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The AI & Big Data Expo Europe has grown into one of the regular annual gatherings where European technology professionals, researchers and investors converge around artificial intelligence and data infrastructure. The event is organised by Tech Ex Global and typically takes place at RAI Amsterdam, making it particularly accessible for the Dutch startup and scale-up scene.
The show combines a conference programme with an extensive expo floor. Speakers come from both large enterprises and fast-growing tech companies, and topics range from machine learning and generative AI to data governance, cloud migration and AI ethics. That broad spectrum makes the event relevant to a mixed audience of technical specialists, product owners and C-level decision-makers.
For the Dutch AI and startup community, the event offers a relatively low-threshold way to build international contacts and gauge where the market is heading, without having to travel to London or Barcelona.
The AI & Big Data Expo Europe is part of a larger cluster of co-located events under the Tech Ex umbrella. Alongside AI and big data, there are concurrent shows covering cybersecurity, cloud, IoT and fintech. A single pass grants access to all parallel events, broadening the networking potential.
The conference programme is divided into multiple tracks, accommodating both technically in-depth sessions and more strategic presentations. Recurring themes typically include:
Speakers are drawn from major technology companies, consultancies and a selection of startups and scale-ups. The organisation generally publishes the full programme on its website several months before the event.
The Netherlands has built a strong position in the European AI landscape over recent years. Amsterdam and the surrounding region are home to a growing number of AI startups, and large technology companies such as ASML, Philips and ING are actively investing in AI applications. The expo's presence in Amsterdam makes it practical for these players to send delegations, staff stands or put forward speakers.
For early-stage companies, the expo floor also offers an opportunity to raise visibility among potential customers and investors attending the event. While participating as an exhibitor represents a non-negligible cost, startup-specific programmes or reduced rates are generally available. Founders who are interested would do well to consult the official website for up-to-date information on this.
The number of AI-focused conferences and trade shows in Europe has risen sharply over the past two years, driven in part by widespread interest in generative AI applications following the public breakthrough of large language models at the end of 2022. This has created more competition between events, but also a more diverse offering.
The AI & Big Data Expo distinguishes itself from academically oriented conferences such as NeurIPS or ICLR through its emphasis on applications and business implementation. As a result, the audience consists less of researchers and more of practitioners, product owners and procurement professionals, making the type of network one builds there distinctly different in character.
At the same time, criticism of large trade shows in general is also growing: the depth of content in sessions is not always rated highly, and the expo floor can sometimes resemble a commercial showcase more than a knowledge platform. Visitors looking for specific technical depth therefore regularly combine the event with smaller-scale meetups or workshops elsewhere in the city.
The AI & Big Data Expo Europe will take place in 2025 on 2 and 3 October at RAI Amsterdam. Registration for a free visitor pass is available through the Tech Ex Global website; full conference access is subject to paid rates that vary depending on the package chosen and the time of registration.
In addition to the European edition, Tech Ex Global also organises a North American edition, typically held in the autumn in the United States. For Dutch companies with international ambitions, attending both editions may be worthwhile, though it requires a considerably larger budget and more extensive preparation.
Current information on speakers, the agenda and registration is available at ai-expo.net/europe.
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