Powering the AI Continent: Data Centers, Infrastructure and the Business
Case for Digital-with-Purpose Growth
As Europe accelerates its digital and climate transitions, artificial intelligence is becoming a defining driver of economic growth, industrial competitiveness and technological leadership. Yet AI does not exist without infrastructure. Data centres, cloud platforms, high-performance computing, energy systems, connectivity and resilient supply chains are rapidly becoming the strategic foundations of Europe's future economy.
Hosted as part of Brussels Climate Week, the Digital with Purpose Brussels Summit 2026 will explore how Europe can build the digital infrastructure needed to power the AI era while advancing climate goals, strengthening economic resilience and creating long-term business value.
The Digital with Purpose Global Summit is proud to be part of Brussels Climate Week 2026, taking place from 12–16 October at Maison de la Poste and Gare Maritime in Brussels. Brussels Climate Week brings together European institutions, industry leaders, innovators, cities and civil society to accelerate climate action, technological innovation and European competitiveness. The programme is built around five core themes: Technology & Innovation, Energy, Industry, Urban, and Nature, complemented by a Climate Expo and dedicated programmes for SMEs and entrepreneurs. The Digital with Purpose Global Summit will be held on 12 October as part of the Technology & Innovation Day, bringing together global leaders to explore how AI and digital technologies can drive a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive future.
Monday 12 October
Tuesday 13 October
Wednesday 14 October
Thursday 15 October
Thursday 15 October
The opening session will set the strategic context for the day by examining Europe's evolving digital agenda and the growing importance of AI infrastructure for competitiveness, resilience and sustainable growth. It will introduce the Summit's central premise: that digital infrastructure is no longer simply an enabler of innovation, but a strategic asset underpinning Europe's economic future, industrial transformation and climate ambitions.
Europe has entered a defining moment in the global race to develop AI capabilities. This keynote will explore the strategic choices facing Europe as it seeks to strengthen technological sovereignty, accelerate investment in AI infrastructure and create the conditions for innovation while maintaining its commitment to openness, trust and sustainability. The session will examine how public policy can enable Europe to become a global hub for AI development and deployment
Technology is shaped not only by innovation but also by the narratives that influence public trust, investment and policy decisions. This session will present the latest findings from the GAIN Narrative Report, exploring how emerging narratives around artificial intelligence are shaping political priorities, public perception and business strategy. It will examine how Europe can develop a compelling vision for AI that supports innovation while reinforcing democratic values and responsible technological development.
Countries around the world are investing at unprecedented levels to develop AI infrastructure and attract large-scale digital investment. This international discussion will compare different regional approaches to building digital infrastructure, examining how governments and industry are addressing challenges related to energy availability, financing, regulation, cloud capacity and market demand. Drawing on experiences from multiple continents, the panel will identify lessons that can inform Europe's own strategy for developing competitive and sustainable AI infrastructure.
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly central to Europe’s economy, data centres are emerging as strategic infrastructure underpinning future industrial competitiveness, technological sovereignty and economic resilience. This session will examine the practical realities of developing and operating next-generation AI infrastructure across Europe, with a particular focus on the conditions that determine whether gigafactory-scale projects can be successfully delivered.
The discussion will explore siting and energy as critical constraints, including grid capacity, power costs and access to renewable energy. It will also examine connectivity as an essential but often overlooked infrastructure layer, considering how fibre availability, interconnection capacity and network proximity influence where data centres can be built and operated effectively.
Participants will further consider the role of advanced cooling technologies, circularity and resource efficiency in reducing the environmental footprint and improving the operational performance of next-generation facilities. The session will also present the GeSI framework for sustainable data centre development, exploring how infrastructure can be planned and operated in a way that creates value for investors, operators, energy systems, local communities and other stakeholders.
Building Europe's AI infrastructure requires not only investment, but also sustained demand and market confidence. This session will explore how public procurement, sovereign cloud initiatives and strategic partnerships can stimulate demand for European data centre capacity while supporting solutions across cities, mobility, energy, food and healthcare.
The discussion will also examine how demand-side commitments can de-risk investment, making infrastructure projects more bankable, and how AI governance can align the needs of business, governments and end users to support the responsible deployment of AI.
The growth of AI infrastructure depends on resilient and responsible global supply chains. This session will examine the strategic importance of critical raw materials, semiconductor manufacturing and responsible sourcing in supporting Europe's digital ambitions. Discussions will explore how Europe can strengthen supply-chain resilience, reduce strategic dependencies and support secure access to the materials and technologies required for AI infrastructure. Participants will also consider the role of circular economy approaches, responsible sourcing practices and due diligence frameworks in ensuring that Europe's digital transformation is both competitive and sustainable.
The closing panel will bring together the key conclusions from the day's discussions and identify the priorities that should shape Europe's next phase of digital infrastructure development. Building on the insights shared throughout the Summit, participants will reflect on the policy, investment and industry actions required to strengthen Europe's AI ecosystem, accelerate deployment and ensure that digital infrastructure supports long-term competitiveness, resilience and sustainable growth.
The Summit will conclude with a synthesis of the day's key messages and a call for continued collaboration between policymakers, industry and the wider Digital with Purpose community to accelerate Europe's digital transformation and strengthen its position as a global leader in sustainable AI infrastructure.
CEO of GeSI
Chair of Re-Imagine Europa
Director for Digital Education
Head of EMEA and Strategic Partnerships
EVP for Environment and Energy Transition, Orange Group
Hosted as part of Brussels Climate Week, the Digital with Purpose Global Summit 2026 will be held in the Orangerie Room at the Maison de la Poste, one of Brussels' most iconic venues. Set within the historic Tour & Taxis site, it provides the ideal setting for high-level dialogue on Europe's digital infrastructure, AI and sustainable competitiveness.
Maison de la Poste
Rue Picard 7, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
Located in: Gare Maritime