Artificial intelligence, digital sovereignty and the future of global innovation took centre stage at VivaTech 2026 in Paris – and our Computer Science student Mustafa Çağlar was there to experience it first-hand.
Supported by Lancaster University Leipzig, Mustafa travelled to Europe’s largest technology and start-up event, where global business leaders, policymakers and entrepreneurs came together to discuss the technologies shaping the future.
Reflecting on the event, Mustafa noticed a clear shift in the conversation around artificial intelligence.
There was much less focus on AI hype and much more discussion about practical deployment. Companies were increasingly talking about how AI can be integrated into real products, industries and business models.
Another key theme throughout the conference was digital sovereignty. Across numerous sessions, speakers explored topics such as data ownership, critical infrastructure and Europe’s dependence on non-European technology providers.
“For me, the next phase of innovation will not only be about developing new technologies, but also about controlling the data and infrastructure behind them,” Mustafa explained.
One of the highlights of the event was the keynote by Jeff Bezos, who shared his long-term vision for sustainable economic growth. He argued that heavy industry may eventually need to move beyond Earth in order to reduce the environmental impact on our planet, describing a future in which humanity goes “to the Moon to stay, not just to visit.”
Mustafa also attended Türkiye’s Data Sovereignty session featuring Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır before visiting the Turcorn 100 exhibition at the Türkiye Pavilion. There, 26 Turkish start-ups showcased their innovations to international investors and industry leaders.
“It made me proud to see so many Turkish start-ups presenting their solutions with such confidence on a global stage,” he said. Adding to an already memorable experience, Mustafa was also briefly featured in Turkish news coverage of VivaTech.
Looking back on the event, Mustafa believes that the future of technology will be shaped by more than innovation alone.
I left Paris with one clear takeaway: the next decade of technology will be shaped not only by innovation, but also by sovereignty, sustainability and the ability to turn ideas into real-world applications.
