Bucharest to host major Southeastern European business and technology forum

Bucharest is becoming the epicentre of innovation and business in Southeastern Europe. The international business and technology forum Impact SEE 2026 will be held Tuesday and Wednesday at the Romexpo exhibition centre and Face Convention Center. The two-day event will bring together more than 2,500 leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists and politicians from the region. More than 200 speakers will take the stage, with Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds the main highlight of this year’s edition.

Known worldwide for his role as the superhero Deadpool, Reynolds will share stories from the film set as well as his views on creativity, leadership and decision-making. Beyond cinema, he is a shareholder in Aviation American Gin and a key investor in Mint Mobile, brands that were later acquired in landmark deals worth more than USD 1 billion, local media reported, CE Report quotes BTA.

Bulgaria will also have a strong presence at the forum, represented by prominent figures from academia, business and the technology sector.

Renowned Bulgarian economist and longtime dean of the prestigious INSEAD business school Ilian Mihov will open the main sessions on the first day of the event with a keynote presentation titled “Europe at a Crossroads: Growth, Rules and the Race for Relevance.” He will also take part in a panel discussion on the new rules of competitiveness.

Iliana Ivanova, a member of the European Court of Auditors and former European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, will also participate in the discussions, outlining strategic directions for the development of the region.

Georgi Nenov, creator of a popular podcast and founder of an AI startup, will speak about the importance of human attention, community building and preserving authentic human connections in an era of rapid artificial intelligence transformation.

Maya Zlatanova (Trialhub) and Nikola Lazarov (Eilla AI), representatives of Bulgaria’s emerging generation of technology entrepreneurs, will share their experience with the digital future and AI solutions at the regional level.

The Impact SEE 2026 programme covers nine thematic areas, including artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, the green economy and leadership.

Photo: Chat GPT