WHEN
18-20 November 2025
WHERE
Fira Barcelona
Catalonia, Spain
LANGUAGE
English
Thank you for joining BEFuture at IBTM World!
We were delighted to showcase the exciting results we have been building up to for the past two years: the BEFuture team presented 80 projects at the cutting edge of innovation during IBTM World 2025, the leading global event for the business events industry.
The projects were selected under the BEFuture Acceleration Programme supporting innovative ideas to promote sustainability, resilience and inclusivity in the European business events sector.
Discover the selected projects here
The Acceleration Programme is part of the EU’s push for more competitive SMEs and sustainable growth in tourism. As the programme is rapidly advancing, SMEs are actively contributing to getting the business events sector future-ready.
Through the Acceleration Programme, we are helping these organisations lead the sector’s green, digital and social transition by providing them with mentorship, training and financing, as well as opportunities to showcase the outstanding results!
Showcasing 80 projects in three days
Throughout the three-day event, project teams from six different countries pitched their groundbreaking solutions at the BEFuture Discovery stand, offering a glimpse at the future of events. From circular solutions and waste management to innovative platforms for hybrid events, the 80 presentations were organised in different sessions by topic (see the agenda below), moderated by event experts from the BEFuture consortium.
The BEFuture stand also hosted the session ‘Futurize! Innovation in the Business Events Industry’, where Sònia Serracarbassa, Director of the Catalunya Convention Bureau, moderated a panel on the future landscape of business events with participants from ICCA, the Tech Tourism Centre, Convene 4 Climate, and the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative.
30 BEFuture start-ups were selected by IBTM’s Advisory Board to exhibit at IBTM’s Ignite Area and pitch at IBTM’s Future Stage, highlighting sustainable, resilient and inclusive approaches to event-related technology and solutions.
In addition to the daily pitches and other expert content, a relaxed meet-up over drinks took place at BEFuture Discovery on 19 November, where innovators, potential clients, experts and other stakeholders met in a conversational setting. Projects also leveraged many other networking opportunities at IBTM, such as the networking event of the Catalan Tourism Board, and made connections with event innovators and convention bureaus from all over the world.
Photos
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Schedule of project pitches at BEFuture Discovery
