The agreement will connect Core42’s cloud and AI expertise with Assolombarda’s network of 7,158 companies, focusing on secure industrial data sharing and business ties between Italy and the UAE. 

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Industrial companies are exploring how AI can improve production and make better use of operational data. For manufacturers sharing information across suppliers and business partners, however, using that data to develop AI applications can raise concerns over confidentiality, intellectual property, and who has access to sensitive information. 

Core42, a G42 company specializing in sovereign-enabled cloud and AI infrastructure, has signed a MoU with Assolombarda, a major Italian business association, to support AI adoption across Lombardy. Announced in Abu Dhabi in October 2026, the agreement centers on Assolombarda’s forgIA initiative, which supports secure industrial data sharing and the development of industry-specific AI applications while protecting data sovereignty and intellectual property. 

Assolombarda represents 7,158 companies across Milan, Monza and Brianza, Lodi, and Pavia, with a network encompassing more than 440,000 people. The agreement will give member companies access to Core42’s technical expertise and opportunities to connect with technology companies across the wider G42 ecosystem. 

Supporting industrial AI through forgIA 

Assolombarda’s forgIA initiative provides a framework for businesses to share industrial data in a secure, interoperable environment. It aims to help companies work with information across industrial value chains while retaining control of their data and developing AI applications suited to their needs. 

Under the MoU, Core42 will share expertise in secure sovereign-enabled cloud and AI architecture to support forgIA’s approach to data governance, confidentiality, and industrial value chain security. The collaboration will draw on experience from deployments in the UAE and other markets. 

The organizations will also explore a dedicated channel within forgIA where member companies can access technical guidance and workshops on sovereign-enabled AI and cloud approaches. Roundtables, webinars, and forums covering industrial data management and cybersecurity are also planned. The agreement does not specify individual deployments, investment commitments, or implementation timelines, with the initial work focused on knowledge-sharing. 

“The MoU reflects Core42’s focus on enabling AI at scale through secure, governed infrastructure that helps organizations move AI into production. For industrial businesses, sovereignty means keeping control of their data and meeting their governance requirements while gaining access to advanced AI capabilities. That is the experience we are sharing with forgIA. Together with Assolombarda, we are giving member companies across Lombardy access to the expertise we have built in taking sovereign enabled AI into production, and to the partners across our network who can help them apply it. This MoU marks the start of that collaboration, and we look forward to building on it.” said Core42 CEO Talal M. Al Kaissi 

Expanding business ties between Italy and the UAE 

The partnership will also help Assolombarda members connect with technology companies across the G42 ecosystem, giving businesses in Lombardy another route to explore potential AI projects with partners in the UAE. 

The agreement builds on Assolombarda’s presence in the region. The association opened a dedicated space within the Hub for Made in Italy in Abu Dhabi in January 2026 and plans to establish an operational office in Dubai. It has maintained a presence in Gulf countries for ten years, organizing business missions and visits involving more than 500 companies. 

“Today, the digital transition and data sovereignty represent the central challenges for the future competitiveness of businesses. From this perspective, collaborating with a high-caliber international technology partner such as Core42 forms part of our Association’s steadfast commitment to providing our territory with cutting-edge expertise and infrastructure. This offers our more than 7,158 member companies concrete, secure tools to drive the adoption of Artificial Intelligence and strengthen their positioning in global markets. The collaboration initiated between the ecosystems of Milan and Abu Dhabi transforms traditional bilateral trade into a systemic partnership capable of uniting our manufacturing excellence with the UAE’s strategic vision and global connectivity. In this regard, I believe this agreement provides further momentum to relations with the Gulf region.” said Assolombarda President Alvise Biffi  

The next step is to see how the partnership translates into practical support for member companies. Workshops and technical exchanges can help businesses assess their options, but the real value will come from identifying AI applications that meet their needs and can be put to use within their existing operations. 

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