From Digital Dependence to Strategic Autonomy

 Join Arthur D. Little, TNO, and NAE for an executive session on moving from digital dependence to strategic autonomy in the age of AI.

Digital and AI capabilities are becoming critical infrastructure across industries, yet the value chains behind them often create hidden dependencies. Beyond hyperscalers and AI model providers, organizations are increasingly locked into dependencies related to data governance, tooling, orchestration, security services, and talent ecosystems. Even so-called “sovereign” solutions frequently rely on upstream components outside the region.

As highlighted in recent Wennink (Dec 2025) and Draghi (Sep 2024) reports, these structural dependencies pose long-term risks to Dutch and European competitiveness and strategic autonomy. Building resilient digital and AI capabilities has therefore become both a national and corporate priority.

This executive session will explore where these dependencies sit across the digital stack, why they persist, and what they mean for industry leaders. Together with Arthur D. Little, TNO, and NAE, participants will discuss how to design more resilient approaches that reduce risk, strengthen innovation capacity, and preserve strategic control, while exchanging perspectives with peers facing similar challenges.