“The digital world needs a strong EU.”

Gianpiero Lotito – Bloomberg TV
March 26th 2019

“The digital world needs a strong EU.”

Gianpiero Lotito – Bloomberg TV
March 26th 2019

BECOMING A KEY STAKEHOLDER IN EUROPE

THE MAVERICK

“But Europe must now lead the way on digital – or it will have to follow the way of others, who are setting these standards for us. This is why we must move fast.”
#SOTEU (State of the European Union) 2020

2013 was a turning point for FacilityLive. Some faint signs from Europe changed the reference picture to the keen eyes of Gianpiero and Mariuccia: there was a clear feeling of new opportunities in Europe, to grow startups destined to become global.

The Founders wished to ”give back” to the community, so they decided to give up moving to Silicon Valley, and instead from the Small Valley® of Pavia, a small historical Italian city with a prestigious university, continue building a European Tech Champion and Ecosystem Builder contributing to the rise of a European Digital Industry.

THE VISIONARY

Since its foundation FacilityLive has grown with the vision of a strong European digital industry.

FacilityLive’s key people are often invited to prestigious roundtables in Brussels. Gianpiero has shared his vision about the centrality of European tech for the EU economy with: former European Commissioners Oettinger, Moedas and Moscovici; former European Vice Presidents Katainen and Ansip; Commissioners Gabriel and Reynders and President Von Der Leyen.

Many leading Members of the European Parliament know FacilityLive for his cutting edge perceptiveness about upcoming tech trends such as: digital sovereignty, IP, investments, public procurement and taxation.

THE STAKEHOLDER

As the first ever European startup admitted to join, since 2014 FacilityLive has been a business member of the European Internet Forum (EIF) and between 2018-2021 was on its Board.

Since 2015 both Mariuccia and Gianpiero have been regular guests at the annual Italian-German Business Forum by Confidustria and Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie (BDI), and featuring CEOs, Ministers and top-level representatives from the European Commission and the European Investment Bank.

In 2015 FacilityLive was among the 5 founding members of the European Tech Alliance (EUTA). In 2021 it is one of the European leading tech companies (the only Italian one) selected by the European Commission for the Unicorns Group, and is one of the leaders of its Secretariat.

THE THOUGHT LEADER

In 2016 Gianpiero was the innovative entrepreneur nominated to accompany the Italian Minister at the Informal Meeting of Competitiveness Ministers during the EU Dutch Presidency.

Mariuccia and Gianpiero stood as Ambassadors of key EU campaigns for digital skills, innovation and digital transformation, while Gianpiero was the President of the European Tech Alliance (EUTA) in 2019 and 2020.

In 2020, the European Commission nominated Gianpiero #EUvsVirus Ambassador thanks to FacilityLive’s strong commitment in the fight against COVID-19.

THE POWER PLAYER

“POWER PLAYERS: As the EU threatens to break up Big Tech, meet 28 of the lawmakers and lobbyists hashing out the rules on everything from antitrust to net neutrality.”
Business Insider – November 12th, 2020

Gianpiero is recognized as one of the 28 “Power Players” in Digital and Tech in Brussels, alongside:

Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age;
Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for Internal Market;
Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth;
Vera Jourova, Vice President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency;
10 Leading Members of the European Parliament.

BECOMING A KEY STAKEHOLDER IN EUROPE

THE MAVERICK

THE VISIONARY

Since its foundation FacilityLive has grown with the vision of a strong European digital industry.

THE STAKEHOLDER

As the first ever European startup admitted to join, since 2014 FacilityLive has been a business member of the European Internet Forum (EIF) and between 2018-2021 was on its Board.

THE THOUGHT LEADER

In 2016 Gianpiero was the innovative entrepreneur nominated to accompany the Italian Minister at the Informal Meeting of Competitiveness Ministers during the EU Dutch Presidency.

In 2020, the European Commission nominated Gianpiero #EUvsVirus Ambassador thanks to FacilityLive’s strong commitment in the fight against COVID-19.

THE POWER PLAYER

Gianpiero is recognized as one of the 28 “Power Players” in Digital and Tech in Brussels, alongside:

Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age;
Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for Internal Market;
Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth;
Vera Jourova, Vice President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency;
10 Leading Members of the European Parliament.

SPEECHES, ARTICLES AND POLICY CONTRIBUTIONS

73

Speeches

385

Articles

9

Policy contributions

Thanks to the Digital Single Market, Europe can play an important match to counter US hegemony. The affirmation of European technological platforms must be seen as a powerful tool for regional revival and economic development.

Mariuccia Teroni
October 27th, 2015

Thanks to the Digital Single Market, Europe can play an important match to counter US hegemony. The affirmation of European technological platforms must be seen as a powerful tool for regional revival and economic development.

Mariuccia Teroni
October 27th, 2015

TRAILBLAZING THE POLICY DEBATE IN BRUSSELS

Since 2014 FacilityLive has been setting a new trend among startups in Europe, by appointing a permanent representative to the EU in Brussels. This uncommon move, for an early stage startup, was followed by the decision not to move its HQ in Silicon Valley – until recently a standard procedure for scaleups going global.

In 2016 the official EU office of FacilityLive in Brussels was opened in the spaces shared with the EU delegation of Confindustria in the de facto Capital of the European Union, a few steps away from the buildings of European Institutions. Thanks also to the work of Fabrizio Porrino (SVP Global Public Affairs), FacilityLive is constantly present to contribute to the policy debate both on the European and the International scene.

Two main achievements particularly stand out: the Presidency of the EUTA and the launch of SEMED in collaboration with the European Commission.

TRAILBLAZING THE POLICY DEBATE IN BRUSSELS

Since 2014 FacilityLive has been setting a new trend among startups in Europe, by appointing a permanent representative to the EU in Brussels.

This uncommon move, for an early stage startup, was followed by the decision not to move its HQ in Silicon Valley – until recently a standard procedure for scaleups going global. In 2016 the official EU office of FacilityLive in Brussels was opened in the spaces shared with the EU delegation of Confindustria in the de facto Capital of the European Union, a few steps away from the buildings of European Institutions. Thanks also to the work of Fabrizio Porrino (SVP Global Public Affairs), FacilityLive is constantly present to contribute to the policy debate both on the European and the International scene.

Two main achievements particularly stand out: the Presidency of the EUTA and the launch of SEMED in collaboration with the European Commission.

The relationship with Brussels was important for our roadmap and our positioning. The scarce presence of Italian companies in Brussels penalises them compared to their European competitors who instead are very active in lobbying.

Mariuccia Teroni
November 15th, 2019

Gianpiero Lotito at the opening event of the FacilityLive office in Brussels – March 28th, 2017

THE PRESIDENCY OF THE EUROPEAN TECH ALLIANCE

On October 27th 2015 the European Tech Allliance was launched at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, under auspices of the Vice President of the European Commission. FacilityLive is among the 5 founding members. The EUTA brings together and gives a voice to the major European digital champions, scaleups and leading startups. Today it brings together 30 European technology brands from 19 countries.

On December 2018 Gianpiero succeeded Niklas Zennstrom, founder of Skype and then Atomico, to the Presidency of the EUTA.

In 2019 Gianpiero was re-elected President of the EUTA for a second consecutive term that he hold until the end of 2020.

On December 2018 Gianpiero succeeded Niklas Zennstrom, founder of Skype and then Atomico, to the Presidency of the EUTA.

In 2019 Gianpiero was re-elected President of the EUTA for a second consecutive term that he hold until the end of 2020.

“Europe is a greenfield of opportunities for tech companies. The European Tech Alliance can support their growth by feeding a continuous dialogue with the policymakers and pushing them to set the conditions for the creation of a European Technology Industry. After many years as a follower, Europe can emerge stronger then ever. Certainly, Europe should not strive to make a copy of the Silicon Valley. European ICT is made up of industrial giants that are mainly service companies; tech platforms have only recently started to emerge.

The “Old Continent” must start to build a structure that in FacilityLive we call “Small Valleys”, small technology clusters focused around our ancient academic institutions in which the economy of scale is replaced by the symbiosis of a small ecosystem, ideas shared more quickly and effectively across disciplines to create continuous innovation. Europe must create a common solution to ensure that the region is able to foster innovation and encourage the growth of “Made in Europe” tech companies.

Policymakers must understand that the digital industry has a central role in today’s world and that they need to grow it like the other strategic industries of the Continent, like the US and the Far East do. This is the only way to have a balance and to become truly competitive in Europe”.

Gianpiero Lotito
President of the European Tech Alliance