Germany and Canada are building a formal alliance to develop homegrown AI capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign technology suppliers. The two nations signed a joint declaration on AI at the Munich Security Conference in February, launching the Sovereign Technology Alliance. This partnership aims to improve access to the chips and computing systems needed to power AI, turn more research into commercial products, strengthen local talent pools, and build more self-sufficient technology ecosystems.

The alliance is taking center stage at ALL IN 2026, Canada's largest AI and tech event, which will bring together more than 7,500 AI leaders, builders, and buyers from over 40 countries on September 16 and 17 in Montréal. Germany has been named this year's Country of Honour, reflecting the deepening technology ties between the two nations. A delegation of more than 50 German business leaders will attend, led by Karsten Wildberger, Germany's minister for digital transformation and government modernization.

Why Are Countries Racing to Build Sovereign AI Capabilities?

The push for sovereign AI reflects a broader global shift toward technological independence. Countries are increasingly concerned about relying too heavily on foreign suppliers for critical infrastructure, especially when it comes to artificial intelligence. The Sovereign Technology Alliance specifically targets the computing resources and specialized chips that are essential for building and running modern AI systems. By developing these capabilities at home, Germany and Canada hope to reduce bottlenecks, lower costs, and maintain greater control over their technological futures.

Canada's federal government has been accelerating its own AI strategy. In June, the government launched "AI for All," a national strategy designed to help more Canadian companies adopt and commercialize AI technology. The ALL IN 2026 event reflects this broader commitment to positioning Canada as a global AI hub and attracting international investment and partnerships.

What Will the Montréal Summit Cover?

The event will feature more than 260 speakers across four stages, organized into five distinct tracks covering different aspects of AI development and deployment. The programming spans multiple dimensions of the AI ecosystem, ensuring that both technical and policy perspectives are represented.

• AI and Society: Exploring the broader societal implications and governance questions surrounding artificial intelligence deployment.
• Applied AI and Enterprise Transformation: Focusing on how organizations are actually implementing AI in their operations and business models.
• Frontier Research: Covering cutting-edge developments in AI science and emerging capabilities.
• Data and Infrastructure: Addressing the computing resources, data pipelines, and technical systems needed to build and run AI.
• Physical AI and Robotics: Examining AI applications in robotics and physical systems beyond software.

The speaker lineup brings together some of the most influential figures in AI research and commercialization. Yoshua Bengio, one of the "godfathers of AI" and co-president and scientific director of the AI safety nonprofit LawZero, will appear alongside Aidan Gomez, co-founder and CEO of Cohere, a Canadian AI company. Other Canadian speakers include Christian Weedbrook, founder and CEO of Xanadu; Louis Têtu, executive chair of Coveo; and executives from major Canadian telecommunications companies Bell Canada and TELUS.

International speakers will bring expertise in foundation models, infrastructure, and global policy. These include Tulsee Doshi from Google DeepMind, Marjorie Janiewicz from Mistral AI, Calista Redmond from NVIDIA, Ilhan Scheer from Aleph Alpha, and Liam Fedus, co-founder of Periodic Labs and co-creator of ChatGPT. George Osborne, managing director and head of OpenAI for Countries and former Chancellor of the Exchequer of the UK, will also participate.

"As Canada's largest AI and tech event, ALL IN provides a powerful platform to highlight Canadian champions, connect global leaders, attract investment, and showcase our world-class ecosystem," said Isabelle Turcotte.

Isabelle Turcotte, Event Co-founder and CEO

How to Engage With the Summit as a Participant

The event offers multiple ways for attendees to engage with the AI ecosystem and build connections across borders and sectors. Whether you're a startup founder, enterprise leader, researcher, or policy maker, there are structured opportunities to learn and network.

• Curated Tours: Visitors can take guided tours to meet Canada's AI organizations and companies, providing direct access to the local startup and research community.
• Pavilion Exhibitions: Dedicated pavilions will showcase infrastructure technology, quantum computing, and Canada's Top 100 AI startups, including companies like Wisr AI, REVEAL, GeoMate, Carnage Solutions, and Variational AI.
• Workshops and Roundtables: Specialized sessions will explore AI applications in smart cities, citizen experience, the public sector, and other industries, offering hands-on learning opportunities.
• Reverse Pitch Competitions: These events allow startups and innovators to present directly to potential investors and partners in a structured format.

Delegations are expected from more than 40 countries, including Brazil, France, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. This global representation underscores the international significance of the summit and the shared interest in advancing sovereign AI capabilities.

Amandeep Singh Gill, the United Nations under-secretary-general and special envoy for digital and emerging technologies, is scheduled to attend, as is Canada's AI and digital innovation minister, Evan Solomon. Their participation signals the high-level policy importance of the event and the sovereign AI agenda.

What This Means for the Global AI Race

The Sovereign Technology Alliance and the ALL IN 2026 summit represent a significant moment in how countries are approaching AI development. Rather than competing in isolation, Germany and Canada are explicitly collaborating to build alternatives to existing technology dependencies. This model could influence how other nations approach their own AI strategies, particularly smaller economies that lack the resources to develop everything independently.

"Around the world, flagship technology events serve as strategic national assets for countries seeking to accelerate innovation and strengthen their global competitiveness and their tech leadership. And that is precisely what ALL IN is building for Canada," noted Isabelle Turcotte.

Isabelle Turcotte, Event Co-founder and CEO

The emphasis on data infrastructure, talent development, and commercialization reflects a maturing understanding of what sovereign AI actually requires. It's not just about building AI models; it's about controlling the entire supply chain, from chip manufacturing to research to deployment. The ALL IN 2026 summit will showcase how this vision is taking shape across multiple countries and sectors, offering insights into the future of national AI strategies worldwide.