At the world’s leading AV and systems integration show, EIT Culture & Creativity connected startups, investors and institutions at the heart of a rapidly converging industry.
EIT Culture & Creativity joined Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) from 2 - 6 February 2026 in Barcelona, bringing its 100-To-Watch startups and ecosystem partners to one of the most influential meeting points for the AV and systems integration industry.
Under the banner “Push Beyond”, ISE 2026 gathered 1,710 exhibitors across eight pavilions and welcomed 92,170 visitors. Since its founding in 2004, ISE has evolved from an exclusive European AV gathering into a global cross-sectoral platform. Today, broadcast technologies, smart building infrastructure, robotics, AI and creative production workflows share the same space, reflecting a sector in transformation. For EIT Culture & Creativity, it was an opportunity to position culture and creativity at the centre of that change.
“Barcelona is a beating heart of creativity, technology and culture, and we are proud to celebrate it,” said Michael Blackman, Managing Director of ISE, highlighting the city’s growing role as a global AV hub.
EIT Culture & Creativity’s Regional Hub South-West ensured a strong presence across the exhibition floor. EIT Culture & Creativity exhibited at the event along with nine of its 100-To-Watch startups - leading ventures in culture and creative tech across Europe, selected among its flagship incubation, (post-)acceleration and innovation programmes.
Throughout the week, EIT Culture & Creativity welcomed nearly 70 institutional and ecosystem representatives to its space, including delegations from the Government of Catalonia and key innovation actors. The team also joined the official ISE dinner alongside global AV leaders and policymakers, strengthening strategic relationships across Spain and beyond.
Beyond visibility, the focus was clear: access to market and access to capital.
Unlocking public and private investment
At the Investor Forum, organised by Tech Barcelona, Javier Arias, Director of Business Creation EIT Culture & Creativity, joined industry leaders for the roundtable “Unlocking Public Funding Opportunities in the AVS Sector”.
“Power lies in the ecosystem: we run open calls, select startups, and work with investors so private capital providers can derisk its investments through us. Our 100-To-Watch portfolio already includes 35 ventures, and we’re fascinated by how AV technologies intersect with other sectors like fashion,” he noted.
Joined by Oriol Sans, Senior Startups Manager at ACCIÓ; Maria Coronado, AVS Director at SETT; and Oriol Juncosa, Founding Partner at Plus Partners VC, the discussion underscored a shared message: public funding, coinvestment schemes and structured collaboration between institutions and investors are essential to accelerate innovation in the audiovisual sector.
Pitching and networking: startups in the spotlight
On 4 February, the 100-To-Watch startups presented their solutions in a dedicated pitching session, hosted by Javier Arias and Francesca Barisani, Director of Innovation. The session gave ventures the chance to showcase their innovations to investors and partners, including:
- Black Goblin – Ana Betancourt, CEO
- Leren Leren – Shivam Dhawan, Founder
- Frame Rate – Jukka Karhula, CEO
- Eventwood – Vikash Katta, COO
- Escena 4.0 – Rita Gimenez, International & Partnership Strategy
- Wizama – Florent Guitton, COO & Co-founder
Following the presentations, startups engaged in networking and matchmaking, connecting directly with investors and ecosystem partners to explore collaborations and potential funding opportunities, also attended by our ventures Grabbit R&D, Gestmusic and Amplify. The session highlighted EIT Culture & Creativity’s commitment to providing hands-on support for market access and growth.
Where fashion meets digital experience
Innovation at ISE extended well beyond hardware and infrastructure. In the SPARK area, EIT Culture & Creativity co-organised the roundtable “Phygital Fashion Beyond the Product” together with Modacc, exploring how fashion is shifting from product-centric to experience-centric models.
Digital layers, AI tools and immersive environments are reshaping how brands connect with audiences. Yet the panellists were clear: technology must serve identity, not replace it.
“Innovation requires companies to learn fast, adapt their mindset and invest in skills aligned with their identity and customers,” said Francesca Barisani, Director of Innovation at EIT Culture & Creativity.
Also featuring Meritxell Sánchez, Marketing & Communication Director at Group Raona & Natural Fashion; Estel Vilaseca, Head of Fashion Department at LCI Education Barcelona; and Christina Mont Castro, Director at Lavinia AI, the panel agreed that while digital experiences and AI open new opportunities for engagement and business growth, success depends on striking a meaningful balance between digital and physical approaches.
This first collaboration with ModaCC and the Catalan Audiovisual Cluster sets the stage for future ISE Spark editions, working towards a framework that blends cultural and creative expertise with cutting-edge audiovisual innovation.
Looking ahead
The expansion of broadcast AV, the demand for LED technologies, the launch of new megatrend programmes covering AI, cybersecurity, robotics and sustainability all signal a sector redefining itself. Corporate meeting spaces are transforming from simple conferencing rooms into multimedia production environments. Digital experiences are becoming immersive and data-driven.
The audiovisual sector is no longer operating in isolation. It intersects with fashion, education, sustainability, smart cities and digital infrastructure. It requires collaboration between creatives, technologists, investors and policymakers.
By positioning its 100-To-Watch portfolio at the heart of this ecosystem, EIT Culture & Creativity continues to deliver on its mission: connecting Europe’s cultural and creative innovators to international markets, capital and cross-sector opportunities.
Because in a rapidly converging industry, pushing beyond means building bridges: across sectors, across regions and across disciplines.