SMEs and Europe’s technological sovereignty: a timely debate at EuCNC & 6G Summit 2026

During the EuCNC & 6G Summit 2026 in Málaga, the NetworldEurope SME Working Group hosted the convened session “The SME Factor in Europe’s Sovereignty”, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers and SMEs to discuss the role of smaller technology actors in strengthening Europe’s technological sovereignty, resilience and competitiveness.

The session featured keynote contributions from Oana Radu (SNS JU) and Kostas Trichias (6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association), the presentation of the upcoming NWE SME WG Position Paper by Jessica Carneiro, and SME contributions from Mika Skarp (Cumucore), Haya Al Kassir (Four Dot Infinity), Adam Flizikowski (IS-Wireless) and Ana Pereira (Ubiwhere), showcasing how European SMEs contribute to innovation, resilience and future communication networks.

The discussion concluded with the “Think Small First” panel, moderated by Nicola Ciulli (NWE SME WG Vice – Chair), exploring the different meanings of technological sovereignty, the challenges SMEs face in bringing innovation to market, and the need for stronger SME representation in strategic decision making.

Read the full press release here: LINK

You may watch a short video here.