Technology Sovereignty At WGS 2026: Panelists Highlight Sovereign Core And Global Partnerships

The World Governments Summit (WGS) 2026 opened with a high-level debate asking "Is Technology the New Sovereign Asset?", signalling how digital capabilities now sit at the centre of national power. Speakers linked technology to sovereignty, economic strength, and global cooperation, framing connectivity, data, and computing as long-term strategic resources for governments worldwide.

The panel brought together Arvind Krishna, Chairman, President and CEO of IBM, and Börje Ekholm, President and CEO of Ericsson Group. Mike Allen, Co-founder and Executive Editor of Axios, moderated the discussion. All participants agreed that technology has moved from a supporting role to a core national asset that shapes competitiveness.

Krishna argued that digital capability now ranks alongside defence and finance in determining national resilience. Krishna described technology as a "force multiplier" that can speed up economic development and strengthen institutional robustness. Krishna stressed that modern sovereignty depends on effective control, not isolation, particularly over platforms that run essential public and economic services.

Expanding on this point, Krishna said states must protect critical digital infrastructure from disruption, mismanagement, or manipulation by outside actors. That protection, Krishna noted, goes far beyond keeping data within borders. It covers governance, security controls, and the operational freedom to run, modify, and audit systems without external interference or hidden dependencies.

Offering a different angle, Ekholm warned against equating technology sovereignty with total self-reliance. Ekholm observed that modern technology supply chains and standards are deeply shared, meaning every nation depends on a network of trusted partners. Ekholm said that trust, transparency, and operational integrity, rather than self-sufficiency, are the true foundations of resilient national technology strategies.

Ekholm emphasised that countries should aim to shape and secure their roles within global digital ecosystems. That includes working with reliable international vendors across hardware, software, and cloud layers. According to Ekholm, such cooperation supports innovation, cost efficiency, and security, provided that clear rules, verifiable practices, and aligned expectations are in place.

Technology sovereignty, next-generation networks and robotics

Looking ahead, Ekholm highlighted rapid shifts in robotics and connectivity that could test national policies. Ekholm predicted that humanoid robots could start appearing at scale within 12 to 18 months, especially in service-focused environments, including reception desks, banking branches, and tourism facilities, where repetitive or customer-facing tasks can be partially automated.

Ekholm also outlined Ericsson’s view of 6G as a fully AI-native, intent-based network that adjusts in real time to application needs. Such infrastructure could support immersive digital experiences and wide sensor networks for industry and cities. Ekholm urged governments to begin spectrum planning now, calling next-generation connectivity a long-term strategic asset for national economies.

Technology sovereignty, quantum computing and AI models

On frontier computing, Krishna said commercially useful quantum systems are expected within two to three years. Early applications are likely in materials science, pharmaceutical development, financial risk analysis, and complex logistics planning. Krishna also anticipated an AI ecosystem with many specialised models, supported by a limited group of very large foundational systems.

Krishna pointed to IBM’s newly introduced Sovereign Core, presented as a software base that lets governments retain full operational control over digital infrastructure. This approach responds to growing concentration of public cloud infrastructure in a few countries. It aims to give states more autonomy over how services are deployed, monitored, and secured across their technology stacks.

The discussion underlined WGS 2026 as a venue where leaders examine how technology, trust, and cross-border collaboration are reshaping ideas of sovereignty. For governments in the Middle East and beyond, the session framed digital infrastructure, advanced networks, AI, and quantum capabilities as interconnected elements of long-term national strategy rather than standalone technical projects.

With inputs from WAM