Salon Souverainete Numerique (Digital Sovereignty Fair)

Context and rationale

The event was created in response to a documented structural dependency of French and European organisations on non-European technology providers, particularly in cloud and software. Context figures cited by the organiser: 80% of European cloud spending benefits American providers (EUR 265 billion, Cigref), and 70% of French data is hosted outside the EU (Institut Montaigne). The Salon provides a concrete commercial platform where organisations can discover, evaluate and procure European sovereign alternatives across cloud, cybersecurity, AI, open source, digital identity and collaboration tools. The inclusion of ministerial patronage signals alignment with French and European digital policy objectives (NIS2, AI Act, Cyber Resilience Act, EUCS cloud certification).

The 2026 inaugural edition

The first edition of the Salon Souverainete Numerique runs 30 June to 1 July 2026 at Espace Champerret, a dedicated events venue in the 17th arrondissement of Paris. The programme is structured around eight thematic pathways (parcours thematiques): geopolitics and strategic autonomy; European regulation and operational impact; trusted infrastructure and cloud; identity, data and trust services; trusted and operational AI; open source and digital commons; public sector and local authorities; and ecosystems, startups and financing. Speakers at the 2026 edition include Stephanie Schaer (Director General, DINUM), Patrick Perrot (Inspector General, Gendarmerie Nationale), Renan Choyer (ANSSI), as well as CEOs of major European sovereign technology companies including Linagora, Cloud Temple, Wire, Qwant, SiPearl and Proton.

Where Salon Souverainete Numerique sits in the calendar

The fair occupies a unique position as the only event in France dedicated exclusively to the commercial ecosystem of digital sovereignty. It is distinct from cybersecurity events (FIC/Les Assises) in that it explicitly focuses on sovereign procurement and European supply chain alternatives rather than threat response. Its summer timing (end of June) targets the French public-sector procurement cycle, when ministry and local government IT teams are evaluating solutions for the following budget year. The proximity to Bastille Day gives the event a natural political resonance with French strategic autonomy themes.

Who attends Salon Souverainete Numerique

Visitors. CISOs, CIOs, CTOs, CDOs, digital transformation directors, public procurement managers from French and European organisations in both public and private sectors. Local and regional government IT decision-makers represent a significant segment, given the specific public procurement implications of digital sovereignty. Academic and research institutions, think tanks and policy bodies are also represented.

Exhibitors and sponsors. French and European suppliers of: sovereign cloud services and data centres (Cloud Temple, OVHcloud, Scaleway, etc.); cybersecurity and identity management solutions; European AI platforms and data tools; open-source enterprise software (ERP, CRM, collaboration suites); secure communication tools; digital identity and electronic signature services; and consulting and integration firms. The 2026 edition features sponsors including Linagora, Cloud Temple, Wire, Proton, Sopra Steria, Cegedim Cloud, Axway, YouSign and Free Pro.

What the Salon Souverainete Numerique format includes

Exhibition. Approximately 100 French and European exhibitors present their sovereign technology solutions across the show floor. The exhibition is designed as a working marketplace, not a showcase: visitors are expected to evaluate solutions with the intent of procurement.

Conferences (20 sessions). Strategic conferences led by industry leaders, public officials and policy experts covering the major themes of digital sovereignty. Managed by a programme committee and accessible to all registered visitors.

Workshops (30 sessions). Practical, interactive sessions run by exhibitors, covering specific use cases, implementation methodologies and operational feedback from organisations that have already adopted sovereign solutions.

B2B matchmaking. A structured business meetings programme allowing pre-arranged one-to-one meetings between decision-makers and solution providers.

Thematic pathways. Eight curated routes through the programme to help visitors navigate content relevant to their role, from geopolitics through to startup financing.

What Salon Souverainete Numerique covers

• Sovereign and trusted cloud (public, private, hybrid)
• Cybersecurity and network protection (NIS2, RGPD compliance)
• European AI: ethical, secure and operational
• Digital identity and trusted services
• Open-source enterprise software and alternatives to GAFAM
• Secure communications and collaboration tools
• Data sovereignty and data management
• European cloud certification (EUCS, SecNumCloud)
• Public sector digital transformation and public procurement
• Startup ecosystems and funding for sovereign tech

The 2026 edition in numbers (organiser-declared)

The venue: Espace Champerret, Paris

Espace Champerret is a dedicated conference and exhibition venue located in the 17th arrondissement of Paris, near the Porte de Champerret. It is accessible via Paris Metro lines 3 (Louise Michel/Porte de Champerret) and peripheral by ring road. The venue offers multiple modular halls suitable for combined exhibition and conference formats and is a recognised address for professional B2B events in the Paris region. Nearby hotel accommodation is available in the 17th arrondissement and the adjacent Levallois-Perret and Neuilly-sur-Seine areas.

The organiser: Quinze Mai

Quinze Mai is the event company that created and organises the Salon Souverainete Numerique. The company selected the "Je choisis la French Tech" branding for the event, signalling alignment with the French Tech ecosystem. The organiser assembled a programme committee drawing on institutional and industrial partners, and secured ministerial patronage from Anne Le Henanff, Minister Delegate for Artificial Intelligence and the Digital Sector, for the inaugural edition. Further details about Quinze Mai are not publicly disclosed on the event website.

First time at Salon Souverainete Numerique? How to prepare

• Register early and request your badge well before the event. The salon is a professional event requiring pre-registration; walk-in access is not available. The registration form at salon-souverainete-numerique.com/inscription/ takes minutes to complete. Early registrants gain priority access to the B2B matchmaking system.
• Book meetings via the matchmaking platform before you arrive. The business meetings programme is a central feature of the event. Log into the matchmaking system once your badge is confirmed, browse exhibitor profiles and pre-book meetings with relevant suppliers or partners for both days. Meeting slots fill up quickly.
• Follow the thematic pathways relevant to your role. The programme committee has structured eight pathways to help visitors navigate 50 sessions across two days. Identify your two or three priority pathways (e.g. "Trusted Cloud" for infrastructure managers, "AI souveraine" for AI leads, "Secteur public" for public procurement) and build your personal agenda around them before arriving.
• Come with a list of active procurement needs. The Salon is a marketplace first. Exhibitors expect and welcome conversations about specific technical requirements and timelines. Having a clear brief will make conversations significantly more productive than open-ended discovery visits.
• Arrive on Day 1 for the opening conferences. The strategic keynote sessions scheduled at the opening of each day typically feature the most senior public-sector speakers (DINUM, ANSSI, ministerial representation). These set the policy context for the event and are worth prioritising if regulatory compliance or public procurement is part of your remit.