The Nextcloud Summit 2025 Agenda: shaping Europe’s digital future with experts and thought-leaders

On June 5^th, we are welcoming experts and thought leaders for a defining event on Europe’s digital future and tech innovation: the Nextcloud Summit in Munich, Germany. This full-day event builds on momentum of public and private organizations looking for an online platform based on trust, transparency, and independence. With an agenda featuring keynotes from experts, in-depth sessions, a panel discussion, and the global launch of Nextcloud Talk “Munich”, the Nextcloud Summit sets the stage for real-world solutions at the exclusive Munich Marriott Hotel City West.

Europe’s digital future: be part of the revolution

With a program designed to spark ideas, deepen knowledge, and connect changemakers across sectors, the Nextcloud Summit is set to become a day of inspiration and valuable insights, featuring:

• Keynote by Sven Thomsen, CIO of the German federal state Schleswig-Holstein
• Launch of Nextcloud Talk “Munich”, your privacy-first Microsoft Teams alternative
• Customer success stories on digital sovereignty
• Parallel tracks tailored for business, government, developers, and the press
• Thought-leader panel discussion on digital sovereignty in Europe
• Flash talks from Nextcloud partners
• The very first Nextcloud Awards Ceremony
• Closing keynote by Dr. Cristina Caffarra, Economist and Antitrust Expert
• Post-event networking drinks on the rooftop

Whether you’re in the public sector, enterprise IT, policy, or the open source community, this day is filled with knowledge exchange and networking opportunities for every profile.

Keynote spotlight: Sven Thomsen on digital sovereignty in the public sector

Following the opening reception, the day will be kicked off by a keynote talk from Sven Thomsen, CIO of Schleswig-Holstein. As a German federal state that has successfully transitioned to open source technology, Sven has become a leading voice in how to build a digitally independent Europe.

Digital sovereignty can also be used as a cover for “my-country-first” or “not-invented-here”. This quite frankly puts the real intentions for digital sovereignty at risk by focusing on isolation.

Sven Thomsen

CIO of the German federal state Schleswig-Holstein

In his keynote, Sven will share how administrations can make open source an operational reality, from political alignment to data migration strategies. This is a must-attend session for anyone looking to understand how governments can reduce reliance on Big Tech while increasing digital resilience and data protection.

“Europe can do tech”: expert panel discussion on Europe’s digital future

The afternoon panel discussion, “Europe can do it: strengthening digital sovereignty”, tackles a persistent myth: that Europe can’t compete in tech. Moderated by Cécile Boutelet, Economics correspondent in Germany for Le Monde, the panel promises an engaging discussion between key experts with different backgrounds and perspectives.

• Alexandra Geese, MEP and Digital Services Act negotiator
• Max von Thun, Open Markets Institute
• Pencho Kuzev, Konrad Adenauer Foundation
• Timo Väliharju, COSS Finland and APELL President
• Frank Karlitschek, CEO, Nextcloud

Together, they’ll examine what it takes to build an independent digital ecosystem in Europe: one that’s open, competitive, and ready for future challenges

Explore practical insights for your organization: workshops for every role

Besides the keynotes and main stage sessions, the Summit will host four parallel tracks with workshops tailored to the unique challenges and priorities of the attendees.

Track 1: Open source for enterprises
Discover how open source solutions are transforming business operations, boosting workplace productivity, and driving innovation across sectors.

Track 2: Digital sovereignty for public institutions
Learn why secure, sovereign digital infrastructures are becoming essential for governments and public organizations, and how to implement them.

Track 3: Technical workshop
Get extensive knowledge of the latest tools, deployment strategies, and techniques for building scalable, privacy-focused collaboration environments.

Track 4: Invite-only media roundtable
An exclusive session for journalists and analysts on Europe’s shift toward digital sovereignty, and how we can get there.

Attendees can choose which workshops fit their interests best (apart from the media roundtable, which is invite-only) to maximize learning opportunities.

Exclusive product launch of Nextcloud Talk “Munich”

The Nextcloud Summit also offers the perfect backdrop for the live launch of Nextcloud Talk “Munich”, the latest version of the video conferencing tool. As a privacy-respecting Microsoft Teams alternative, Nextcloud Talk has become the go-to platform for hosting webinars, meetings, and more for organizations focused on privacy. By freeing users from vendor lock-in, Nextcloud Talk offers hybrid collaboration and privacy-respecting communication, away from Big Tech.

What’s more: Nextcloud Awards ceremony and post-event networking

As digital sovereignty is often only discussed in theory, Nextcloud launched the Nextcloud Awards to recognize those who are turning data freedom into practice. Attendees will get a front-row seat for the first-ever Nextcloud Awards ceremony, the inaugural edition featuring two categories: the Implementation Role Model Award and the Digital Sovereignty in Times of Geopolitical Change Award.

The after-hours networking drinks on the rooftop of the Munich Marriott Hotel City West offer the perfect occasion to exchange thoughts on an idea-packed day and identify next steps for Europe’s digital future. From policy shifts to tech innovation, Europe is at a turning point. Be part of the discussion and shape what’s next for Europe’s digital landscape.