The Geopolitics of the Digital Age: Europe's Defining Test

Technology has become a defining arena of geopolitical competition, and European Commission President Von der Leyen has affirmed that the EU is ready to step up – working to secure strategic autonomy, economic security, and global competitiveness in the digital realm. But this race for power unfolds alongside the fracturing of the social contract, evidenced by rising polarization, public distrust in institutions, and the erosion of the rules-based international order. As digital governance choices take shape, we face a double inflection point – one of economic clout and one of social legitimacy.

Join us on February 23, 2026 for a high-level discussion to explore what it will take for Europe not only to secure its role in a contested digital world, but also to shape the social contract that will underpin its economic and democratic future. The event is co-organized by the Center for the Governance of Change (CGC) at IE University and the Paris School of International Affairs at Sciences Po.

The gathering marks the conclusion of the Geopolitics of the Digital Era – the third work package of the CGC’s multiannual research program The Digital Revolution and the New Social Contract – and features the presentation of its executive report and policy recommendations. It also serves as the launch of the project’s next phase, The New Social Contract, which will explore how Europe can navigate the twin pressures of technological acceleration and democratic erosion – balancing innovation and competitiveness with social cohesion and long-term legitimacy.

Full details of the agenda and the line-up of speakers will be available soon!

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Host or Publisher Center for the Governance of Change