Last Updated on 20. May 2026
When the topic of digital sovereignty comes up in public administration, many people first think of technology—software, servers, the cloud, and license agreements. That’s not wrong, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. At its core, digital sovereignty is a question of power.
Who decides which systems are used? Who actually has access to citizens’ data? Who can switch systems when they no longer work, and who is effectively forced to stay?
In many government agencies, the honest answer is uncomfortable: they are dependent. On individual vendors, on proprietary systems, on contracts signed years ago that are now nearly impossible to understand. This limits not only technical capabilities but also the ability to act politically and strategically.
Experience this topic firsthand at the networking event “Sovereignty with an impact”
Register now – free of charge, limited to 50 participants
Date: June 30, 2026, starting at 3:30 p.m.
Location: mgm Office, Holländischer Brook 2, 20457 Hamburg (Speicherstadt, 5th floor)
What Digital Sovereignty Actually Means
Digital sovereignty does not mean self-sufficiency. No government agency can or needs to develop all systems on its own. It is about making conscious choices: Which technologies align with our own values and requirements? Where are dependencies acceptable, and where are they not? And how do we maintain an overview as the system landscape becomes increasingly complex?
This requires expertise—technical, but also strategic and legal. And it requires a mindset: the willingness not to settle for the status quo, but to actively shape the future.
Initiatives like the Deutschland-Stack or the growing community around open-source solutions in government show that this is possible. Things are moving. But movement alone is not enough. It needs people to drive it forward.
That’s what this event is about
On June 30, we’ll be discussing these questions in Hamburg without sugarcoating. What works, what doesn’t, and what public administrations can do to gain more control over their digital future.
For those wondering why the best technology decisions often fail due to structural barriers: The accompanying article on organizational sovereignty provides a brief answer – and a few uncomfortable counter-questions.
Experience this topic firsthand at the networking event “Sovereignty with an impact”
Register now – free of charge, limited to 50 participants
Date: June 30, 2026, starting at 3:30 p.m.
Location: mgm Office, Holländischer Brook 2, 20457 Hamburg (Speicherstadt, 5th floor)
