SCCON2025 Recap: Key Highlights and Takeaways

Three days of ideas, innovation, and inspiration: this year’s Smart Country Convention (SCCON) once again brought together public sector leaders, tech innovators, and policymakers in Berlin to shape the digital transformation of governments and public services.

At the center of many discussions was a theme that resonates deeply with Wire’s mission: digital sovereignty. The ability for governments and institutions to manage their data, communication, and infrastructure independently and securely.

Building Trust Through Secure Communication

From day one, conversations at SCCON revolved around trust, security, and the balance between innovation and control.
In his talk “Vom Postgeheimnis zur digitalen Souveränität” , Frederik Olivanti, Lead Public Sector and Strategic Accounts at Wire, explored how secure communication is a cornerstone of democracy and why digital sovereignty must start with trusted collaboration tools.

Wire’s decade-long commitment to combining end-to-end encryption with enterprise-grade usability stood out in discussions with public institutions and technology partners. Across the halls, and at both Wire’s booth and the Schwarz Digits stand, the message was clear: security can be seamless, and sovereignty achievable, when technology respects both people and policy.

Conversations That Go Beyond the Booth

The Wire team experienced strong interest throughout the event, with visitors returning day after day to dive deeper into topics such as deployment options, cloud versus on-prem models, and how open-source technology enables true digital sovereignty.

Beyond new connections, the team also welcomed existing users who shared feedback and success stories, a reminder of how trust builds through continuous dialogue.
Moments like these turn a trade fair into something more valuable: an open forum for co-creation between users, partners, and innovators.

And, of course, the daily happy hour was a hit with Wire-branded beers and small gestures that sparked big conversations. As one team member noted, “Sometimes a smile and a shared beer can open the door to the best discussions about cybersecurity.”

Europe’s Digital Independence in Focus

Reflecting on this year’s event, Wire CEO Benjamin Schilz described the atmosphere as “incredible”. “All the companies and the public sector in one place, full of energy and meaningful discussions.”

He noted how the event made one thing especially clear: secure communication and collaboration remain central to Europe’s digital agenda.

Benjamin also highlighted Wire’s ongoing collaboration with the German federal government and the BSI, underlining Wire’s role as one of the most used secure communication platforms within the public sector in Germany, and a model for digital sovereignty in action.

Partnerships Built on People, Not Just Brands

For Lara Hubmann, Wire’s Head of Partnerships & Alliances, SCCON was much more than a trade fair, it was a space to strengthen relationships that drive meaningful collaboration.

Lara added. “Events like SCCON give us the chance to meet the wider teams, from Sales to Product, and build the kind of trust and connection that make partnerships stronger.”

A Spotlight on Digital Sovereignty

This year’s SCCON was not just about technology but about policy in motion. The presence of Andrea Nahles, Dr. Markus Richter, and Dr. Karsten Wildberger underlined the growing political attention on digital autonomy in Europe.
At the Schwarz Digits stand, where Wire joined partners such as Deloitte, MaibornWolff, and Accenture, visitors explored concrete solutions for sovereign cloud and communication infrastructure, tangible steps toward a digitally independent Europe.

The message was clear across all three days: digital sovereignty is not a distant goal, but an ongoing responsibility that requires collaboration between the public and private sectors.

Looking Ahead

SCCON 2025 reaffirmed that the digital state of tomorrow depends on secure communication today. As governments and enterprises prepare to meet new cybersecurity and NIS2 requirements, the need for trusted, compliant, and user-friendly collaboration platforms has never been greater.

Wire continues to play its part by helping organizations protect their most sensitive data without compromising on usability, enabling teams to communicate, decide, and act with confidence.

As the event closed, one thing was certain: Europe’s digital future will be sovereign, secure, and shaped by those who believe trust and technology must evolve together.