Panel: Building Alternatives – Cloud & AI - EU Open Source Policy Summit 2026

Europe’s ability to ensure digital sovereignty depends on viable, competitive alternatives to dominant global platforms. This session will examine how open source can underpin new ecosystems across cloud and AI — from infrastructure layers such as EuroStack and the Open Internet Stack to emerging open AI models and collaborative frameworks. Panellists will discuss what is required to align regulation, procurement, and industrial policy to support European providers and users. They will also consider how openness can drive innovation while ensuring interoperability, trust, and strategic control in critical digital infrastructures. Speakers: Paula Grzegorzewska (Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships, Linux Foundation Europe), Alexandra Geese (Member of the European Parliament (Greens/EFA)), Thibaut Kleiner (Director, DG Connect, European Commission), Frank Karlitschek (CEO, NEXTCLOUD), Ritesh Paiboina (Chief Technology Officer Open Telekom Cloud, T-Systems International) & Frank Feldmann (Chief Strategy Officer, SUSE)