III Conference on Strategy, Technology and Sovereignty

December 14-16, 2026, online

Focusing on uneven digital transformation, the III Conference will feature academic panels, lectures, classes, and other activities on cybersecurity, digital sovereignty, internet governance, and cognitive defense. Its theme will be Digital Sovereignty and Global Integration in a Fragmenting Digital Order.

Registration

Soberania Digital e Integração Global em uma Ordem Digital em Fragmentação

Focusing on inequalities in digital transformation and the global distribution of technological power, the event will bring together researchers, representatives of public institutions, and experts from different countries for academic panels, lectures, seminars, and training activities. Discussions will address the challenges of digital sovereignty, internet governance, cybersecurity, and cognitive defense, with particular attention to the perspectives of Brazil, BRICS+, and the Global South. Accordingly, the III Conference on Strategy, Technology, and Sovereignty will take as its theme Digital Sovereignty and Global Integration in a Fragmenting Digital Order.

In a fragmenting digital order, building sovereignty requires the capacity to determine our own future and the cooperation to make it possible. The III Conference will bring together perspectives on technology, strategy, defense, and political communication to explore the paths that Brazil, BRICS+, and the countries of the Global South can pursue together in the face of inequalities in technological power. Drawing on contributions from the Digital Sovereignty Index, discussions will connect the challenges of artificial intelligence, internet governance, and cognitive defense with the concrete conditions for developing national capabilities, transferring technology, and advancing international integration. By bringing research and public action together, the conference seeks to expand our collective capacity to turn knowledge into autonomy, strengthen cooperation among countries, and build a digital future in which our societies have a voice, the means to act, and the power to decide.

This third edition continues the discussions of the II Conference, held in 2025 at the University of Brasília, with activities at the Chamber of Deputies and a public hearing on technological sovereignty. That edition deepened the connections between scientific research and policymaking, strengthening dialogue among academia, government, parliament, and society on the capabilities needed for state autonomy. Some of its contributions were brought together in the BRICS Strategy and Technology Review, expanding the circulation of research on critical infrastructure, artificial intelligence, regulation, public communication, and the geopolitics of innovation.

The realization of this conference is only possible thanks to the support and collaboration of our partners, who share our vision of promoting dialogue, innovation, and development. Their contributions—whether through resources, expertise, or institutional support—were essential in creating a dynamic and inclusive space where ideas can flourish and solutions can be built collectively. We thank each partner for their dedication and commitment, which make this event a reality and strengthen our goal of achieving global impact.

IBRICS+ is a youth-led institution dedicated to research and to advancing the BRICS agenda in Brazil, fostering the engagement of Brazilian civil society on issues of sustainable development and inclusion through cultural integration. By using technology to monitor and produce strategic reports, we are developing a platform for academic and scientific integration. We also promote initiatives aimed at generating high-quality jobs for young people, as well as international opportunities for study and professional training.

Russian Nuclear Education Ambassadors (RNEA) is an international network that connects students and professionals with Russian universities, promoting nuclear education and the exchange of knowledge in science and technology. As a partner of the III Conference on Strategy, Technology, and Sovereignty, it contributes to discussions on capacity building, international cooperation, and the applications of nuclear technologies for sustainable development.

Academic pannels

An academic panel is a structured discussion space within a conference, where previously submitted papers are evaluated by specialists and presented to the public for debate and exchange of ideas. Each panel gathers works around a thematic axis, enabling critical analysis, interaction among researchers, and the collective construction of knowledge.

This year, the conference will grant two special distinctions: the Award in Technological Sovereignty and the Award in Internet Governance, each worth R$ 2,500. These awards recognize the best papers presented in the academic panels, highlighting research that contributes in innovative ways to strengthening technological autonomy and to building a more democratic and inclusive digital governance.

After evaluation, the papers may be resubmitted for publication in the BRICS+ Strategy and Technology Review.

Submit your abstract

1. Submission

Abstracts: must be submitted by November 27, 2026. Authors will be notified of acceptance on November 30.
Full papers: must be submitted by December 11, 2026.
Submissions must be in Word format and follow ABNT standards, in english, portuguese or spanish.
Each author may submit only one paper as first author, and a second one as co-author.

2. Evaluation

All papers will be reviewed by referees based on criteria of originality, relevance, methodological rigor, and clarity of presentation.
Accepted papers will be organized into four thematic panels, in which authors will present their research for debate.
The final evaluation of papers for awards will consider both the written submission and the presentation during the panel.

3. Awards

Two awards will be granted, each worth R$ 2,500.00:
- Award in Technological Sovereignty
- Award in Internet Governance
The winners will be announced at the closing session of the conference.
Payment will be made by bank transfer within 30 days after the event.

4. Conditions of participation

Eligible participants include researchers, professors, graduate students, and professionals working in fields related to the theme of the conference.
Papers must be unpublished and cannot be under review or publication in another event or journal at the time of submission.
Registration in the conference is mandatory for participation in the panels and to compete for the awards.
Articles must be presented at the Conference to be eligible for the prize.

5. Final provisions

Selected papers may be invited to contribute to dossiers, strategic reports, or publications linked to the conference.
The organizing committee reserves the right to adjust the program and the rules, notifying participants in advance.
The submission of abstracts and papers implies full acceptance of these regulations.

How can we understand and measure the capabilities that underpin digital sovereignty? This panel brings together theoretical, methodological, and empirical contributions centered on the Digital Sovereignty Index (DSI), connecting its dimensions of hardware, software, cognition, and governance. Through national, regional, and comparative studies, it seeks to examine inequalities in technological power, trajectories of dependence, and possibilities for building autonomy in a fragmenting digital order, with particular attention to BRICS+ and Global South countries.

Nuclear technologies bring together scientific, industrial, and strategic capabilities that shape countries’ autonomy and development. This panel proposes an interdisciplinary discussion of the nuclear ecosystem, encompassing international security, the energy transition, medical and industrial applications, and their connections with artificial intelligence. With attention to the needs of BRICS+ and the Global South, it examines how innovation, national capacity building, and international cooperation can expand the social benefits of these technologies and contribute to sustainable development.

Digitalization is transforming the conditions under which power is exercised, the organization of defense, and the vulnerabilities of states and societies. This panel examines the relationships between security and digital transformation, addressing critical infrastructure protection, cybersecurity, cognitive defense, and the challenges associated with artificial intelligence and technological dependence. Bringing together strategic, political, and institutional perspectives, it seeks to discuss how to develop prevention and response capabilities, strengthen international cooperation, and preserve decision-making autonomy in the face of threats that cross borders and connect physical, digital, and informational spaces.