T-Systems Austria Summer Event 2025: Focus topic – sovereignty

In this article, you will learn,

• what topics were presented at the T-Systems Austria Summer Event,
• why sovereignty is so important for the Austrian market and
• what cloud users expect from European cloud solutions.

The T-Systems Austria Summer Event has become a fixture in the Austrian IT industry’s calendar. Despite the vacation season starting in July, the 2025 event once again drew a full house to the T-Center in Vienna. The program covered a wide range of IT topics – from quantum computing and artificial intelligence to industry-specific solutions and process automation.

The event offered a hands-on glimpse into the digital future – and it delivered. In his welcome address, Peter Lenz, Head of T-Systems Austria, set the tone for 2025 by emphasizing that sovereignty remains a top priority for many Austrian companies.

Thomas R. Köhler, one of the most renowned futurists in the German-speaking world, carried the theme of sovereignty into his keynote address, “Digital! Sovereign! Successful! What Really Matters in Uncertain Times!” His presentation left a strong impression on attendees.

Köhler underscored the critical role of digital sovereignty in today’s complex geopolitical and economic environment. He posed key questions for businesses: How can companies strengthen their strategic approach to digital independence? How can they boost cybersecurity while harnessing generative AI in a way that is both profitable and responsible in day-to-day operations?

The exhibition brought together a variety of partners and T-Systems teams to showcase practical applications of digitalization, including the Open Telekom Cloud. The cloud platform was featured not only at its dedicated booth but also by the Health team, who demonstrated the Smart Chat solution.

This new healthcare solution is an AI-powered chatbot built on advanced large language models (LLMs) and developed specifically for sensitive medical applications. With Smart Chat, users can upload documents and interact with the system in natural language, enabling them to extract complex insights quickly and clearly. The solution operates within the Open Telekom Cloud in full compliance with social data regulations, ensuring maximum data sovereignty and hosting exclusively in Germany.

“There was a lot of activity at the Open Telekom Cloud booth as well,” reports Sascha Smets from Product Management. “Representatives from various companies – especially in the financial sector – visited us to discuss their hyperscaler commitments. Cloud strategy consultants were also interested in this European cloud alternative.”

He added, “The prevailing sentiment among most of our conversation partners was clear: many Austrian companies are considering how to reduce their dependency on U.S. hyperscalers. That confirmed that the team at T-Systems Austria had picked the right topic for 2025.” This on-the-ground feedback mirrors the findings of the Bitkom Reports 2025, which shows that nearly 80 percent of German organizations feel overly dependent on U.S. hyperscalers.

“In many ways, the Austrian market mirrors the German one,” Smets continues. “Many Austrian businesses are actively seeking powerful European hyperscaler alternatives.” Depending on a company’s setup, switching providers can be either straightforward or complex. Organizations that rely heavily on native hyperscaler services are often tightly locked into those platforms.

However, many companies use container technologies such as OpenShift, Kubernetes, or Docker, which can greatly simplify migration. Even so, the target platforms must deliver a comprehensive range of services, from databases and FinOps capabilities to data analytics, security, and management tools.

The T-Systems Austria Summer Event offered the perfect blend of IT innovation and relaxed networking. Many attendees left feeling inspired and ready to head straight into their summer vacations. Special thanks go to the organizers for their warm hospitality in Austria.