CISERO Engaged the IPCEI-CIS Projects at the Gdańsk Workshop

More than 40 members of the IPCEI-CIS community came together for a successful workshop organised by CISERO in Gdańsk, Poland, to improve cooperation and develop plans for Europe's digital sovereignty. With a roadmapping and community-building focus organised by the project, the event also gave IPCEI-CIS projects a chance to showcase their solutions in an interesting pitching session and have important conversations on how CISERO can support the development of the initiative. 

Key Workshop Highlights

The pitching session was a great chance for visibility and cooperation. Participants have presented their solutions developed within their IPCEI-CIS Project.

In total, 10 pitches were held by Erik Langius for ECOFED (TNO), Antje Rätzer-Scheibe for T-Systems, Michel Sillus for Airbus (AXIS), Bodgan Wiszniewski for CAISE, Kaja Swat for Phoenix-RTOS, Martin Weber for BiGreen, Maurizio Griva for Reply, Jordi Guijarro for OpenNebula (ONEnextgen), Axel Stahlhut for RESCUE and Roberto Procopio for TIM ECC.

During the pitching session, the projects showcased their, shared challenges and created synergies. This gave them a platform to communicate their work and share their achievements—something many expressed sincere appreciation for. It was also an important opportunity for CISERO partners to listen, gain deeper insight into their experiences, and reflect on how we can strengthen the support we provide.

The Roadmapping Session highlighted key market trends and strategic initiatives to strengthen Europe’s leadership in AI and cloud-edge-IoT. The discussion covered major EU policies, including the AI Factories Initiative and the EU Cloud and AI Development Act (2025), as well as the growing European Cloud-Edge-IoT market, projected to reach €245 billion by 2028. Security, infrastructure, and expertise gaps were identified as critical challenges for edge adoption, emphasising the need for collaboration between policymakers and industry. The CISERO roadmap will analyse market demand versus IPCEI offerings leveraging the results of market analysis by IDC and through collection and analysis of IPCEI-CIS projects input. The roadmap will highlight the opportunities to shape a more competitive, sovereign European cloud-edge ecosystem.

"In this pivotal era, Europe's pursuit of sovereign computing infrastructure is not merely a technological ambition but a strategic imperative. The IPECI-CIS and 8ra initiative stand as a cornerstone, fostering innovation, interoperability, and cybersecurity for European Industry. 

By championing local cloud and edge solutions, Europe is ensuring its digital autonomy, and fortifying its position in the global tech landscape. CISERO supports this vision by developing a roadmap that provides insights about market dynamics of computing infrastructure and the complementary technologies such as AI and highlighting gaps that can be transformed to business opportunities by IPCE-CIS projects.” - Golboo Pourabdollahian (IDC)

The realisation that long-term success requires a robust, shared community platform was one of the most significant results. In order to get more feedback on this platform and make sure it meets the requirements of the larger ecosystem, CISERO will shortly indicate a public consultation.

The Community Building section focused on strengthening the IPCEI-CIS community through the CISERO project, aiming to develop a pan-European ecosystem for digital transformation and innovation. Key objectives included the creation of a collaborative platform, the development of an IPCEI-CIS catalogue of solutions, and fostering engagement with European Innovation Valleys and open-source communities. It also emphasised the support for SME digital transformation through EDIHs, mapping best practices, and providing capacity-building programs.

“The IPCEI-CIS projects are used to work on their own and to collaborate ad-hoc for common synergies. With CISERO we are trying to facilitate a common strategy for collaboration that on one hand, brings up the added value of the 8ra brand as a whole; and on the other hand, positions European digital providers in the global market through collaboration inside IPCEI-CIS and also with stakeholders outside IPCEI-CIS.” - Katia Lavin (Innovalia)

CISERO’s Role in Shaping Europe’s Digital Future

By creating roadmaps that are in line with the technical and non-technical building blocks necessary for Europe's digital sovereignty, CISERO plays a critical role in supporting IPCEI-CIS. In order to guarantee that future efforts satisfy the needs of the market and the European cloud-edge ecosystem, the project also makes it easier for important players to collaborate.

CISERO at the Annual IPCEI-CIS Meeting

In addition to the workshop, CISERO was invited to attend the Annual IPCEI-CIS Meeting, which was held at the Gdańsk University of Technology and organised by the 8ra Initiative.

The 8ra Initiative is a strategic European endeavour dedicated to establishing a resilient, open and future-proof digital infrastructure. At its core is the Important Project of Common European Interest on Next Generation Cloud Infrastructure and Services (IPCEI-CIS), bringing together 12 EU member states and about 120 industrial and research partners to drive Europe’s digital sovereignty.

This event brought together IPCEI-CIS partners and public administration representatives to review progress, define strategies, and strengthen collaboration. It was hosted at the Gdansk University of Technology (an exceptional location) and organised under the auspices of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Taking part in the general assembly was a great way to align and promote a good dialogue between the projects, ensuring synergies with CISERO. It was a great change to hear discussion among IPCEI-CIS Projects partners and listen to progress updates from the community. 

Throughout the event, the critical role of IPCEI-CIS projects in advancing Europe’s digital sovereignty was consistently underscored. These initiatives are increasingly viewed as a geopolitical instrument designed to mitigate Europe’s reliance on foreign technologies—bolstering both economic leverage and digital security. IPCEI-CIS emerged as a prime example of how targeted public investment—through Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI)—can catalyse industry collaboration, drive innovation, and deliver cross-border value. The overarching message was unequivocal: collaboration is now indispensable for Europe’s leadership in next-generation digital infrastructure. In this context, IPCEI-CIS—and by extension, initiatives like CISERO—are increasingly recognised as pivotal enablers of this vision.

The event also showcased technical progress across all workstreams, complemented by live demonstrations. These presentations provided valuable clarity on the initiative’s trajectory, enabling stakeholders to refine their strategic next steps.

Key stakeholders discussed digital sovereignty and the significance of creating safe, interoperable infrastructures throughout Europe. The summit reaffirmed IPCEI-CIS's strategic role in lowering Europe's reliance on foreign technology. The Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union played a central role in setting the strategic direction for the discussions, with a notable emphasis on the geopolitical significance of IPCEI-CIS in reducing Europe’s dependency on foreign technologies. The importance of secure, interoperable, and resilient infrastructures was reiterated, with IPCEI-CIS recognised as a model for how public investment can foster innovation and create lasting value for the European Union.

Growing Momentum for CISERO

Participation in CISERO's communication channels rose as a result of its attendance at the event. Significant increases in website traffic, LinkedIn membership, and newsletter subscribers demonstrate how CISERO's effort is becoming more widely acknowledged in Europe's digital ecosystem.

Conclusion: Gdańsk as a Symbol of Unity

The city's historical significance in Europe's quest for democracy and unification made Gdańsk a symbolic option for the event. The objectives of IPCEI-CIS and CISERO, which both seek to promote cooperation, creativity, and digital sovereignty for Europe's future, were reflected in this context.

The EU's position as a leader in the next generation of digital infrastructure has been strengthened by CISERO's work in Gdańsk, which has proven to be a crucial step towards accomplishing these aims. CISERO’s efforts in Gdańsk have proven to be a critical step toward the achievement of these ambitions. Through collaboration, transparency, and shared vision, CISERO and IPCEI-CIS are forging a path toward a future where Europe is digitally self-reliant, competitive, and secure.

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