Berlin Digital Summit: Wildberger aims to strengthen Europe’s position in AI
At the two-day Digital Summit in Berlin, representatives from Europe and Canada are discussing the future of artificial intelligence and Europe’s technological independence.
Berlin (dpa) – The German government’s two-day Digital Summit begins in Berlin today. The focus is on how Germany and Europe can become more internationally competitive and technologically independent in artificial intelligence (AI). Digital ministers from European countries and Canada, European Commission representatives and experts from business and academia are expected to attend under the motto “Shaping AI: safe, sovereign, competitive”. Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz will also attend.
“The 2026 Digital Summit reflects our ambition to make AI safe and trustworthy, seize the opportunities it offers and strengthen Germany’s and Europe’s position in international competition,” said Federal Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger, who opened the conference.
Cooperation with Canada
International cooperation, particularly with Canada, plays an important role. Canada is a leading centre for AI research and a potential partner for Europe in reducing its dependence on US technology companies. One example is the cooperation between Canadian AI company Cohere and Heidelberg-based Aleph Alpha. The two companies aim to develop AI solutions jointly for businesses and public institutions.
Other key topics at the summit include AI safety, the use of intelligent systems in industry and robotics, and the development of a strong European AI ecosystem.
