WSA Global Congress in Vienna
Scaling Digital Solutions: For People & Planet
From May 19-22 the WSA Global Congress went back to its roots in Austria.
Attendees exchanged ideas and LinkedIn profiles in the bustling Palais Wertheim, the shadow of the world's oldest ferris wheel in Hotel Superbode, and the extravagant ballroom at Jugendstiltheater. The community showed up for each other yet again behind the pitch deck podium and on the dance floor, proving that in this age of corporate consolidation, rampant inequality and AI incentivised layoffs; there is still enormous power in connection, global cooperation, and ethical innovation.
As usual, the crowd was a diverse patchwork of faces, some familiar, some new, with representation from almost half of the 182 UN member states. What did this melting pot all have in common? Ambition, ingenuity and the drive to make the world a better place.
Topics
Digital Sovereignty vs. AI | Control, Choice, Community
Is it possible to have a conference in 2026 without talking about AI? That's a rhetorical question of course. But the WSA community didn't come all the way to Vienna to talk about increasing profit margins at the expense of the middle class. The more important questions were how to keep digital sovereignty, how to build these systems with integrity, and how to keep AI more inclusive.
Global Impact Solutions | Built for Real Needs
Impact startups are building the solutions we urgently need - tackling climate, inclusion, education, and health - but often struggle to gain funding and support in systems copying Silicon Valley standards. The community shared insider knowledge on how to level the playing field and support founders and their ventures, as well as how to create value for communities, not just shareholders.
Building Digital Public Goods | Meeting Community Demands
Digital public infrastructure provides access to services, opportunities and participation, however yet many communities, especially in rural or marginalized areas, remain excluded. When essential tools are privately owned or unevenly deployed, digital divides deepen. In this Global Congress, there were a lot of discussions on how to build shared digital foundations that are open, inclusive, ensuring everyone can benefit from and contribute to the digital future.
Five tech giants shouldn’t define our digital lives, own our data and choices. It’s time to pause, reflect and reset.
Agenda
Winners
Key Participants
Miriam Egger
Co-Founder & Vice-President | Activist
Palumba.org | Jugendbotschafter*innen Vorarlberg
Austria
Georg Sedlbauer
Policy Officer
Austrian Federal Ministry of Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI)
Austria
Christian Wigand
Acting Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Austria
European Commission
Austria
Tanja Madžarević
Business Development Manager
Education Development Center Inc.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Celina Pereira
People Business Partner & Development
Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services (MGI)
Brazil
Carolina Rossi
Chief of Emerging Technologies
Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation
Chile
Panayiotis Andreou
Assistant Professor in Computing
School of Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Cyprus
Cyprus
Irene Polycarpou
Professor of Technology and Innovation in Education, Head of the School of Sciences
University of Central Lancashire, Cyprus
Cyprus
Jayesh Ranjan
Principal Secretary of the Industries & Commerce (I&C) and Information Technology (IT)
India
Emeka Farrier
World Summit Awards
Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Bahamas
Renuka Sena
Impact and Sustainability Advocate, Impact Investor, Scaleup Venture Capital, Ecosystem Builder, Accelerator Design, Angel Funds, Startup Coach, Speaker
PROFICEO
Malaysia
Connor Sattely
Independent Consultant
Connor Sattely Consulting
Netherlands, United States of America
Neeti Virmani
Venture Partner: Loyal VC I Author I INSEAD I Mentor: Founder Institute I Global Expert: BFF I Global Expert: WSA I President: SKIBC, WICCI I Founding Member: Power Women
Global Start-up Lab
Republic of Korea
Richard Fekete
Senior specialist for the non-profit sector and social enterprises
Slovenská sporiteľňa (Erste Bank Group)
Slovakia
Gitanjali Sah
Head of the WSIS and Stakeholder Engagement Division
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Switzerland
Gia Gaspard Taylor
President
Network of Rural Women Producers Trinidad and Tobago (NRWPTT)
Trinidad and Tobago
Ralph Simon
CEO & Founder; Chairman Emeritus & Founder
Mobilium International; Mobile Entertainment Forum-Americas
United Kingdom
Why Vienna?
From May 19–22, 2026, Vienna proved that Digital without Harm is possible, welcoming 500+ changemakers from 90+ countries.
Renowned for its commitment to digital humanism, the city offered the perfect backdrop to explore how technology can be ethical, inclusive, and human-centered. Set within ViennaUP, Central Europe’s largest startup and innovation festival, participants had access to a wide range of events, gatherings, and networking opportunities, connecting with innovators, policymakers, and impact-driven founders from around the world.
Vienna is consistently ranked one of the most livable cities in the world, with excellent public transport, vibrant culture, historic architecture, and world-class food and coffee — the congress was the perfect occasion to finally (re)visit this city.
Photos
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Strategic Partners
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