Digital sovereignty: From aspiration to competitive advantage
How can Europe retain control over critical technologies, data, and decisions in the AI era while continuing to innovate? Digital sovereignty emerges through the interplay of infrastructure, technology partners, data control, security, applications, and meaningful choices. How does this work, and why does sovereign technology increasingly also mean economic strength?
09/08/2026 2:55 PM
Europe needs to move faster to advance artificial intelligence for industry. At Digital X, Ferri Abolhassan, CEO of T-Systems, advocated for international partnerships. These should be combined with its own high-performance infrastructure. "We know that we need alliances, and we know that we are seeking alliances—and we are doing that." But without alternatives of its own, Europe risks dependency, which he called "uncool." As an example of moving faster, Abolhassan pointed to Telekom's Industrial AI Cloud in Munich. In addition to industrial applications, it is also developing solutions for public administration, language models, and defense.
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Our AI factory is the starting point for many initiatives through which we want to put Germany back in the running for Industry 4.0.”
Ferri Abolhassan, T-Systems Board member and CEO T-System
09/08/2026 2:43 PM
T-Systems is now certified by ServiceNow as a "Sovereign Partner Cloud Provider" in Germany. This significantly expands its long-standing partnership with ServiceNow. T-Systems provides the ServiceNow AI platform in a sovereign setup on its own T Cloud infrastructure. Customers receive consulting, implementation, licensing, hosting, and operations from a single provider. The offering is especially relevant for regulated industries with high requirements for data sovereignty, security, and compliance.
09/08/2026 2:25 PM
Germany is experiencing a startup boom, but it lacks capital and technological alternatives for the next stage of growth. At DIGITAL X, Verena Pausder, Lars Neumann, and Bastian Maiworm discuss why digital sovereignty is becoming a matter of competitiveness. Germany has never seen as much startup momentum as it does today, says Verena Pausder, head of the German Startup Association. Yet 86 percent of large startups rely on non-European investors for subsequent funding rounds. Lars Neumann, who is responsible for Deutsche Telekom's T Cloud, also warns about dependence on individual hyperscalers: lock-in weakens companies' negotiating power. For amber founder Bastian Maiworm, sovereignty therefore belongs in the procurement strategy. Isolation, however, is not a solution. Europe needs alternatives, more growth capital, and better use of its data assets to scale innovation.
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We do not use 85% of our data in Germany. That troubles me. We need to unlock it so we can enable innovation. We must not hold ourselves back because we are afraid to turn to non-European solutions.
Verena Pausder, entrepreneur
Digital sovereignty is not about nationalism; it is about control over data, processes, and how technologies are used. We need to regain that control.
Tim Höttges, CEO Deutsche Telekom AG
09/08/2026 12:09 PM
€300 billion in additional gross value added: That is the potential, according to the German Economic Institute, when generative AI meets Germany's industrial sector. At DIGITAL X, North Rhine-Westphalia Minister-President Hendrik Wüst sets out a clear mandate: Europe must reduce its technological dependencies and shape its digital future independently. After all, putting all your eggs in one basket when it comes to data, clouds, and key technologies puts security and the ability to act at risk. With leading research, 40,000 STEM graduates each year, and one of Europe's fastest supercomputers, he sees North Rhine-Westphalia as well positioned.
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We have everything we need to become more sovereign in Europe. We have everything we need to turn the changes of our time into opportunities and create new prosperity. To create social security so that a stable democracy endures as well. […] Nothing has ever come from fear. The only manure nothing grows on is the pessimist. So keep your head up, Germany—don’t let anyone intimidate you.
Hendrik Wüst, Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia
Cloud: The infrastructure powering the next phase of AI
Cloud has long been more than storage and computing power. It is becoming the foundation that enables AI to scale securely, data to be processed where it is generated, and digital applications to function reliably even in sensitive or time-critical situations. Europe has taken important steps in cloud infrastructure, sovereign offerings, and new partnerships. How can this create greater speed, choice, and economic strength?
09/08/2026 4:30 PM
Roman Howe of Anthropic sees significant opportunities in the exponential development of AI. His illustration: water lilies that double every day. On day 27, just one-eighth of the lake is covered; by day 30, it is full. “People are terribly poor at imagining exponential developments. Again and again, even though we want to think differently, we think in linear terms.” Companies should therefore prepare now for more capable AI: make systems accessible, document processes, and clearly define where people are accountable. And when the lake is full? Then the next one comes along. Howe, Anthropic’s Head of DACH & CEE, closed his presentation with this question: “The right question that matters today is: which lake?”
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Many of the tasks we assign to AI today are too small for the models and their capabilities.
Roman Howe, Anthropic
09/08/2026 2:03 PM
Make calls without having to take notes at the same time: With Voice AI Notes Mobile, Telekom is integrating an AI feature directly into its new business mobile plans. With the consent of all call participants, AI automatically summarizes calls and records key points, tasks, and appointments. No separate app is needed. The new plans also include network-based protection and expanded Roaming services.
More on this topic - Secure AI summaries of calls
09/08/2026 1:50 PM
Deutsche Telekom continues to expand its AI Industry Cloud in Munich. “There is real demand. That is why we are continuing to expand it now,” said Maximilian Ahrens, head of T-Digital, at DIGITAL X in Cologne. In addition, Telekom plans to tailor its various cloud offerings even more closely to mid-sized businesses in the future. Smaller packages and preconfigured software are intended to lower barriers to entry. According to Ahrens, cloud platforms are part of a broader digital foundation for businesses. Along with cloud, this includes security and connectivity. Telekom is also focusing on sovereign operations: the capabilities of global platforms are to be provided in a “souveränen Setup” – operated by Deutsche Telekom in Germany.
09/08/2026 12:40 PM
Telekom and the startup Prof. Valmed are bringing medical AI to clinics and medical practices. The system supports physicians with diagnosis and treatment, drawing on more than 2.5 million medical documents. As a CE Class IIb-certified solution, Prof. Valmed meets high standards for medical applications. Its recommendations are transparent and backed by sources, while medical staff retain responsibility.
09/08/2026 12:00 PM
In an emergency, lab samples, blood products, or medications need to reach their destination quickly. Dortmund-based startup Morpheus Logistik uses drones to deliver these time-critical goods directly to recipients, flying over traffic jams and other bottlenecks. Telekom's IoT connectivity helps ensure that the drones remain reliably connected and can be controlled safely, even over longer distances.
AI agents: When AI moves from assistant to taking action
The next stage in AI development begins when systems no longer just respond, but independently take on tasks, help prepare decisions, and initiate processes. This is where technical potential either translates into real operational value or does not. How can companies make the leap from their first use case to robust AI agents and controllable operating models?
09/08/2026 5:10 PM
AI is leaving the screen, acting autonomously, and moving into networks. Rodrigo Diehl, a member of Telekom's Board of Management, predicts: "Within the next three years, we will experience an iPhone moment that will define the next 20 years." Germany's opportunity lies in its own data, process expertise, and understanding of customers. The major AI opportunity only emerges when individual tools become automated processes and entirely new business models. Culture is crucial: high ambitions, trust, quick decisions, and the courage to make mistakes. "The 80 percent solution that arrives quickly is better than the 100 percent perfect solution that arrives just a little too late
It becomes exciting when agents not only take on individual tasks, but also enable us to rethink entire business models. That is where the real transformation begins.Rodrigo Diehl, CEO Telekom Deutschland
09/08/2026 4:55 PM
A larger AI budget does not automatically mean greater success. A new study by Telekom MMS and mind digital shows what drives return on investment: the right business processes, high-quality data, and clear governance are key. The study sees particularly strong potential in order and invoice processing, procurement, and IT support. The ROI Compass shows companies how to identify and scale successful AI applications.
We see a wide range of AI requirements across business and industry. It is important for us to work with customers to identify the goal, then find the right AI and application.
Georg Schmitz-Axe, SVP Midmarket Deutsche Telekom Geschäftskunden GmbH
09/08/2026 3:10 PM
Telekom CEO Tim Höttges sees so-called AI agents as the next major boost to productivity. In the future, people may no longer use only individual AI assistants but manage multiple agents that automatically execute business processes. “The greatest productivity gains come from agent systems in which people manage not one, but many agents,” Höttges said at DIGITAL X in Cologne. In his view, these multi-agent systems could increase productivity much more than today’s applications. Companies therefore need to do more than deploy AI tools. They also need to adapt their workflows and organization to these new possibilities.
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It’s not just about using AI tools. We need to redesign workflows across our companies—with agents that manage processes across functions. In a controlled way!
Tim Höttges, CEO Deutsche Telekom AG
09/08/2026 1:55 PM
AI agents are increasingly handling tasks independently in companies. With two new offerings, Telekom makes their deployment productive and manageable: T-AI Agent Platform automates specific business processes. With T-AI Agentic Hub, T-Systems is launching a central platform that lets companies manage, monitor, and scale AI agents from different providers and technologies. Banco Sabadell, Spain’s fourth-largest bank, already uses the platform, including for AI agents in legal services and customer service that analyze documents, structure information, and prepare cases for employees. The hub establishes shared rules for access, security, costs, traceability, and human oversight, helping enable the transition from individual AI pilots to broad production use. Banco Sabadell initially operates the platform in its own data centers and tests new use cases in Telekom's sovereign T Cloud. The goal is to scale AI agents for production, reduce processing times and manual work, and at the same time ensure oversight, regulatory compliance, and digital sovereignty
09/08/2026 1:35 PM
A photo of an open trench, a building connection, or a coupling: For civil engineers, it is more than just an image. It can serve as verification for a construction phase, evidence of completed work, or a basis for billing. Until now, employees at cec Ingenieure GmbH had to review the photos and assign them to projects. Today, AI handles this task. Together with Deutsche Telekom, cec Ingenieure GmbH has automated the documentation of image and project data. With n8n and AI, construction-site photos can be assigned to the relevant civil engineering projects faster and more consistently. The company, based in Feldkirchen near Munich, specializes in planning and surveying services for the expansion of telecommunications and energy networks. The automated assignment provides a reliable basis for documentation, verification, and billing.
Learn more - What are AI agents?
Learn more - This photo sorts itself
09/08/2026 10:43 AM
Telekom is becoming a certified Solution Partner of the Lovable AI platform. This enables companies to develop applications such as customer portals, internal tools, and dashboards using natural language. Telekom complements the technology with consulting, integration, and services through deployment in production. Combined with n8n, applications can also connect directly with automated business processes and AI agents.
Security: Trust becomes a prerequisite for digital value creation
Digital value creation now takes place in increasingly interconnected systems. Data flows across networks and platforms, applications work together, and AI is taking on more tasks in business processes. This also changes the role of security: It not only protects against attacks but also helps determine whether digital processes can operate reliably and at scale. How can security be designed to enable innovation rather than hold it back?
09/08/2026 4:38 PM
Cyberattacks are becoming more automated, and geopolitical conflicts have long been playing out digitally as well. At DIGITAL X, Thomas Tschersich, Thomas R. Köhler, and Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann warn against continuing to treat cybersecurity as a specialized issue. Cybersecurity has become a leadership responsibility. Telekom Chief Security Officer Thomas Tschersich, cybersecurity expert Thomas R. Köhler, and Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Security and Defense, agree on this. Automated attacks are shortening response times, while state actors are using cyberattacks and disinformation for hybrid attacks. Companies therefore need to consider risks from the outset and prepare for serious incidents. Tschersich also calls for security incidents to be disclosed and criticizes the lack of legal frameworks and regulations that partly hold back innovation..
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Amid all the excitement about AI, it helps to use your own judgment. That is why it is important to take cybersecurity seriously. Attempts are being made to divide our society at this level, too.
Dr. Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, MdEP
09/08/2026 4:17 PM
According to security experts, artificial intelligence makes cyberattacks on companies much easier. "Even basic attacks we have known about for a long time, such as phishing, are now much easier to carry out," said Philipp Trinius, CTO of Telekom Security, at Digital X in Cologne. Helmut Reisinger, CEO EMEA at Palo Alto Networks, pointed to the significantly increased speed of cyberattacks. Over the past four years, the time between a successful intrusion and data exfiltration has fallen from an average of nine days to just one day. "In particularly fast cases, this already happens within 20 minutes," he said. In light of this development, the goal must be "Security in Echtzeit." "We are seeing in Berlin right now what consequences such attacks can have," Philipp Trinius added. At the same time, he warned against making compromises in cybersecurity: "What I would always shy away from is cutting corners on security. There should be no compromises, especially there."
09/08/2026 3:57 PM
Cyberattacks become particularly costly for businesses when cash registers, phone systems, or inventory management systems fail. That is why Telekom deploys part of its defenses directly in the network: Suspicious connections can be identified and blocked before they reach customers' systems. Security OnNet alone blocks more than 48 million threats each month. Additional managed services provide resilience and 24/7 cyberdefense based on your needs.
09/08/2026 3:30 PM
According to Telekom security chief Thomas Tschersich, artificial intelligence is primarily changing the speed of cyberattacks. "The core threats are essentially the same, in my view. But speed has become a different factor," Tschersich said at DIGITAL X in Cologne. Automated systems can now find and attack large numbers of vulnerabilities in a very short time. The number of so-called DDoS attacks on the Telekom network has risen sharply in recent months. Six months ago, customers were still being warned about around 3,000 attacks per week. Now, there are more than 20,000. "It is growing exponentially," Tschersich said. Companies therefore need not only to detect attacks, but also to ensure they can respond around the clock in an emergency. Smaller and mid-sized companies in particular often do not have their own security teams. Telekom therefore wants to make professional cyber defense more readily available to mid-sized businesses. "We have sought to democratize cybersecurity," Tschersich said. Together with partners, Telekom also offers smaller companies "around-the-clock protection."
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We want to democratize cybersecurity – make professional protection available to smaller companies as well.
Thomas Tschersich, Chief Security Officer Deutsche Telekom
09/08/2026 2:27 PM
Cyberattacks and geopolitical tensions are increasing the pressure on critical infrastructure. T-Systems Managing Director Elke Anderl and Airbus Defence and Space Managing Director Dr. Klaus Michel are focusing on resilient systems, European partnerships, and secure operations so companies can remain capable of acting even in an emergency. Cyberattacks no longer affect only traditional IT systems. Satellites, communications networks, and other critical infrastructure could also be deliberately disrupted or shut down, said Klaus Michel, Managing Director of Airbus Defence and Space, at DIGITAL X in Cologne.
Companies therefore need to give greater consideration to potential attacks when developing their systems. Anderl summed up the goal in a short phrase: "Because security protects normalcy." Communications, energy supply, production, and public administration are among the areas that need protection. The T-Systems Managing Director's response focuses on sovereign infrastructure, open partnerships, and a stronger focus on ongoing operations. "We need the right infrastructure, we need sovereign infrastructure, and we need to be able to talk more about Run again," Anderl said. "Run" refers to operating systems—in other words, the point at which it becomes clear whether technology works reliably. "That is the reality check," Anderl said. An innovation only becomes a true innovation when operations run "all the time, every day." Another starting point is better connectivity among European systems. Different security requirements and the lack of shared interfaces can make collaboration more difficult, especially in an emergency. Michel therefore called for interfaces that not only work technically but are also certified by the participating countries. Sovereignty does not mean developing every technology independently. What matters is managing dependencies so they do not lead to an inability to act.
Security protects normalcy. Resilience begins where normal operations and ideal conditions in technology come to an end.
Elke Anderl, Chief Commercial Officer T-Sytems
09/08/2026 12:55 PM
Cloud, AI, and global business require more flexible networks. T Secure Fabric therefore combines Telekom infrastructure with the networks and technologies of various partners in a centrally managed platform. Businesses can connect new locations, clouds, and applications more quickly and modernize existing networks step by step. Different connectivity options also reduce reliance on individual providers and increase resilience.
09/08/2026 12:52 PM
With T Mission, Telekom is bringing mission-critical communications into the 5G era. Voice, live video, operational pictures, or sensor data can be sent directly to emergency responders—securely and with priority, even when network utilization is high. At the same time, T Mission connects the new, the MCx communications, with proven TETRA radio. This allows emergency responders with TETRA and MCx equipment to continue communicating with one another. Our T Mission Truck at Digital X shows you how it works.
09/08/2026 11:30 AM
At Digital X, Telekom is showcasing its drone protection system live for the first time. Sensors detect the radio signals between a drone and its remote control, allowing them to locate both the drone and the pilot's location. The data is transmitted to a central control center so security personnel can quickly assess the situation and respond. The system is intended to protect airports, industrial facilities, and other critical infrastructure.
Learn more here
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The threat posed by drones is unfortunately real. That is why we need to act now to protect citizens and critical infrastructure. The technologies for detection and defense are available and have already been tested in real-world deployments. The key is to quickly combine them with strong partners into a secure, scalable, and effective end-to-end system. Deutsche Telekom has the technology, expertise, and ambition to make a central contribution to Germany's security.
Ferri Abolhassan, Member of the Board of Management responsible for T-Systems and CEO of T-System
AI & Ethics: How much autonomy is compatible with responsibility?
The more AI shapes decisions, processes, and social structures, the more important it becomes to ask under what conditions people can trust it. This is not only about what systems can do technically, but also about how transparently they operate, who is accountable, and what limits apply. How do we ensure that growing AI capabilities go hand in hand with human responsibility, clear rules, and public trust?
09/08/2026 6:30 PM
Historian and bestselling author Yuval Noah Harari has warned about the far-reaching consequences of the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence. AI is no longer just a tool but is becoming an independent actor, Harari said Tuesday at Digital X in Cologne. "AI is not a tool, but an actor," he said. Such an agent could make decisions, develop new ideas, and evolve in ways that even its developers may not be able to fully anticipate. The consequences are especially far-reaching because AI can increasingly master the language-based systems on which modern societies rely. Banks, legal systems, companies, and states are ultimately organized through language, data, and bureaucratic processes, Harari said. AI will therefore increasingly move into areas that people have controlled until now. "Millions of AIs, millions of AI bureaucrats, will increasingly make decisions about our lives," he said.
In his view, however, a complete loss of control is not inevitable. People are adaptable. Still, society needs time to keep pace with these developments. “To survive and thrive, we need time to understand what is happening and adapt,” Harari said. To do so, humanity must work together and slow development. Asked what each person can do in light of these developments, Harari gave a brief answer: “The most important thing is to get to know yourself better.” In his view, once AI knows a person better than they know themselves, it can fully control and manipulate them. “Once AI knows us better than we know ourselves, it’s over.”
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The most important thing is to get to know ourselves better. Once AI knows us better than we know ourselves, the game is over. [...] Once AI knows us better than we know ourselves, it really is over. It can completely control and manipulate us. // The one thing is to get to know us better. Once the AI knows us better than we know ourselves, then it's game over. [...] Once AI knows us better than we know ourselves, then it's really game over. It can control and manipulate us completely.
Prof. Yuval Noah Harari/ Historian, philosopher, author
09/08/2026 12:28 PM
In the view of philosopher and publicist Richard David Precht, Germany faces a decisive decade. In his keynote at Digital X, Precht outlines how three global revolutions are converging: geopolitical realignment, the ecological transformation, and the start of the AI era. AI means the end of society as we have known it. Germany must see this change as a task it can help shape. That requires a willingness to change, new ideas for society, and momentum from the business community. His message: The future does not emerge from waiting, but from the courage to shape it. In Precht's words: "We need a brainstorming process across society, and it must not include any prohibitions on thinking. We need pressure from the economy to drive change."
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We live in a country where a “dictatorship of reasons” stands against constraints. If we do not change anything, many things will not improve.
Richard David Precht, German writer and philosopher
Europe’s Future in Technology Competition
Artificial intelligence is transforming not only businesses and markets. It is also shifting economic dependencies and political power. As a result, the AI debate is increasingly becoming a question of competitiveness and industry. What infrastructure does a high-performing business location need? Where do critical technological dependencies emerge? And what decisions does Europe need to make to maintain its industrial strength?
09/08/2026 6:11 PM
Former Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck has called for much stronger political integration in Europe. “If we want to hold our own against these major powers, Europe must continue to develop as a political union, toward something like a United States of Europe,” Habeck said Tuesday at Digital X in Cologne. Europe currently lacks a compelling vision for the future. The discussion with futurist Florence Gaub, entrepreneur Janna Ensthaler, and social psychologist Harald Welzer focused on Europe’s competitiveness, security, and social cohesion. Gaub also sees a political issue: “I see an epidemic of fear about the future that established parties are not properly recognizing.”
”The greater people’s fear of the future, the more likely they are to vote for populist or extremist parties. Ensthaler called for significantly faster economic reforms and investment. “We are currently managing decline, and we should be aware of that,” she said. Among other measures, Europe must mobilize more capital for growth companies and substantially reduce its bureaucracy. Welzer also cautioned against narrowing the public debate to crises and dissatisfied groups alone. Policymakers need to focus more on those who sustain society in everyday life. “I believe a society needs to be welcoming. Period, full stop, end of story—then much of the rest follows naturally,” Welzer said.
Habeck advocated addressing Europe’s security and economic policy challenges more jointly. Beyond individual reform measures, the European Union must clarify “where is it headed?” The status quo is not enough in light of global competition for power.
What does Europe need? Creativity! We have all the resources we need in terms of people right here […] Every one of them has a future […] that is the creativity I hope for.
Dr. Florence Gaub, Research Director NATO Defense College
09/08/2026 4:09 PM
Europe has spent too long settling into its dependencies and has lost influence in the new world order. At Digital X, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg calls for greater self-confidence and less fear of failure. In the view of former Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, Europe needs to make more confident use of its economic and technological strengths. In the new world order, the continent has lost influence and spent too long accepting dependencies in security, energy, raw materials, digitalization, skilled workers, and capital. Companies such as Isar Aerospace and semiconductor equipment supplier ASML show Europe’s potential. Europe is not out of the running in the global AI competition either. Rather than lamenting and bemoaning its own situation, Europe needs to overcome its risk aversion, better recognize its own strengths, and once again present itself more confidently on the international stage.
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We need more confidence. Why do we so modestly call our global market leaders "hidden champions"? Why don't we recognize our own strengths?Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, Chairman Spitzberg Partners New York
09/08/2026 3:15 PM
At DIGITAL X, Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder called for significantly higher investment in artificial intelligence and new technologies in Germany. AI is a key technology for the future, from medicine and defense to aviation and space. "You can only talk about ethics once you advance the technology," Söder said. He is convinced "that the future offers more opportunities than disadvantages." He pointed to the Free State's Hightech Agenda, more than 1,000 new professorships, and investments in supercomputers and quantum computing. For Bavaria, AI belongs alongside "laptop and lederhosen." In this context, Söder described Telekom, with its AI data center, as an important partner.
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I'm very, very tech-savvy. These days, we're celebrating 60 years of Star Trek, and I've always liked the idea that the future offers more opportunities than drawbacks.”Markus Söder, Minister-President of Bavaria
09/08/2026 2:15 PM
Angela Merkel is calling for greater attention to the social consequences of artificial intelligence. People must retain control, while major tech providers need stronger regulation. At the same time, the former German chancellor warns against viewing AI primarily as a threat. Merkel also sees the rapid rise of artificial intelligence as a political challenge of establishing order. In a conversation with communications scholar Miriam Meckel, she calls for regulation, greater transparency from tech companies, and international cooperation. The goal, she says, must be "to ensure that people remain in control of this new technology." Merkel is particularly critical of how data is handled. Asked how AI systems are trained on information from around the world, she described it as "an intellectual expropriation program of the first order." At the same time, she warns of dependence on major technology providers and of social media and algorithms narrowing society's shared information base. Even so, Merkel is not skeptical of technology. "We will have to live with it, and it will improve our lives," she said. The challenge is to understand AI and "put it to work for us." Education and the ability to think independently will therefore become even more important.
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As with every technological innovation, it will be the same with AI: We need to learn how to make it work for us. […] We live in a great age; we just need to try to understand, at least a little, what is happening right now.Angela Merkel
