This keynote will explore the transformative potential of quantum technology, from computing to communications and sensing, and its military applications and its role in international peace and security, including arms control. It will also highlight the urgent need for proactive policymaking and oversight to ensure that the benefits of quantum advances are maximized while managing their risks to international security.

Quantum technologies, while still evolving, are poised to disrupt existing security paradigms. The  session will unpack the impact of quantum technologies on broader security dynamics, its ramifications for secure communication and critical infrastructure as well as for the broader peace and security agenda. It will also explore the changes that might be brought about in the military and defence field exploring how these will shift the dynamics of warfare, defence and impact strategic stability considerations. It will also look into the possible impact on economic security and technology souvereignity agenda.

By bringing together experts from diplomacy, policy, industry, and academia, this session will highlight how quantum and other emerging technologies intersect with digital sovereignty, cybersecurity, and global security architectures. It will also address the role of diplomatic engagement in shaping international norms, export controls, and cooperation mechanisms that prevent fragmentation and ensure a balanced and secure technological future.

The session will discuss how techdiplomacy can serve as a bridge to reduce vulnerabilities, and create governance frameworks that align with democratic values and strategic interests.

In a digitised world of exclusion and control, a human-centric digital commons offers a transformative vision grounded in openness, equity, and collective empowerment. This keynote will propose a path towards building a digital commons that moves beyond profit-driven tech, embracing shared stewardship, participatory governance, and universal access as cornerstones of peace and security. It will explore the resilience of networked communities, shaping technologies that reflect their needs—fair, sustainable, and inclusive. And how data and tools freely shared, reusable, and adaptable under transparent terms play a role in safer, more just and equitable societies with a people-centric tech ecosystem. By treating the digital commons as a living, co-managed resource, the keynote will argue that a commons-based governance system will enhance security online, countering exploitation and opacity, building trust through accountability, and offline, equipping societies with accessible, reliable tools to bridge divides and strengthen resilience against conflict. As a key part of the digital commons, security is reimagined as a commitment to justice that sustains peace and strengthens cooperation and solidarity.

As digital technologies shape the future of peacebuilding and security, we must ask: are the data and tools we rely on truly fit for purpose? This panel will explore the challenges of Western-centric data systems, the importance of data sovereignty, and the role of human rights in ensuring ethical, human-centric data governance. By addressing these issues, we’ll examine how to empower local communities, build trust through transparency, and create digital solutions that would be more fit for purpose, because if PeaceTech and the data sources that support it are not accessible, they are pointless. Join us for an engaging on bridging continents and making data work for peace and security.

In this keynote, the author of 40 Years of EU Digital Policies: Forgotten Lessons reflects on Europe’s evolving quest for digital sovereignty. Offering a holistic perspective on the continent’s digital transformation, the speech draws on decades of policy experience to uncover overlooked insights and critical lessons. It will outline strategic imperatives for Europe in an era of accelerating global fragmentation.

Sovereign digital ecosystems (data spaces) are the basis for a competitive economy and self-determined (sovereign) digital economy. Based on the actual market developments there is a risk of loss of value creation, prosperity and sovereignty for individual member states and firms. Sovereign digital ecosystems according to standards are the basis for being able to assert oneself in the competition of global value chains and data is the fuel of digital ecosystems and is the basis for every AI strategy. This session will explore how current data space initiatives such as Gaia-X are driving this transformation, enabling trusted, secure data sharing.

In this keynote, the rapid evolution of neurotechnologies will be explored, examining their potential in the health and non-health sector. The keynote speech will discuss the ethical challenges, risks, and benefits of these innovations, and propose frameworks for responsible decision making to ensure their alignment with fundamental values and human rights.

The convergence of neurotechnologies with artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and biotechnology is reshaping security landscapes, introducing new opportunities and unprecedented risks. Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), neuro-enhancement, and cognitive monitoring tools can enhance human performance but also expose societies to cognitive warfare, cyber vulnerabilities, and ethical and human rights dilemmas. The integration of AI-driven neural data analysis, quantum-secured brain-computer communications, and biotech-enabled neuro-enhancement raises critical concerns for digital security, privacy, and governance.

Experts from neuroscience, cybersecurity, international governance and law will assess the security implications of this technological convergence and discuss policy for strategies, international cooperation and governance frameworks in order to prevent harm and mitigate risks while leveraging the positive transformative potential for public health.

The Panel will explore the threat landscape as to how malicious actors could exploit neurotechnologies for manipulation and cyber threats and will look int ethical, legal and governance challenges, inter alia risks to privacy, neural data protection, and regulatory gaps.

The intersection of innovation and regulation in digital security is more critical than ever. As Europe strengthens its cybersecurity framework through new regulations and Acts, the challenge lies in fostering technological advancements while ensuring compliance and resilience. This session brings together experts to examine how Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) can bridge the gap between policy and practice, with perspectives from civil society, independent security researchers, academia, and other non-state actors. Discussions will focus on how national and EU funding programs can empower businesses, drive secure digital transformation, and enhance global cybersecurity competitiveness.