by InTrieste
Friuli Venezia Giulia is seeking partnerships with Meta to expand the industrial use of artificial intelligence and connect scientific research with local businesses.
Massimiliano Fedriga, the region’s governor, met with Meta executives at the company’s New York headquarters on Thursday as part of an official visit to the United States. The discussions focused on potential cooperation in education, accessibility and the development of AI technologies for industry.
The meeting included Maxine Williams, Meta’s vice president of accessibility and engagement, and Brett Prescott, a director of business development and product partnerships at Reality Labs. Also present were Alessia Rosolen, a regional official responsible for labor, education and research; Giuseppe Pastorelli, Italy’s consul general in New York; and Raffaele Fantelli, president of Agorai Innovation Hub.
Mr. Fedriga said the region wanted to contribute to the development of artificial intelligence rather than simply adopt technologies developed elsewhere. He pointed to opportunities to connect international technology companies with local researchers and businesses, particularly in projects involving people with disabilities and schools.
The discussions build on existing ties between the region’s research community and AI Alliance, an international network co-founded by IBM to promote open and responsible AI development. The network includes the International School for Advanced Studies, known as SISSA, and the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, both partners of Agorai.
Mr. Fedriga said the region hoped to turn its scientific and industrial expertise into new business opportunities and skilled employment by accelerating the transfer of research into commercial applications.
The meeting comes as Italian businesses increasingly adopt AI, though many have yet to integrate it into their operations. According to Italy’s national statistics agency, the share of companies with at least 10 employees using AI rose to 16.4 percent in 2025, from 8.2 percent a year earlier.
In Friuli Venezia Giulia, 38 percent of service-sector businesses already use AI tools, according to a regional Confcommercio survey. A separate survey of 750 companies by the Pordenone-Udine Chamber of Commerce found that 69 percent recognized AI’s potential, but more than half had not incorporated it into their business processes.
Mr. Fedriga said initiatives such as Agorai could help close that gap and ensure that advances in AI contribute to economic growth and employment in the region.
