Geneva Digital Week
IEEE participated during the week of 06 July 2026 at a gathering for global digital governance — bringing together governments, international organizations, industry, academia, civil society and the technical community to address the future of digital technologies and international cooperation. The week combined three major global events: the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance, the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum and the AI for Good Global Summit.
IEEE at the WSIS Forum 2026
The UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2026 took place from 06–10 July 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland, in parallel with the AI for Good Global Summit, with options for remote participation. During the open event, a series of workshops [“Partner Insights”], High-Level Policy Sessions [“Leaders TalkX”], and special tracks were held on various thematic areas addressing issues that are important in helping to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Session 1: Monday, 06 July 2026 | 10:00-10:45 CEST
IEEE Workshop: Meaningful Connectivity by Design: The Role of Technical Standards in Connecting the Unconnected
This workshop explores how global technical standards can help enable and sustain meaningful connectivity by translating policy objectives into implementable technical requirements and interoperable solutions. Standards underpin interoperability across equipment and networks, provide common performance metrics and support resilience, capabilities that are essential for rural connectivity, community networks, emergency communications and more.
Session 2: Monday, 06 July 2026 | 11:00-11:45 CEST
Case Studies on Connectivity: Young Practitioners in the Forefront
This session explores how emerging leaders are advancing the intersection of digital connectivity and sustainable energy systems. Through real-world case studies, participants will examine how digital infrastructure, responsible AI and data-driven tools are enabling more resilient, efficient and inclusive energy transitions.
Session 3: Wednesday, 08 July 2026 | 12:00-13:00 CEST
IEEE Knowledge Cafe: Meaningful Connectivity by Design: Exploring Practical Pathways and Solutions Together
This Knowledge Cafe creates a highly participatory space for WSIS stakeholders to exchange practical experiences and co-develop ideas on enabling meaningful connectivity by design–realiable, secure, affordable and usable access that is sustainable over time. Participants will explore with each other how technical standards and other tools or frameworks can help realize deployable, interoperable solutions.
Session 4: Wednesday, 08 July 2026 | 14:00-14:30 CEST
Leaders TalkX 1 - From Access to Impact: Leading ICT Infrastructure Development
Connectivity is the foundation upon which every other digital development rests, and yet for many people around the world, essential connectivity remains out of reach.This session will highlight investment gaps, policy barriers, and governance challenges that stand between the unconnected and a truly inclusive information society.
Session 5: Thursday, 09 July 2026 | 10:15-10:45 CEST
Leaders TalkX 6 - Skills for the Future: Leading Inclusive Capacity Building
Across developing and least developed countries, as well as underserved communities, capacity gaps remain one of the most difficult barriers to inclusive digital development. Multistakeholder approaches must urgently focus on closing these gaps, scaling up financing for capacity development, and ensuring that women, girls, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are not left behind. Join this session to hear about what is working, what is not, and understand what our next steps must be.
IEEE at AI for Good 2026
The AI for Good Global Summit 2026 is a UN platform for identifying practical applications to accelerate progress on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It took place from 07–10 July 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland, in parallel with the WSIS Forum.
Session 1: Tuesday, 07 July 2026 | 09:30-17:00 CEST
Safe and ethical AI: Advances, standards, governance
This session features a full day of workshops around the themes of international governance and evolving standards.
Session 2: Tuesday, 07 July 2026 | 12:30-14:00 CEST
AI in education, research and skills development roundtable
The Roundtable brings together presidents of leading universities, industry leaders and international stakeholders to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming higher education.
Session 3: Tuesday, 07 July 2026 | 14:00-17:15 CEST
Testing and verification of frontier AI systems
This workshop brings experts together to explore cutting edge research on how advanced AI models can be tested, verified, and validated before they are deployed at scale.
Session 4: Wednesday, 08 July 2026 | 14:00-17:15 CEST
Brain-computer interface: Technology for good and application cooperation
The workshop focuses on advancing brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies for social good, with particular emphasis on responsible innovation, industrial applications, and international collaboration on standards and interoperability.
Session 5: Friday, 10 July 2026 | 10:00-11:00 CEST
Advancing women’s leadership in AI and standards
This session shows an engaging discussion with global leaders, policymakers, and AI experts will highlight the progress made and remaining challenges in advancing women’s leadership and meaningful participation in AI and standards development.
IEEE at the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance
The inaugural UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance took place on 06–07 July, 2026. It convened all 193 UN Member States, tech leaders, and civil society to establish inclusive, interoperable AI governance approaches and received the inaugural report from the newly formed Independent International Scientific Panel on AI.
Thematic discussion 1
AI opportunities and implications: Global Dialogue on AI Governance Day 1
IEEE SA was selected to make an intervention during the thematic discussion focused on AI opportunities and implications, including social, economic, and technical dimensions.