At a time when artificial intelligence is no longer an experimental technology but one of the main drivers of industrial and economic transformation, Opatija will host the STEP-AI Forum on May 27, 2026, an event focused on the real-world application of AI in the economy.
The forum brings together decision-makers, technology companies, and researchers with the goal of connecting Europe’s AI strategy to practical industrial implementation.
AI as Infrastructure, Not Just a Tool
Unlike many conferences that remain focused on trends and predictions, the STEP-AI Forum concentrates on the operational side of artificial intelligence: infrastructure, regulation, HPC systems, industrial deployment, and measurable economic impact.
A special emphasis is placed on the concept of “inorganic intelligence” — intelligence embedded into systems, processes, and infrastructure that operates autonomously within complex industrial environments.
In this context, AI is no longer viewed simply as an additional digital tool, but as an integral part of future industrial architecture.
What the STEP-AI Forum Will Cover
MIPRO 2026 takes place from May 25 to 29, with the STEP-AI Forum forming part of the program dedicated to artificial intelligence and HPC technologies.
The program includes:
translating European AI policies into economic practice
development of HPC and supercomputing capacities
industrial AI applications
regulation and competitiveness of the European economy
Participants include representatives from the European Commission, EuroHPC Joint Undertaking, and Croatian technology companies such as Infobip, CROZ, and InfoDom.
The full program is available on the official MIPRO website:
MIPRO is being held for the 49th time this year and is considered one of the most important international ICT conferences in this part of Europe.
Unlike many global technology conferences, MIPRO was not created as a marketing project but as a response to real industrial needs linked to the first serious applications of microprocessors in the economy.
Among its initiators were DSEIT Rijeka, Digitron, Rade Končar, and Iskra, later joined by academic institutions, government bodies, and chambers of commerce.
Over nearly five decades, more than 10,000 scientific and professional papers have been published through MIPRO, including more than 4,600 papers indexed in the IEEE Xplore database since 2010.
More Than 1,000 Participants From Around the World
This year’s MIPRO gathers more than a thousand participants from around thirty countries through 17 thematic conferences covering artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital economy, education, and ICT law.
During the opening ceremony, the annual ICT award “Tesla’s Beacon of Knowledge” will also be presented, one of the most respected recognitions in Croatia’s technology sector.
This year’s recipients are John M. Martinis and Infobip, the Croatian company that has grown into one of the global leaders in digital communications platforms.
Particular attention is expected around the panel discussion on autonomous vehicles in the European Union titled “The Technology Is Ready – But Is the Legal and Safety Framework?”, featuring representatives from DOK-ING, Verne, Ericsson Nikola Tesla, and Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing.
Who Will Shape the Next Technological Era
In an environment where artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of the core economic infrastructure, events like the STEP-AI Forum are no longer reserved only for AI specialists.
They are becoming places where future business models, industrial competitiveness, and the relationship between technology, economy, and society are actively shaped.
More information and registration are available on the official website:
