Digital Sovereignty Science for Policy Forum

Overview

Digital sovereignty has become one of the EU's top strategic priorities. Research findings are urgently needed to provide insight on the operationalisation of sovereignty. Against this context, the Forum applies a distinctive Science for Policy lens to showcase JRC’s 2026 research and convene policymakers, academics, practitioners and industry representatives

Digital sovereignty has emerged as one of the strategic priorities of the European Union. Within this context, the JRC Science for Policy Forum is a unique opportunity to gather and empower a 'Digital Sovereignty Science for Policy Community' including stakeholders from across Europe - EC services, leading research facilities and thinktanks, European Parliament, industry representatives, and practitioners. A defining characteristic of the Forum which distinguishes it from other similar events is the Science for Policy perspective. 

Date and Location

Our event is hosted on Monday 16th November 2026, European Commission CDMA building, Brussels. 

Agenda

The Forum combines plenary sessions, thematic discussions, networking opportunities and a cross-cutting synthesis, creating a participatory setting for exchange among experts and stakeholders. Participants select their preferred thematic sessions (deep dives). JRC experts and scientific collaborators facilitate the deep dives, which are organised in two parallel sessions in the morning and two in the afternoon. The day concludes with a synthesis of the main insights emerging from the discussions and a panel bringing together perspectives from academia, industry, think tanks and civil society.

Thematic Deep Dives

At the heart of the Digital Sovereignty Forum, the Thematic Deep Dives move the conversation from the stage to the table. Across two rounds of parallel sessions, participants join semi-structured discussions that open with findings from the JRC's research on digital sovereignty, followed by an interactive exchange with experts from EU institutions, industry, academia and civil society.

All four deep dives share a common purpose: to identify knowledge gaps, policy needs and research directions. Their value lies in bringing evidence and practice together, testing JRC findings against real-world experience and surfacing the cross-cutting challenges Europe
faces. Insights captured by session leaders and rapporteurs will help shape the future JRC scientific agenda on digital sovereignty, keeping research closely connected to the EU's strategic priorities.

Registration

Registration is by invitation only and closes on 30th October 2026. For more details contact JRC-DIGITAL-SOVEREIGNTY@ec.europa.eu 

Partner Event

The Forum is a Partner Event within the European AI Innovation Month from 14 October to 17 November 2026. Also at the Apply AI Summit on 17 November high level attendees will discuss the state of digital sovereignty in Europe.