--- title: High-Level Forum 2026 — Invitation | New Nordics AI description: "Personal invitation to High-Level Forum 2026, 6 November in Copenhagen: a strategic Nordic-Baltic summit on AI, competitiveness and digital sovereignty." --- ![New Nordics AI](https://download.digitaldogme.dk/hubfs/nnai-hlf26/logo-nnai.png) 6 November 2026 - Copenhagen [Register](https://2ev29d.share-eu1.hsforms.com/2Sz__XLXrQsWHpH7WiTUvaw) Personal invitation - High-Level Forum ’26 # The Nordic and Baltic regions must set the direction for Europe’s digital future A strategic summit on AI, competitiveness and digital sovereignty **Date**6 November 2026 **Time**09:00–17:00 CET **Place**Moltkes Palæ Dronningens Tværgade 2 1302 Copenhagen K [Register here](https://2ev29d.share-eu1.hsforms.com/2Sz__XLXrQsWHpH7WiTUvaw) ![Nordisk Ministerråd](https://download.digitaldogme.dk/hubfs/nnai-hlf26/partner-banner.png) Personal invitation ## High-Level Forum 2026 Under the Danish and Faroese Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers, New Nordics AI gathers the entire Nordic-Baltic region around one shared strategic priority. Europe is at a crossroads. Artificial intelligence is reshaping the way we work and the way our societies develop and we are increasingly dependent on technology built and controlled outside Europe. This confronts us with questions we cannot answer alone: How do we use artificial intelligence to strengthen competitiveness and productivity? How do we secure good working conditions and strong welfare societies? And how do we regain meaningful control over our digital infrastructure? These are questions the Nordics and the Baltics are uniquely positioned to address. For decades, we have demonstrated that high levels of digitalisation can go hand in hand with trust, strong public institutions and close collaboration between business, government and research. Under the Danish and Faroese Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers, the time has come to translate that experience into shared action. We therefore invite you to High-Level Forum 2026 in Copenhagen. The first forum to bring the entire Nordic-Baltic region together around a common strategic priority and a shared work programme for New Nordics AI for the years ahead. The day opens with eight closed Executive Roundtables across Copenhagen, where senior leaders from business, the public sector, research and education will develop concrete recommendations across themes including data, labour markets, education, health, energy and digital sovereignty. The roundtables conclude with lunch and joint transportation to the afternoon plenary, where findings from the morning are brought together in a joint strategic session with prominent speakers and participants from across the Nordic-Baltic region and European institutions. We look forward to welcoming you. Kind regards ![Katrín Jakobsdóttir](https://download.digitaldogme.dk/hubfs/nnai-hlf26/katrin-jakobsdottir.jpg) **Katrín Jakobsdóttir**Chairman New Nordics AI ![Karen Ellemann](https://download.digitaldogme.dk/hubfs/nnai-hlf26/karen-ellemann.jpg) **Karen Ellemann**Secretary General Nordic Council of Ministers Denmark ![Haktan Bulut](https://download.digitaldogme.dk/hubfs/nnai-hlf26/haktan-bulut.jpg) **Haktan Bulut**CTIO, ATP Boardmember NNAI ![Mette Beck-Nielsen](https://download.digitaldogme.dk/hubfs/nnai-hlf26/mette-beck-nielsen.jpg) **Mette Beck-Nielsen**CEO Digital Dogme Sweden ![Staffan Truvé](https://download.digitaldogme.dk/hubfs/nnai-hlf26/staffan-truve.jpg) **Staffan Truvé**Chairman, AI Sweden Boardmember NNAI ![Annika Elfström](https://download.digitaldogme.dk/hubfs/nnai-hlf26/annika-elfstrom.jpg) **Annika Elfström**Managing Director, acting AI Sweden Norway ![Maria Ervik Løvold](https://download.digitaldogme.dk/hubfs/nnai-hlf26/maria-ervik-lovold.jpg) **Maria Ervik Løvold**Group Executive Vice President for Personal Banking, DNB Boardmember NNAI ![Øyvind Husby](https://download.digitaldogme.dk/hubfs/nnai-hlf26/oyvind-husby.jpg) **Øyvind Husby**CEO TEK Norge Finland ![Ville Voipio](https://download.digitaldogme.dk/hubfs/nnai-hlf26/ville-voipio.jpg) **Ville Voipio**Chairman of the Board, Vaisala and Technology Industries of Finland Boardmember NNAI ![Karoliina Partanen](https://download.digitaldogme.dk/hubfs/nnai-hlf26/karoliina-partanen.jpg) **Karoliina Partanen**CEO AI Finland Iceland ![Lilja Dögg Jónsdóttir](https://download.digitaldogme.dk/hubfs/nnai-hlf26/lilja-dogg-jonsdottir.jpg) **Lilja Dögg Jónsdóttir**CEO Almannarómur Programme ## Setting the direction for Europe’s Digital Future Moderator: Beata Wickbom, Digital & Leadership Strategist 09:00–11:30 ### Executive Roundtables Eight executive roundtables, each represent an important part towards a stronger, responsible and valuable use of artificial intelligence in the Nordic, Baltic and European area. [See the eight themes](https://download.digitaldogme.dk/high-level-forum-2026-invitation-1#roundtables) 11:30–12:30 ### Lunch and Network The roundtables conclude with lunch and joint transportation to the afternoon plenary at Moltkes Palæ. 12:30–16:00 ### Setting the direction for Europe’s Digital Future - From ambition to action: AI as a lever for competitiveness, better working conditions, strong welfare societies and digital sovereigntySpeakers: Merete Hverven, Group CEO, Visma · Teemu Roos, Professor, University of Helsinki · Aslaug Arna Sigurbjornsdottir, Fenris, Iceland’s former minister responsible for AI - Europe’s next steps: technological sovereignty, security and competitivenessSpeakers: Ville Voipio, Chair of the Board, Vaisala; Chair of the Board, Technology Industries of Finland; Chair of the Board, Tampere University · Mervi Airaksinen, Executive Director, Public Sector, Microsoft Northern and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and acting General Manager for Denmark and Iceland · Magnus Sahlgren, CEO of AI startup Hybridity and strategic adviser at AI Sweden - Ministerial dialogue: the Nordic and Baltic common direction for Europe’s digital future - The way forward: strategic priorities and work programme for New Nordics AI 2027 16:00–17:00 ### Reception and Network Practical information Date: November 6th Time: 9:00 am to 17:00 CET Morning venues Netcompany, Danish Industry Association, Moltkes Palæ and more to be announced. Afternoon venue Moltkes Palæ Dronningens Tværgade 2 1302 Copenhagen K Attendance This is a personal invitation. We are working to bring together a number of the region’s prominent political leaders, executives and experts. Please register at your earliest convenience. ![Store Festsal at Moltkes Palæ, Copenhagen](https://download.digitaldogme.dk/hubfs/nnai-hlf26/venue-moltkes-palae.jpg) Store Festsal, Moltkes Palæ - venue for the afternoon plenary Part 1 - 09:00–11:30 ## Themed Executive Roundtables The roundtables will take place in different locations in Copenhagen and will be from 9.00–11.30 followed by lunch and joint transportation to the second part of the programme. The discussions will feed into strategic recommendations for NNAI and policy recommendations for the Nordic-Baltic countries. 01 ### Unleashing the Value of Data The Nordic-Baltic region holds some of the world’s richest data assets, yet much of their value remains locked in national silos, while smaller languages and critical AI infrastructure risk becoming increasingly dependent on solutions built elsewhere. This roundtable brings together senior leaders to identify where cross-border action on data, language resources and interoperability can create a genuine regional advantage. The discussion will focus on the practical steps the Nordic-Baltic countries should take together to unlock trusted data-driven AI and strengthen the region’s ability to deploy AI on its own terms. Roundtable host: Haktan Bulut, Concerndirector, ATP and Lilja Dögg Jónsdóttir, CEO, almannarómur 02 ### Accelerating Transformation of Work AI is changing not just the skills people need. It is changing which jobs exist, what they demand, and what our societies owe people whose work is being reorganised. This roundtable brings together senior leaders from business, the public sector, education and the social partners to name the deeper shifts underway: jobs disappearing, roles growing more complex, and the old fit between work, wages and welfare coming loose. The task is to identify how the Nordic labour market model and social contract can be the foundation for responsible and necessary upskilling and retraining initiatives. The discussion feeds directly into recommendations for the Nordic-Baltic countries in the afternoon. Roundtable host: Loa Brix, Digital Dogme 03 ### Future-proofing Nordic Education and Competence AI is changing what students need to learn, how teachers teach and what skills people need for life and work. This roundtable brings together leaders from education, business and government to discuss what we want AI to help education achieve, what learners must still master themselves, and how Nordic-Baltic cooperation can advance shared goals for learning, teacher capacity and opportunity. The discussion will identify 1–3 recommendations for the Nordic-Baltic Countries, including how to assess whether AI is delivering educational value. Roundtable host: Ville Voipio, Chairman of the Board, Vaisala and Technology Industries of Finland, Boardmember NNAI 04 ### Strengthening AI Resilience Energy grids, digital infrastructure and public services across the Nordic-Baltic region increasingly depend on an AI stack built and controlled elsewhere. This Roundtable looks at where those dependencies create shared risk, and at how the eight countries can stress-test AI resilience together and deploy AI on the region’s own terms. Roundtable host: Karoliina Partanen, CEO, AI Finland 05 ### Leading AI Through Trust Trust has always been one of the Nordic region’s strengths, but keeping that trust as AI becomes part of more decisions, services and workplaces will require us to get this right. This roundtable brings together leaders from business, government and civil society to discuss how we can make responsible AI easier to adopt in practice, and where working together can help us avoid countries solving the same challenges separately. Roundtable host: Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Chairman, New Nordics AI and Carl Norling Markai, AI Sweden 06 ### AI scaled in the Nordic-Baltic Health sector The Nordic countries combine world-class health systems, high-quality data and strong digital foundations, yet too many promising AI solutions in health still stay within one hospital, organisation or country instead of being shared and scaled across the region. This roundtable brings together leaders from healthcare, government, research and industry to look at what is getting in the way and what we can do together to change that. The task is to explore how the Nordic region can turn fragmented strengths into a connected health AI ecosystem that improves outcomes, strengthens healthcare capacity and makes it easier for proven solutions to move beyond individual institutions and countries. Roundtable host: Fredrik Syversen, Director Strategy and Business development, Tek Norge 07 ### Data Center, AI and the Energy System While the Nordics have significantly expanded clean energy generation, grid connection capacity has become our primary bottleneck—setting digital growth against heavy industry electrification. How do we turn data centers from passive power consumers into flexible assets for the Nordic energy system? This roundtable will be an action-focused roundtable to shape solution pathways that will directly feed into the official New Nordics AI pre-study report. Roundtable host: Simon Moritz, AI Sweden 08 ### The Next Three Unicorns The Nordic countries produce world-class AI research and exceptional talent, yet too few of the most promising innovations grow into globally competitive companies built and scaled from the region. Capital, ecosystem connections and the right policy conditions remain unevenly distributed – and what each Nordic country struggles to provide alone, the region may be able to build together. This roundtable brings together leaders from research, industry and investment to examine what it will take to close the gap between Nordic AI potential and Nordic AI impact. The task is to identify the structural barriers holding back the translation from research and talent into scalable companies – and to explore what coordinated action at a Nordic level can achieve that individual countries cannot. Roundtable host: Julie Frølich Jarlov, Digital Dogme and Mette Finnemann, Danish Industry [Register here](https://2ev29d.share-eu1.hsforms.com/2Sz__XLXrQsWHpH7WiTUvaw) ![](https://download.digitaldogme.dk/hubfs/nnai-hlf26/bg-pattern.png) Background - High-Level Forum 2024 ## Delivered results High-Level Forum 2024 gathered leading representatives from governments, business, research institutions and public authorities from across the Nordic and Baltic regions. The forum resulted in 21 joint recommendations for strengthened Nordic-Baltic cooperation on artificial intelligence — including the establishment of New Nordics AI. 8countriesRepresentation from across the Nordic and Baltic regions. 120participantsSenior leaders from governments, business, research and public authorities. 21joint recommendationsDeveloped and adopted at High-Level Forum 2024. 1New Nordics AI establishedOne of the central recommendations was translated into a permanent Nordic-Baltic collaboration. DKK 30MinvestedThe Nordic Council of Ministers is investing over three years in the development of New Nordics AI. ![Ministerial panel at High-Level Forum 2024](https://download.digitaldogme.dk/hubfs/nnai-hlf26/hlf2024-panel.jpg) High-Level Forum 2024 was the starting signal for New Nordics AI. High-Level Forum 2026 will be the first time the organisation gathers the entire Nordic and Baltic regions around a shared strategic prioritisation and a shared work programme. Background ## About New Nordics AI New Nordics AI is the shared Nordic-Baltic platform for cooperation on artificial intelligence. The initiative was established with support from the Nordic Council of Ministers, which has allocated DKK 30 million over three years to the development of a shared Nordic-Baltic AI collaboration. The partnership brings together the national AI organisations in the Nordic region, including AI Sweden, Digital Dogme, TEK Norge, AI Finland and Almannarómur, and is expected to be expanded at High-Level Forum 2026 with the national AI partners from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. This will make New Nordics AI the first shared AI platform to bring together the entire Nordic and Baltic regions. New Nordics AI works to strengthen the region’s competitiveness, digital resilience and responsible use of artificial intelligence through three central activities: **High-Level Forum**The annual strategic platform for shared priorities and political dialogue. **Executive Forums**Cross-national leadership fora that drive collaboration within the organisation’s strategic focus areas. **Joint programmes, analyses and partnerships**Translating shared ambitions into concrete initiatives across the region. 6 November 2026 - Copenhagen ## We look forward to welcoming you. [Register here](https://2ev29d.share-eu1.hsforms.com/2Sz__XLXrQsWHpH7WiTUvaw) ![New Nordics AI](https://download.digitaldogme.dk/hubfs/nnai-hlf26/logo-nnai.png) ![Digital Dogme](https://download.digitaldogme.dk/hubfs/HLF-2026/DD%20logo%20lys.svg)![AI Sweden](https://download.digitaldogme.dk/hubfs/HLF-2026/ai-sweden-logo.png)![TEK Norge](https://download.digitaldogme.dk/hubfs/HLF-2026/tek-norge-logo.png)![AI Finland](https://download.digitaldogme.dk/hubfs/HLF-2026/ai-finland-logo.png)![Almannarómur](https://download.digitaldogme.dk/hubfs/HLF-2026/almannaromur-logo.png)![Nordisk Ministerråd](https://download.digitaldogme.dk/hubfs/HLF-2026/NCM%20Logotype%20RGB%20DA_white.svg)