From the silicon chip to social media, America has programmed the path of information technology, an industry that has changed the world and created phenomenal wealth. But can Europe disrupt expectations of a future centered on Silicon Valley? Why has the continent been a buyer, rather than a producer, of the devices, software and media that define the digital age? Observers point to contrasting cultures, saying that California’s embrace-failure-and-try-again attitude has no analog in refined Europe, and that despite the continent’s financial strength, it lacks the vast funding networks that enable American inventors to turn ideas into products. What strategies can help Europeans partner with or outperform entrenched U.S. giants? What are European regulators thinking—are their frequent interventions sparking competition or masking protectionism? Our expert panel will discuss how to nurture entrepreneurs, channel the continent’s brainpower and industrial might into next-generation offerings and build a digital Europe.

Ravi Mattu, Nick Bray, Graham Cooke, Fred Destin, Sara Murray, Riccardo Zacconi