From January 6 to 9, 2026, the 59th edition of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) - described simply as “the most powerful tech event in the world" - is taking place in more than 10 locations throughout the city of Las Vegas (Nevada, United States) and across 240,000 square meters of exhibition space.
The fair provides a global stage for thousands of companies, large and small, such as manufacturers, developers, and suppliers of consumer technology hardware, apps and software based on artificial intelligence (AI), vehicles, robots, gadgets, multimedia content, digital distribution systems, and other types of current products. The event also includes an extensive conference program where business leaders, specialists and innovators address the most relevant issues and topics for the future of the industry. In general, participating in CES offers the opportunity to establish new partnerships, sign commercial agreements, attract investment, and increase international visibility.
The last edition of CES in 2025 attracted over 142,000 participants from more than 150 countries, with around 4,500 exhibitors, including more than 1,400 start-ups, confirming its status as a leading event for those working in the world of technology and consumer electronics. Every year, the participation of young innovative Italian companies in CES is supported by the Italian Trade Agency (ITA).
This year, ITA organized the Italian Pavilion - Booth 62000 on Level G of the Venetian Expo area - at Eureka Park in Las Vegas, a location dedicated to start-ups and national groups, involving 51 young Italian companies from 13 regions, including two supported by ESA BIC Turin: Adaptronics and REA Space. The program of meetings linked to the Italian Pavilion includes an Italian Arena, with sessions and pitches throughout the week, and closing on January 9 with the Italian Startup Carousel, a fast-paced format: one minute of presentation for each young Italian company in front of investors and major players, with a final talk curated by international partner We Make Future (WMF).
Adaptronics is a deep tech start-up, based in Milan, Bologna, and Turin, specializing in the development of electro-adhesive robotic manipulation solutions for industrial and space applications. An alumnus of the ESA BIC Turin incubation program, managed by I3P, and winner of the Italian Master Startup Award (IMSA) 2025, the young company has recently announced the closing of a €3.15 million investment round, led by 360 Capital with the participation of the Galaxia national hub.
At CES 2026, Adaptronics is represented by its co-founders Camilla Cecilia Conti and Lorenzo Agostini and is competing in the finals of the Global Deep Tech Battle, organized by Swisstech, where it won the “Best in Robotics” award worth $3,000.
REA Space is a young Apulian company, alumni of I3P and ESA BIC Turin, specializing in the design, research, and development of wearable devices and protective equipment for humans in space. Founded in 2023, the start-up already made a name for itself internationally in 2024, when its EMSi suit accompanied Italian astronaut Walter Villadei on his flight inside SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule, and in 2025, when it presented the first prototype of a tailor-made EVA space suit developed entirely in Europe at EXPO 2025 in Osaka, Japan.
At its stand at CES 2026 it is possible to meet part of the team, including co-founders Flavio Augusto Gentile and Ilario Lagravinese, and preview a new sensor-based product for advanced terrestrial applications.
The next edition of the fair - the 60th - will be held in exactly one year: January 6-9, 2027.
