en.Wedoany.com Reported - At the Swiss EA Connect Day 2026, held at the FFHS (Swiss Distance University of Applied Sciences) in Zurich, professionals engaged in discussions around digital sovereignty (digitale Souveränität). Organized by BOC Switzerland (BOC Schweiz) and Adesso Switzerland (Adesso Schweiz), the event explored the new challenges organizations face in data control, rule-making, and system dependencies amid geopolitical tensions, fluctuating US government policies, and the deeper integration of artificial intelligence into business processes.
Matthias Stürmer, Professor at the Bern University of Applied Sciences (Berner Fachhochschule) and Director of the Institute for Public Sector Transformation (Institut Public Sector Transformation), pointed out that lock-in effects are not new in the economy, citing examples like printer manufacturers' ink cartridges or capsule coffee machines, where manufacturers have historically sought to bind customers to their own products. Stürmer emphasized that the current political sharpness of the debate stems from rising licensing costs, the market power of large vendors, and issues of data access and trust. The US Cloud Act and political pressures have altered risk considerations. Stürmer argued that digital sovereignty should not isolate organizations from the world but rather enhance their capacity to act; the key lies in choice: organizations need to be aware of alternatives, be able to switch suppliers, and control critical systems.
Stürmer sees open source playing a central role, as open source software can create competition and the possibility of switching. He mentioned investments by the German public sector in alternatives to Microsoft 365 and the integration of existing open source platforms. In Switzerland, over 40 motions on digital sovereignty have been submitted by cantonal governments at various levels since 2017, and the Council of States (Ständerat) recently passed a motion by Heidi Z'graggen for a "Swiss Digital Sovereignty Strengthening Promotion Program." The "Network SDS - Souveräne Digitale Schweiz" (Sovereign Digital Switzerland), founded in July 2025, has already attracted over 200 organizations, aiming to connect participants and consolidate expertise.
Aiko Frank, Enterprise Architect at Emmi Switzerland, showcased corporate practices. He emphasized that operational security is the primary consideration, with critical production systems still running in the company's own data centers, while other applications can be migrated to the cloud. Emmi manages over 500 applications based on availability, confidentiality, and business relevance, achieving digital sovereignty through overview and prioritization.
Matthew Turnbull, Head of Consulting at Adesso Switzerland, stated that digital sovereignty means different things to every organization and that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Felix Meentken, Managing Director of BOC Switzerland, believes that digital sovereignty must first be visualized, and that Enterprise Architecture Management (EAM) should provide this transparency to document processes, applications, data, and infrastructure, revealing critical dependencies.
Hélène Mourgue d'Algue, Chief Information Officer of the City of Biel, emphasized that the key to digital sovereignty lies in the ability to switch suppliers, not in running everything in-house. She noted that Biel has now modeled approximately 95% of its systems and their interfaces. Syrian Hadad, Chief Technology Officer of Adesso Switzerland and former CTO of the Canton of Aargau, proposed that with open source technology, automation, and corresponding expertise, proprietary platforms can also be operated efficiently. The consensus from the discussion was that digital sovereignty begins with transparency: organizations must first understand their own systems, data, and dependencies.
This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com
