Note: This is a provisional agenda and timings are subject to change.
All session timings below are in CET.
12:30 - 13:15
Registration, Platform and Venue Open
13:15 - 13:30
Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl
Director General, DIGITALEUROPE
Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl
Director General, DIGITALEUROPE
13:30 - 14:15
In September, DIGITALEUROPE unveiled the AI & Tech Declaration, mentioned in President von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech. It has now been signed by 68 European CEOs who stand ready to invest and scale AI and critical technologies in Europe and to support the Commission’s efforts on AI competitiveness and simplification. Since then, the Commission released an Apply AI strategy focusing on Europe’s key industrial sectors and an AI omnibus to simplify the EU’s AI Act framework. But will these steps be enough for Europe to catch-up and lead in AI innovation without flagship, cross border investment at scale?
Europe’s ability to lead will depend on coordinated EU level investment in deployable AI across critical infrastructure – from energy systems and grids, water management and transport corridors to logistics nodes, and digital backbone infrastructure – including dual use technologies that strengthen both competitiveness and resilience.
Liisa-Ly Pakosta
Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs, Estonia
Alex Agius Saliba
Member, European Parliament
14:15-14:45
14:45 - 15:30
Europe’s competitiveness is under unprecedented strain. Geopolitical shifts, mounting regulatory burden, and the accelerating pace of technological change demand a fresh, forward-looking industrial strategy for Europe.
Mauro Macchi
CEO for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Accenture
Valeriya Ionan
Advisor to the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine
15:30 - 16:00
CEOs from the leading digitalising European companies and associations representing 56,000 companies in Europe are standing ready to invest, innovate, and scale in Europe, starting today. With the right public-private partnership, Europe can become a global leader in AI and critical technologies, driving competitiveness, security, and long-term prosperity.
Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl
Director General, DIGITALEUROPE
Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl
Director General, DIGITALEUROPE
16:00 - 16:15
Henna Virkkunen
Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy
Valeriya Ionan
Advisor to the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine
16:15 - 17:00
Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl
Director General, DIGITALEUROPE
Valeriya Ionan
Advisor to the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine
Henna Virkkunen
Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy
09:15-09:20
Peter Weckesser
President, DIGITALEUROPE and Chief Digital Officer, Schneider Electric
Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl
Director General, DIGITALEUROPE
09:20-09:40
Nadia Calviño
President, European Investment Bank
Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl
Director General, DIGITALEUROPE
09:40-10:00
Roxana Mînzatu
Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness
Valeriya Ionan
Advisor to the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine
10:00-10:05
10:05–10:40
Europe’s digital transformation depends a strong and future-proof foundation built on advanced connectivity, cloud and edge computing. These technologies are essential enablers of Europe’s ambitions and leadership in AI, industrial innovation, competitiveness, and security. As demand for high-performance digital infrastructure accelerates, Europe must ensure that deployment, investment and regulation evolve in a coherent and innovation-friendly way.
This session will explore the strategic imperatives for creating an environment that enables Europe to scale next-generation digital infrastructure and reinforce its technological leadership on the global stage.
Dariusz Standerski
Secretary of State,
Ministry of Digital Affairs in Poland
Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl
Director General, DIGITALEUROPE
AI is transforming healthcare: improving efficiency, enabling earlier diagnoses, driving innovation in medical devices and personalised therapies, and providing real-time insights to healthcare professionals. It is also a key driver of European competitiveness, attracting over €2.5 billion in start-up venture capital in the past five years. Yet adoption remains low, and a fragmented regulatory landscape risks slowing innovation. This discussion will bring together policymakers, regulators, and industry experts to explore whether current policy initiatives, including the Digital Omnibus Package, the Apply AI Strategy, the European Health Data Space (EHDS) and the Biotech Act, can help make AI an integral part of EU health systems and strengthen Europe’s competitiveness.
Marco Marsella
Acting Deputy Director General for Health, DG SANTE, European Commission
Annick Faes
VP IT and CIO Medical Devices EMEA J&J Medtech
10:40-11:05
11:05-11:45
Europe’s clean-energy transition is moving into a phase where digitalisation is no longer optional. Grids face rising pressure, electrification is accelerating and digital infrastructure including data centres is becoming integral to how the system operates. AI and real-time data use are opening new possibilities for efficiency and reliability across the energy chain. As EU action intensifies on grids, energy efficiency and AI for energy, there is growing momentum for closer collaboration between industry and policymakers.
This session examines how that momentum can turn into practical deployment of digital applications for the energy system, clearer investment signals and a more resilient energy system aligned with Europe’s climate and competitiveness goals.
Bruno Tobback
Member, European Parliament
Niamh Gallagher
Country Lead, AWS Ireland and EMEA Director, Infrastructure Public Policy
Russia’s war against Ukraine has shown how hybrid threats – cyberattacks, infrastructure disruption, and information operations – can rapidly destabilise societies. In this context, Europe’s digital security has become inseparable from its broader geopolitical resilience.
The upcoming revision of the Cybersecurity Act, together with initiatives such as the Digital Omnibus and the implementation of Europe’s wider cybersecurity framework, offers a pivotal opportunity to advance a more coherent and harmonised EU approach. By aligning policy tools, strengthening coordination, and fostering trust across the Single Market, the EU can better prepare for an evolving threat landscape and ensure that security supports innovation and competitiveness.
This session will bring together leaders from industry and the public sector to explore how Europe can shape a future-ready cybersecurity architecture capable of protecting its citizens, its economy, and its democratic stability in an era defined by hybrid conflict.
Karianne Tung
Minister for Digitalisation and Public Governance, Norway
Jean Charles Ellermann-Kingombe, Assistant Secretary General for Innovation, Hybrid, and Cyber, NATO
11:45 - 13:10
13:10-13:30
The shift to a sustainable, net-zero economy is deeply intertwined with digital transformation. This “twin transition” represents both challenges and opportunities for European industry. Digital technologies play a critical role in optimizing energy consumption, integrating renewables, and advancing the circular economy.
This keynote conversation explores the dynamic interplay between energy policy and digital innovation, examining how technology can accelerate Europe’s climate ambitions while enhancing its industrial competitiveness.
Panelists will also discuss practical approaches to implement the Green Deal Industrial Plan and the strategic role of data, AI, and connectivity in driving efficiency across sectors.
Dan Jørgensen
EU Commissioner for Energy and Housing
Valeriya Ionan
Advisor to the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine
13:30-13:40
Valeriya Ionan
Advisor to the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine
Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl
Director General, DIGITALEUROPE
13:40-14:25
Hybrid threats are placing unprecedented pressure on Europe’s critical infrastructure—from energy systems and transport hubs to communications networks and industrial supply chains. Building strategic resilience has become essential for safeguarding Europe’s security, competitiveness, and technological leadership. This high-level session will explore how innovation and dual-use capabilities can strengthen the Union’s preparedness and enable governments and industry to ensure the continuity, integrity, and robustness of essential services across the Union.
Karsten Wildberger
Federal Minister for Digital Transformation, Germany
14:25-14:45
14:45-15:00
Maria Luís Albuquerque
EU Commissioner, Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union
15:00-15:30
The transatlantic relationship remains the cornerstone of the global digital economy, a partnership built on shared values and tested by strategic competition. While Europe and the United States align on many priorities, their approaches to regulation, industrial policy, and digital sovereignty often diverge, influencing how they shape the next phase of global tech leadership. This session explores the future of EU-US tech cooperation. From the Trade and Technology Council (TTC) to the Chips and Inflation Reduction Acts, panelists will examine what’s working, what’s not, and what new frameworks are needed to advance shared interests in innovation, security, and trust.
Andrew Puzder
Ambassador of the United States to the European Union
15:30-16:00
Jack Chambers
Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Ireland
Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl, Director General, DIGITALEUROPE 
Peter Weckesser, President, DIGITALEUROPE and Chief Digital Officer, Schneider Electric