08:00-09:00

Doors open & welcome coffee

Start the morning with fresh coffee and conversation. Take this opportunity to connect with fellow professionals and speakers before diving into a day of thought-provoking discussions.

09:00 - 09:05

Welcome remarks

Barbara Gessler, Head of Representation, The Representation of the European Commission in Germany
David Issmer, Senior Managing Director and Head of Berlin Office, Teneo Germany
Magnus Franklin, Managing Director, Teneo EU
Matthew Newman, Global Chief Correspondent at MLex Market Insight

09:05 - 09:30

Keynote presentation

9:30 - 10:15

Panel 1 " EU tech sovereignty"

Moderated by Matthew Newman, Global Chief Correspondent at MLex

Panelists will discuss how tools such as the Digital Markets Act, Digital Services Act, and AI Act, alongside public procurement and competition policy, can help curb the dominance of large non-European platforms, promote interoperability, and create more space for European tech champions. The conversation will explore how assertive Europe should be toward US and Chinese big tech. It will also consider the proposed 28th regime, the strategic importance of data as a core asset, and the persistent barriers that continue to hold back European firms, including fragmented capital markets and regulatory complexity.

Panelists:

• Luise Ritter, Head of Innovation, Economic Council of the CDU e.V
• Anna Brodman, Head of International Controlling and Digital Policy Officer, BITMi 
• Joshua Allen, Head of Policy, Startup Verband (German Startup Association)

10:15 - 10:30

Networking break

10:30 - 11:15

Panel 2 “EU cybersecurity and digital infrastructure”

Moderated by Matthew Newman, Global Chief Correspondent at MLex

This panel will examine how the EU’s evolving cybersecurity framework aims to protect critical infrastructure, secure data flows, and reduce strategic dependence on non-European technology providers in a rapidly changing threat landscape. Speakers will assess the impact of recent and forthcoming measures - from proposed revisions to the Cybersecurity Act (including a new horizontal ICT supply-chain security framework) and enhanced European cybersecurity certification schemes to targeted amendments designed to streamline the NIS2 Directive and clarify its scope - on both major platforms and European innovators. The discussion will focus on the challenge of maintaining strong cybersecurity standards across 27 member states while avoiding fragmentation and excessive compliance burdens.

Panelists:

• Pablo Diez, EU Director, Regulatory & Government Affairs, Colt Technology Services
• Prof. Dr. Ing. habil. Gerhard Wunder, Professor of Cybersecurity and AI at Freie Universität Berlin, leading research on resilient networks, AI security, and privacy-preserving technologies

11:15 - 12:00

Closing remarks and networking

Continue the conversation - connect with fellow attendees, share insights from the panels, and build relationships.