EU TECH STARS SUMMIT
Technology is a core component of our democracy, our economy, and our daily lives. But today the non-EU big tech companies control our data, our digital infrastructure, and exert unprecedented power and influence over our public opinion.
Technology has become a weapon in the hands of autocrats. It’s easier to swing an election than to win a war. While Russian hybrid warfare and disinformation campaigns have long been instruments for destroying the European Union, today even the US National Security Strategy set out the weakening of the European Union and a shift to the right in Europe as its proclaimed goal.
Fortunately, we have our own alternatives in Europe.
EU is home to a vibrant landscape of innovative tech companies and initiatives delivering high-quality services that align with our democratic values and cater to real community needs.
From the most innovative cloud technology to open social networks - Europe can deliver technology for democracy. That is our greatest source of sovereignty in today’s geopolitical landscape.
On 5 February 2026, high-level representatives from the European tech ecosystem that champions the Union’s core values and principles of democracy, sustainability, privacy and transparency met for the EU Tech Stars Summit in the European Parliament.
View photos from the EU Tech Stars Summit here or use the QR code below.
PROGRAMME
Thursday, 5 February 2026
European Parliament, room ASP 1G3
9h-9h30 Registration
9h30-09h45 Welcoming remarks by Greens/EFA MEP David Cormand
9h45-10h15 Keynote by Robin Berjon, versatile technologist
10h15-11h15 Panel Discussion: Chips, AI and Cloud
Moderation: MEP Kim van Sparrentak
- Anne Duboscq, Director, Public Affairs and Communications, OVHcloud
- Dr. Michael Förtsch, CEO, Q.ANT
- Francesco Nonno, Director of Regulatory and European Affairs, Open Fiber
- Roman Orus, Cofounder and Chief Scientific Officer, Multiverse Computing
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11h15-11h35 Coffee break
11h35-12h35 Panel Discussion: User-choice focussed algorithms
Moderation: MEP Alexandra Geese
- Renaud Chaput, Technical Director, Mastodon
- Vardon Hamdiu, Executive Director, Sparkable (remotely)
- Katarzyna Szymielewicz, President, Panoptykon Foundation
- Sebastian Vogelsang, CEO, Flashes for Bluesky
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12h35-14h00 Networking lunch
14h-15h00 Panel Discussion: Scaling up digital solutions made in Europe
Moderation: MEP Sergey Lagodinsky
- Raphaël Auphan, COO, Proton
- Jutta Hortsmann, Co-CEO, Heinlein Group
- Frank Karlitschek, CEO, NextCloud
- Wolfgang Oels, COO, Ecosia
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15h-15h30 Keynote speech by Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy.
