unique speakers from past editions
The event features a series of debates with high-profile speakers and business-oriented sessions each year, where SMEs’ digital solutions will foster synergies among companies.
Henna Virkkunen
Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy (European Commission)
Enrico Letta
Former Prime Minister of Italy and Author (Report on the Future of the Single Market)
Ekaterina Zaharieva
Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation (European Commission)
Marietje Schaake
Fellow Institute for Human-Centered AI (Stanford University Cyber Policy Center)
Oliver Grün
President (European DIGITAL SME Alliance & BITMi)
Eléonore Simonet
Minister for the Middle Class, the Self-Employed, and SMEs (Belgian Federal Government)
Valentino Valentini
Deputy Minister for Enterprises and Made in Italy (Government of Italy)
Francesca Bria
Professor (UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose)
Philippe Van Damme
Deputy Director General (DG DIGIT, European Commission)
Michał Kobosko
Member of the European Parliament
Ruth del Campo
General Director for Data (Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Function - Spain)
Alexandra Geese
Member of the European Parliament
Francesco Bonfiglio
Expert on European digital policies
Damian Boeselager
Member of the European Parliament
Matthias Ecke
Member of the European Parliament
Cristina Caffarra
Co-Founder - Competition Research Policy Network (CEPR)
Axel Voss
Member of the European Parliament
Alessandro Cillario
Co-CEO & Co-Founder (CUBBIT)
Kim van Sparrentak
Member of the European Parliament
Christiane Kirketerp de Viron
Acting Director for Cybersecurity and Trust (DG CNECT, European Commission)
Audrey Tang
Former 1st Minister of Digital Affairs (Government of Taiwan)
spotlight on the 2026 keynote speakers
Philippe Aghion
Nobel Prize in Economics 2025 & Professor
(College de France)
Teresa Ribera
Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition (European Commission)
Andrius Kubilius
European Commissioner for Defence and Space
Throughout panels and business-oriented sessions, the DIGITAL SME summit brings together leading voices from industry, politics, and academia to turn Europe’s tech sovereignty ambitions into a concrete plan to boost demand for homegrown tech solutions.
Building on the 2025 summit’s milestones – the launch of the Tech Sovereignty Catalogue and the “Software Made in Europe” and “Software Hosted in Europe” labels – this year’s event shifts focus from identifying sovereign capacities to driving market adoption and connect European innovators with decision-makers and strategic partners to unlock new business opportunities.
what to expect
the topics
Networking spotlight
Want to meet potential partners, customers or fellow innovators? Start planning your one-to-one meetings!
Sign up on the matchmaking platform, browse the participant list and send meeting requests to find the people and organisations you would like to meet.
sponsors and partners
It celebrates SMEs that demonstrate how digital innovation can drive sustainable transformation by addressing environmental challenges, improving social well-being, and enabling more sustainable business and public-sector practices.
This award recognises SMEs developing digital solutions that strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty, demonstrating the depth of European innovation and the strategic value of homegrown technologies.
By endorsing digital skills for education (EdTech), and fostering digital upskilling and reskilling in the workforce, this category aims to award SMEs which equip individuals with the abilities necessary to thrive in the digital age.
It recognises innovative European projects developing trustworthy digital solutions that strengthen information integrity, tackle AI-generated misinformation and promote safer, more transparent and accountable digital environments.
Digitalisation
Europe-led Innovation
Success Stories of European Digital Innovation Hubs
venue
Committed to European integration, the EESC contributes to strengthening the democratic legitimacy and effectiveness of the European Union by enabling civil society organisations from the Member States to express their views at European level.
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1000, Brussels
Belgium
