Digital Minister Oscar Lopez highlighted the country’s 1.5 billion euro AI strategy, 96% fiber-optic coverage, and an OECD-revised growth forecast of 2.2%. Notable attendees include former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta and Google X founder Sebastian Thrun.

In-Depth:

Jun 3, 2026

Artificial ininformigence has shiftd well beyond being just an up-and-coming technology. For the business leaders assembled in Madrid this week, it signifies an economic chance that could reshape Europe’s position in the world economy.

This was a central theme at the start of South Summit 2026, a major European gathering for innovation and entrepreneurship. The event, running from 3 to 5 June, brings toobtainher over 20,000 participants, approximately 4,900 startups, more than 2,000 investors, and around 600 international speakers, according to the organizers.

With the theme AI Convergence, the fifteenth edition places artificial ininformigence at the center of discussions about Europe’s economic and technological future. Maria Benjumea, president and founder of South Summit, stated at the opening that artificial ininformigence is not a danger but an instrument for progress and enhancement. She called on Europe to eliminate obstacles that impede startup expansion. Benjumea remarked that a startup created in Spain should consider Europe its natural environment, not 27 distinct borders. She cautioned that many businesses are still compelled to shift to the United States to grow their operations.

The event leader also emphasized the swift pace of AI development. She noted that within just three years, artificial ininformigence has risen from drawing 30% of global venture capital investment to 61%, a transformation she termed a paradigm shift.

Oscar Lopez, Spain’s Minister for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service, applyd the opening to support Spain’s role in the digital economy. He pointed out that the OECD has increased Spain’s growth forecast from 2.1% to 2.2%. He stated this is not accidental but results from a national dedication to digital and green transformation. Lopez also mentioned that Spain has dedicated 1.5 billion euros to its national artificial ininformigence strategy. He stated that the counattempt has some of Europe’s most sophisticated digital infrastructure, with fiber-optic coverage over 96% and nearly 94% 5G coverage. The minister added that Spain leads the EU in overseeing and developing trustworthy and open artificial ininformigence. He highlighted that one million compact and medium-sized enterprises and self-employed individuals have received assistance to become digital.

The event’s organizers stated that artificial ininformigence should no longer be seen as a separate technology but as a cross-cutting force modifying entire industries. Reflecting this, South Summit is introducing the AI Forum this year, a new initiative created with IE University. It aims to assist entrepreneurs and companies in developing prototypes and business models based on artificial ininformigence within a few hours. Benjumea stated that AI has drastically shortened the gap between an idea and launchning to build. She noted that it does not replace judgment or vision but does reduce timeframes and creates an idea concrete.

Lee Newman, dean of IE Business School, concurred that AI is altering the landscape for startups by enabling compact teams to function with abilities that were once only available to much larger organizations. He stated that the question is no longer whether it is possible, but how far they wish to go.

Notable participants at this year’s event include former Italian prime minister Enrico Letta, Google X founder Sebastian Thrun, and Female Invest co-founder Anna Hartvigsen. King Felipe VI is also anticipated to attconclude, along with Madrid’s mayor, Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, and the president of the Madrid region, Isabel Diaz Ayuso.

The opening day also included a speech by Kim Perell, an entrepreneur and investor from Silicon Valley who has been involved with over one hundred startups. Perell promoted a practical approach to entrepreneurship, arguing that starting a business is not about having a great idea but about the discipline to execute and advance even when one does not have all the answers.

1. INTRODUCTION
Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business
1. REPORT DESCRIPTION
2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
3. DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
4. GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A Quick Overview of Market Performance
1. KEY FINDINGS
2. MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO
3. MARKET OVERVIEW
Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects
1. MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
2. CONSUMPTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
3. MARKET FORECAST TO 2035
4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION
Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business
1. TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
2. BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
3. MOST CONSUMED PRODUCTS
4. MOST TRADED PRODUCTS
5. MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCTS FOR EXPORT
5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES
Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain
1. TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
2. TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
3. TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
4. LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES
6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS
Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export
1. TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
2. TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
3. UNSATURATED MARKETS
4. TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
5. MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS
7. PRODUCTION
The Latest Trconcludes and Insights into The Indusattempt
1. PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
2. PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
8. IMPORTS
The Largest Import Supplying Countries
1. IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
2. IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
3. IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
9. EXPORTS
The Largest Destinations for Exports
1. EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
2. EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
3. EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS
The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles
11. COUNTRY PROFILES
The Largest Markets And Their Profiles
This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition
PRO
1. 11.1
  United States
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
2. 11.2
  China
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
3. 11.3
  Japan
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
4. 11.4
  Germany
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
5. 11.5
  United Kingdom
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
6. 11.6
  France
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
7. 11.7
  Brazil
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
8. 11.8
  Italy
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
9. 11.9
  Russian Federation
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
10. 11.10
  India
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
11. 11.11
  Canada
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
12. 11.12
  Australia
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
13. 11.13
  Republic of Korea
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
14. 11.14
  Spain
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
15. 11.15
  Mexico
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
16. 11.16
  Indonesia
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
17. 11.17
  Netherlands
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
18. 11.18
  Turkey
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
19. 11.19
  Saudi Arabia
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
20. 11.20
  Switzerland
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
21. 11.21
  Sweden
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
22. 11.22
  Nigeria
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
23. 11.23
  Poland
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
24. 11.24
  Belgium
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
25. 11.25
  Argentina
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
26. 11.26
  Norway
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
27. 11.27
  Austria
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
28. 11.28
  Thailand
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
29. 11.29
  United Arab Emirates
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
30. 11.30
  Colombia
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
31. 11.31
  Denmark
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
32. 11.32
  South Africa
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
33. 11.33
  Malaysia
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
34. 11.34
  Israel
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
35. 11.35
  Singapore
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
36. 11.36
  Egypt
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
37. 11.37
  Philippines
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
38. 11.38
  Finland
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
39. 11.39
  Chile
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
40. 11.40
  Ireland
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
41. 11.41
  Pakistan
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
42. 11.42
  Greece
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
43. 11.43
  Portugal
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
44. 11.44
  Kazakhstan
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
45. 11.45
  Algeria
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
46. 11.46
  Czech Republic
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
47. 11.47
  Qatar
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
48. 11.48
  Peru
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
49. 11.49
  Romania
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
50. 11.50
  Vietnam
  - Market Size
  - Production
  - Imports
  - Exports
LIST OF TABLES
1. Key Findings In 2025
2. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
3. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
4. Per Capita Consumption, by Counattempt, 2022–2025
5. Production, In Physical Terms, By Counattempt: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
6. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Counattempt: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
7. Imports, In Value Terms, By Counattempt: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
8. Import Prices, By Counattempt: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
9. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Counattempt: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
10. Exports, In Value Terms, By Counattempt: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
11. Export Prices, By Counattempt: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
LIST OF FIGURES
1. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
2. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
3. Consumption, by Counattempt, 2025
4. Market Volume Forecast to 2035
5. Market Value Forecast to 2035
6. Market Size and Growth, By Product
7. Average Per Capita Consumption, By Product
8. Exports and Growth, By Product
9. Export Prices and Growth, By Product
10. Production Volume and Growth
11. Exports and Growth
12. Export Prices and Growth
13. Market Size and Growth
14. Per Capita Consumption
15. Imports and Growth
16. Import Prices
17. Production, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
18. Production, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
19. Production, by Counattempt, 2025
20. Production, In Physical Terms, by Counattempt: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
21. Imports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
22. Imports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
23. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Counattempt, 2025
24. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Counattempt: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
25. Imports, In Value Terms, By Counattempt: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
26. Import Prices, By Counattempt: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
27. Exports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
28. Exports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
29. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Counattempt, 2025
30. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Counattempt: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
31. Exports, In Value Terms, By Counattempt: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
32. Export Prices, By Counattempt: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)