16 November 2026

annual event

hosted by

BREAKING EUROPE'S DIGITAL FRONTIERS

Brussels

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.

spotlight 2026 edition

keynote

Philippe Aghion

Nobel Prize in Economics 2025
Professor (College de France)

The summit will bring together tech innovators and leading voices to advance the vision for a sovereign and competitive Europe by:

about

Foster business opportunities among European sovereign tech providers and their users.

Boost demand for European tech through public procurement, private sector adoption, and investments.

Scale up SMEs to compete globally while anchoring growth in Europe.

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

SESSIONS

Bringing together leading voices from the policy, business, academic and civil society communities

SPEAKERS

Discussing actions and policies to advance the vision for a sovereign and competitive Europe

ATTENDEES

Engaging in discussions with business leaders and changemakers

HOURS OF NETWORKING & DEMO SESSIONS

To unlock new business opportunities and explore partnerships

AWARDS

Celebrating SMEs that are shaping society, the digital and green transition, and the future workforce

the topics

Tech sovereignty & market adoption

EU Inc. / 28th regime for all European companies

The Data Act and the Aftermarket: Ensuring Competition and Access for SMEs

Cybersecurity & defence technologies

Single Market & competitiveness

EU Tech Business Offer and Global Partnership

SBS Forum on ICT Standardisation

matchmaking platform

The matchmaking sessions are designed to bring together stakeholders interested in exploring synergies and discussing event topics in depth. If you are looking for future project partners, specific products or services for your organisation, as well as just a discussion with like-minded organisations this is the place for you!

DISCOVER MORE

DIGITAL SME awards

sustainability category

This award celebrates SMEs that demonstrate how digital innovation can drive sustainable transformation by addressing environmental challenges, improving social well-being and inclusion, strengthening communities, and enabling more sustainable business and public-sector practices.

Explore the awards

technological sovereignty category

This award recognises SMEs whose digital solutions demonstrably contribute to strengthening Europe’s technological sovereignty.

Explore the awards

skills category

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.

Explore the awards

venue

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE (EESC)

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.