Join us on October 26 at 17:30 for an evening of networking at our next AI Happy Hour session: “A roadmap to European Strategic Autonomy: the vision and the architecture in the triangle of IoT, AI and 6G.” Learn more about FARI and how emerging technologies, open architectures, and trusted digital infrastructures can and should contribute to Europe’s strategic autonomy in the digital age.

This in-person event will take place on Monday 26 October at 17:30 in the FARI Test and Experience Center (Cantersteen 16, 1000 Brussels).

Rob van Kranenburg is a writer who founded #IoT Council in 2009 and the WorldIoTDay in 2010. He was a Member of General-Purpose AI Code of Practice EU Group and is Vice Chair of IEEE pre-standardisation Group Technical Reference Architecture Framework for an Open 6G Device Ecosystem. He recently wrote the Springer Brief in Political Science “Statecraft and Policymaking in the Age of Digital Twins: Digital Democracy and the Internet of Things.”

Description of the session: For the past 25 years, European civil servants and politicians have focused primarily on building political and economic unity. During this period, digital technologies were often approached from a regulatory perspective, based on the assumption that Europe could shape the digital economy by regulating it. As a consequence, much of the value created by digital platforms and app ecosystems has accrued outside Europe.

Today, the policy trend is shifting toward increasing European ownership of applications, software, and cloud infrastructure. While this responds to legitimate concerns about digital sovereignty, it may risk overlooking broader technological developments. As reflected in this procurement bid, excessive focus on origin and compliance criteria could divert attention from the key opportunities emerging around 2030 in Agentic AI, Physical AI, IoT, and 6G, where competition is likely to be led by the United States and China.

“Made in Europe” should not necessarily mean that every component is developed and manufactured in Europe. Rather, Europe could retain control over strategic components while collaborating with global technology providers through open architectures adapted to regional requirements. These strategic components include control over chips, wallet-on-chip technology, digital credentials, the digital euro, operating system layers, machine-readable implementation of the AI Act, and AI agents. As Vice Chair of an IEEE pre-standardisation group developing a technical reference architecture for an open 6G device ecosystem, we are contributing to such an architecture.

The challenges facing European industry are substantial. Many observers argue that Europe needs greater technical and engineering expertise in policymaking, alongside regulation. Concerns also exist about the current digital wallet strategy, which relies largely on operating systems and devices developed outside European control. In our vision, by 2030 AI edge devices will integrate wallet-on-chip capabilities at their core, enabling greater auditability and traceability of AI agents.

Is this for you? Administrators, industry professionals and AI enthusiasts are invited to join this session.

A balanced mix of learning and relaxation – Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in insightful discussions with Yannick, followed by a casual happy hour with snacks and beverages!

This event is free to attend, but registration is compulsory.This event is organized by FARI – AI for the Common Good Institute.

Summary

• Time: Monday, October 26, 17:30
• Place: FARI Test and Experience Center, Cantersteen 16, 1000 Brussels
• Speaker: Rob van Kranenburg
• Snacks & Beverages: Enjoy a casual happy hour
• Cost: Free to attend
• Target Audience: Administrators, industry professionals, and AI enthusiasts

We want everyone to feel welcome and able to participate fully in this event. If you have a disability, please let us know. We will do our utmost to accommodate you in the best possible conditions