Release from
Vienna (AIT) - With the 4th International Digital Security Forum (IDSF) 2025, Vienna will once again be the centre of global discourse on digital security, technological sovereignty and international cyber resilience from 4 to 6 June. Under the motto "Balancing Sovereignty and Solidarity in the Digital Age", the IDSF25 invites an international multi-stakeholder community of leading experts from diplomacy, politics, business and science to the MuseumsQuartier to discuss current challenges and opportunities of the digital transformation as well as solutions for a secure, resilient and sustainable digital age.
The conference will take place in the cultural hotspot MuseumsQuartier Vienna. It is organised by the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology with the support of the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, other important Austrian ministries and in cooperation with the Working Group Security and Economy of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, the Competence Centre for a Secure Austria (KSÖ) and the Agency for Economic Cooperation and Development (AED) as well as in cooperation with international partner organisations.
Focus on digital sovereignty and global cooperation
The digital transformation presents states, companies and organisations with the challenge of securing their technological sovereignty, while at the same time global cooperation to combat cyber threats remains essential. Digital sovereignty means control over national data, infrastructures and key technologies, while digital solidarity relies on international cooperation to develop common security standards, share knowledge and counter threats across borders. IDSF25 examines this tension between independence and international cooperation from various technological, political and economic perspectives.
High-calibre programme addresses major challenges
Following the great success of IDSF 2023 with over 500 participants and more than 100 speakers from 35 countries, the organisers are planning a top-class programme for 2025 that will address the key balance between technological innovation, digital sovereignty and international cooperation. The conference will examine new security risks at the interface of AI, quantum technology and biotechnology, the role of tech diplomacy in an increasingly digitalised world and the transformation of global cyber security strategies, particularly in geopolitically sensitive regions such as the Indo-Pacific. Other focal points address digital resilience in smart cities, the protection of critical infrastructure, trustworthy data spaces and human-centred digital governance and data sovereignty for peace and security, as well as the impact of disinformation and digital manipulation on democracies. Information on the current programme content can be found at https://idsf.io/sessions/.
The programme will be complemented by a high-level social science track organised by IDSF programme partner Vienna Centre for Societal Security (VICESSE) under the title "Sovereignty and Solidarity in the Digital Age - a critical View", which will take place on 5 June 2025 at the IDSF. This special programme focus underlines the organisers' vision of enabling an in-depth, well-founded discussion of the social challenges of digital transformation and combining this with practical technological and security policy issues.
Workshops, exhibition and registration
In order to provide participants with practical insights into the challenges of digitalisation and innovative technological solutions, interactive workshops will also be offered as part of #IDSF25. The forum is also organising an accompanying exhibition in which innovative companies (SMEs), leading IT organisations and research institutions will present their latest solutions and developments.
Further information on the programme and participation tickets are now available on the website of the International Digital Security Forum (IDSF): https://idsf.io/