WSA Global Congress in Vienna
Scaling Digital Solutions: For People & Planet
May 19-22 | Vienna, Austria
The WSA Global Congress is coming home to its roots in Austria! Expect to make valuable connections, learn new perspectives, and to plug in to a community that believes tech can bring about positive change. Connecting all of that with the agenda 2030 and an ongoing cooperation with the UN, the WSA Global Congress connects digital innovation directly to the achievement of the UN Global Goals, turning mindful ideas into measurable global impact.
Get your tickets!
Main Event
Get your tickets for Day 1 and 2, which will be focused on networking, knowledge exchange, and the winner pitches.
Deep Dive Day
Get your tickets for day 3, a smaller, more specialized final-day program offering participants hands-on workshops or thematic discussions tailored to democracy innovation or startup scaling challenges.
Topics
Digital Sovereignty vs. AI | Control, Choice, Community
AI is shaping how we work, learn, and promises great solutions. But digital sovereignty is slipping: control sits far from the people affected, and systems built without transparency or diversity restrict our choices and weaken trust. Let’s discuss what could change when communities reclaim agency over their data, tools, and decisions and how AI can be built with accountability, equity, and shared governance at the core.
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. Let’s share best practices how to level the playing field and support founders and their ventures built for real need. Let’s learn how about their value for communities, not just shareholders, and ensure the digital economy serves everyone.
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. Let’s hear global perspectives how we 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
Tanja Madžarević
Business Development Manager
Education Development Center Inc.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Carolina Rossi
ESNA Head of Network & Strategic Initiatives I SXSW Advisory Board Member | WSA Advisory Board Member I IE Business School Professor I SOSV Fellow
Europe Startup Nations Alliance
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
Indika De Zoysa
Strategic Adviser / Vice President
WSA Sri Lanka, FITIS, National Consultative Committee on Digital Economy
Sri Lanka
Gia Gaspard Taylor
President
Network of Rural Women Producers Trinidad and Tobago (NRWPTT)
Trinidad and Tobago
Why Vienna?
From May 19–22, 2026, Vienna will prove that Digital without Harm is possible, welcoming 500+ changemakers from 90+ countries.
Renowned for its commitment to digital humanism, the city offers 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 will have 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 is the perfect occasion to finally (re)visit this city.
Visas
As Vienna is part of Schengen, the visa requirements are as follows (click the image for more information).
If you need a visa, then you’ll need a Letter of Invitation from WSA. If you need that, just fill out the form below and WSA will send you one as soon as possible!
Request your Letter of Invitation
Partners
