We gathered for a transformative day where Europe’s deep tech ecosystem came together to shape a future defined by innovation, collaboration, and strategic foresight.
The event brought together European decision-makers from cutting-edge sectors such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and cloud technology.
Participants connected with leaders, visionaries, and changemakers from corporates, startups, and scale-ups—those actively driving the agenda of European technology sovereignty and laying the groundwork for a resilient digital future.
The ECA Tech Summit brought together Europe’s leading tech innovators, offering a dynamic platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the advancement of European technology.
Much like the successful 2023 edition, this year’s event went beyond inspiration—it focused on forging strong and lasting business connections. The summit was driven by collaboration and featured hands-on, workshop-style sessions designed for active participants committed to shaping the European tech ecosystem and making a tangible impact. This wasn’t about passive listening; it was a gathering for those who came to engage, create, and lead.
The ECA Tech Summit 2025 focused on three pivotal areas that are driving the future of technology in Europe: Cybersecurity, Cloud and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
These topics are not only essential for technological advancement but also crucial for maintaining Europe’s competitive edge in the global market.
Sustainability will be an underlying thread woven through all discussions, ensuring that each topic addresses the imperative of building a resilient and responsible tech ecosystem for Europe.
How can our European state-of-the-art sovereign cybersecurity solutions team up to be on par with worldwide competition?
What’s the best set-up to develop sustainable and regulation-compliant cloud services to uphold European data sovereignty and values?
How can we strengthen Europe's AI leadership and, beyond technological competition, ensure we have worthful AI solutions that benefit our ecosystem and respect European values?
Participants enjoyed a day packed with keynotes, workshops, and networking opportunities, all designed to foster innovation, collaboration, and business-driven discussions. The event brought together like-minded professionals to develop shared business development projects and explore synergies that drive growth across the European tech ecosystem.
Attendees gained valuable insights from top European tech pioneers through keynotes and panel discussions on AI, Cybersecurity, and Cloud Sovereignty.
Participants engaged in interactive sessions that tackled sponsor-led challenges focused on today’s most pressing innovation themes.
The event provided exclusive opportunities to connect with industry leaders during curated networking moments and a vibrant evening reception.
Meet the experts, innovators, and industry leaders who spoke and actively contributed to the ECA Tech Summit 2025.
From visionary keynote speakers to hands-on workshop facilitators, these voices shaped the conversations that defined this year’s summit—driving forward Europe’s tech agenda with insight, experience, and purpose.
Co-CEO Schwarz Digits & CDO at Schwarz Group
Chief Digital Transformation and Information Officer
CTO
Founder & Executive chairman
CEO / Founder WLOUNGE and MAGDA GROUP and a Board Member at the European Innovation Council (EIC) European Commission
Chairman of the Board of econsense / Former Chief Sustainability Officer SAP
Founder and CEO Experience One
Chief Fusionist I VP, Future Hub – Engagements, SAP SE
Vice President AI Frontier
Co-Founder
Founder & General Manager
Co-Founder
Strategic Advisor
Managing Director Schwarz Digits
Global ECM Transformation Director
Partner
Collaboration Partner Cybersecurity
Founder
Founder & CEO Wyngs.co & Managing Director of the ECA
Managing Director Fraunhofer-Group for Innovation Research
Founder, CEO
ex-CIO/CDO Evonik, Wacker, BASF
Opera singer / Musician – Artist / Performer
Director Innovation Methods & Tools
General Partner
Chief AI Storyteller & AI Marketing Leader
Founder & CEO
Chief Product Manager – SAP S/4HANA UX
Head of Cybersecurity
Managing Partner & Founder
Co-Lead AI Startup Rising
Co-Lead AI Startup Rising
Head of AI Innovation Lab
Projektmanager
Startup Program Lead & Director of Operations at ECA
Chief Strategy Officer
Chief Revenue Officer
Cloud Sales Manager – DACH & CEE
Founder
Growth Team Lead
The ECA Tech Summit 2025 was packed with a full day of insightful sessions, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities designed to inspire and engage participants. Below is the detailed schedule for the day, ensuring participants did not miss any of the exciting events.
09:15 - 09:30
Welcome & Intro
Join us as we kick off the ECA Tech Summit, a celebration of innovation, collaboration, and European leadership in technology. This opening session sets the stage for this day of insightful discussions, inspiring keynotes, and meaningful connections that will shape the future of the European tech ecosystem. Let’s embark on this journey together!
Main Stage | Titanium
09:30 - 10:00
Opening Key Note - The Book of Noble Purpose
Olivier Onghena, Founder & Executive chairman at GINPI – Global Inspiration and Noble Purpose Institute and Author of The Book of Noble Purpose
Main Stage | Titanium
10:00 - 10:35
Why are we here ? How Open Innovation Can Strengthen Europe as a Differentiator
Panel Discussion
Explore how Open Innovation can help establish Europe as a leader in innovation and collaboration.
Markus Durstewitz, AIRBUS Director Innovation Methods & Tools
Moderator:
Dirk Ramhorst, ex-CIO Evonik
Main Stage | Titanium
10:35 - 11:05
AI for Greener Europe - Driving Sustainable Innovation through Technology
Panel Discussion
Discuss how AI can be harnessed to address environmental challenges and promote sustainability across Europe.
Moderator:
Hichem Maya, Founder & CEO at SK[AI]LINE PARTNERS
Main Stage | Titanium
11:30 - 13:00
Working Sessions | Morning
A3 | Building and Managing AI Innovation Ecosystems in Europe
Infrastructure, Startups, and Industry Transfer
A4 | AI & Europe: Shaping the Future Together
Opportunities and Challenges for AI in the European Landscape
A5 | Hit or Miss: The Art of Persuasive Presentations
Strategies for Impactful Pitches Across Audiences and Cultures
Breakout Rooms
14:15 - 15:00
The Role of Cloud and Cyber for European Sovereignty
Panel Discussion
This session explores how advancements in cloud technology and cybersecurity are pivotal to achieving European sovereignty.
Moderator:
Andrea Vaugan, Founder & CEO Wyngs.co and Managing Director of the European Champions Alliance
Main Stage | Titanium
15:00 - 16:30
Working Sessions | Afternoon
B2 | The CIO’s Role in Sustainability: Driving Impact Through IT
Aligning IT Strategy with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
B3 | European Sovereignty: A Secure Cloud for Europe: Protecting Data and Sovereignty
Ensuring Cloud Technology Aligns with European Data Sovereignty Goals
B5 | Hit or Miss: The Art of Persuasive Presentations
Strategies for Impactful Pitches Across Audiences and Cultures
Breakout Rooms
16:50 - 17:45
Ecosystems of Innovation: How to moonshot innovation in Europe
Fireside Chat
Empowering European Startups: Competing Globally and Navigating Corporate Partnerships – How can we collaborate and expand.
Moderator:
Upen Barve, Chief Fusionist I Futuring Expert I VP@ Research & Innovation, SAP SE
Main Stage | Titanium
17:45 - 18:15
Corporate Rethink Digital in a Redefined World?!
Closing Keynote
Rolf Schumann Co-CEO Schwarz Digits & CDO at Schwarz Group
Main Stage | Titanium
18:15 - 18:30
Closing Statement ECA
Andrea Vaugan, Founder & CEO Wyngs.co and Managing Director of the European Champions Alliance
Michel Sérié, Founder & CEO Innolifters and President of the European Champions Alliance
Main Stage | Titanium
18:30 - 18:45
Artistic Performance
Curious About Opera Singing and Its Reinvention?
Lola Volonakis – [LOLA] – Opera singer / Musician – Artist / Performer
Meet Area | Titanium
Are you a European startup or corporate working in the field of in Cybersecurity, Cloud, Cloud Sovereignty & Sustainability or Artificial Intelligence,? The ECA Tech Summit 2025 is the event for you!
We’re bringing together a curated group of industry leaders, innovators, and pioneers to explore the most pressing challenges and opportunities in European tech. Be part of high-impact discussions, exclusive networking opportunities, and sessions led by visionary speakers.
Why Join?
As a participant, you will:
Exclusive Opportunity
We are committed to curating a diverse and high-quality group of attendees to ensure everyone leaves with valuable discussions & connections and actionable takeaways.
Startups and Scaleups
limited seats
150€ for non-members
*100€ for ECA members
Corporates
limited seats
250€ for non-members
*reduced price for ECA members
VC, PE, CVC, or Business Angel
limited seats
250€ for non-members
*reduced price for ECA members
Online/Digital-Only Spot
limited seats
75€ for non-members
*reduced price for ECA members
Elevate and engage with Europe’s top tech leaders. Partnering with the ECA Tech Summit 2025 provides exposure and access to leading innovators and decision-makers in the European tech ecosystem, access to an exclusive pre-event VIP-Dinner and a great network of opportunitites & supporting the cause. We look forward hearing from you!
Darmstadt, located in southern Hesse, Germany, is part of the Rhine-Main metropolitan region and lies about 30 km south of Frankfurt, with easy access to cities like Munich, Mannheim, and Strassbourg. It's roughly 500 km from Paris to the west and 450 km from Berlin to the northeast, making it centrally positioned in Europe. Known as the "City of Science", Darmstadt is a hub for cutting-edge technology and research in fields like AI, quantum computing, and space exploration.
February 11th 2025
