02 Jun 2025
How do we stack up? A global discussion on Sovereign Digital Strategies
 As recent tensions and geopolitical shifts make the cost of our tech dependencies flagrant, how are countries around the world building their own paths towards public digital infrastructures and digital sovereignty?
On 2nd June, the PSIA - Paris School of International Affairs, Sciences Po Tech & Global Affairs Innovation Hub, in partnership with ECDPM and Bertelsmann Stiftung, brought together world-class experts to compare models, learn from each other, and find new avenues for collaboration.
The session explored how the EU, India, Brazil, South Africa, and the African Union are forging alternative strategies for digital infrastructure that protect both sovereignty and democratic values.
The lineup included:
Shamira Ahmed, Founder of the Data Economy Policy Hub
Sérgio Branco, Director of Instituto de Tecnologia e Sociedade (ITS Rio)Â
Francesca Bria, Honorary Professor UCL & Author of the EuroStack report
Vikram Sinha, Director Artha Global
Anri van der Spuy, Senior Associate Research ICT Africa
Speakers highlighted that it's about time we stop chasing after the fever dream of having [insert country name]'s own Big Tech and come together to reshape how we think about cooperation between countries that want to use digital technologies to protect democracy and common values.