A series of monthly sessions for MEP assistants, advisors and EP staff

As part of our commitment to offering opportunities for deepening knowledge and understanding of key digital policy issues, we will host a series of Tech Masterclasses. These sessions are designed for MEP assistants, advisors, and EP staff, and will complement our regular programme of MEP-led debates and visits. The aim is to offer insightful trainings in a neutral learning environment to share knowledge on tech-related issues that are at the basis of digital policies.

All Masterclasses will be conducted by tech experts who will break down the technology for a non-expert audience, and by facilitators who will help bridge the technical aspects with their implications for policy and society.

The sessions will run only in-person, over lunch, in the EP salons. Presentations will be video recorded (except for Q&As) and materials will be made available to participants. 

Do you want to take part in the Tech masterclasses? Fill in the form below: 

The following 7 themes have been selected for the first edition of the Masterclasses, with the aim to cover technologies underlying multiple policy debates, either ongoing or emerging:

• • Connectivity infrastructure

    Learn how fiber optics, mobile networks, submarine cables, and satellites work together to create the global communication infrastructure Europeans rely on every day. Understand how they interconnect to deliver fast, reliable internet and communication services worldwide. 

    Date: 7 November 2024
    Time: 12:30 - 14:00 (lunch provided)
    Venue: European Parliament salons

    Expert: Owen Bryant, Head of Global Infrastructure & Deployment, Vodafone
    Facilitator: Anna Renata Pisarkiewicz, Research Fellow, European University Institute

  • The Internet

    Discover the technology that operates behind the Internet European citizens use every day, ensuring seamless data transmission and sharing worldwide, and its governance implications and challenges. 

    Date: 5 December 2024
    Time: 12:30 - 14:00 (lunch provided)
    Venue: European Parliament salons

    Expert: Lars Johan Liman, Senior Systems Specialist and co-founder, NetNod 
    Facilitator: Pearse O'Donohue, Director, Future Networks Directorate, DG CONNECT, European Commission 

  • Cloud technology

    How does Cloud technology work? Why use remote servers to manage, store, and process data instead of local servers or personal computers? Learn how cloud computing allows scalable, on-demand access to resources and services, and explore its applications in data storage, processing, and software deployment. 

    Date: 6 February 2025
    Time: 12:30 - 14:00 (lunch provided)
    Venue: European Parliament salons

    Expert: Rob Elsinga, National Technology Office (NTO), Microsoft
    Facilitator: Andrea Renda, Director of Research at CEPS, leading the Unit on Global Governance, Regulation, Innovation and the Digital Economy (TBC) 

  • Artificial Intelligence

    How does AI work? Delve with us into the transformative world of AI, explore the foundational concepts, from machine learning and neural networks to natural language processing and computer vision. Understand how AI systems are developed, trained, and deployed across various fields, with a reflection on the ethical considerations and policy implications of AI technology. 

    Date: 20 March 2025
    Time: 12:30 - 14:00 (lunch provided)
    Venue: European Parliament salons

    Expert: Ajit Jaokar, Visiting Fellow for Artificial Intelligence, University of Oxford and author of the EIF report ‘The Digital World toward 2040’
    Facilitator: Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser to MEP Axel Voss, rapporteur on the AI Act

  • Quantum computing

    What is Quantum computing? What are its potential applications? Explore the principles of quantum mechanics that power quantum computers and how they differ from classical computing. By harnessing the power of quantum computing, these algorithms can solve problems currently intractable for classical computers, driving innovation and advancement across a wide range of sectors, including cryptography, drug discovery, and climate modeling. 

    Date: 10 April 2025
    Time: 12:30 - 14:00 (lunch provided)
    Venue: European Parliament salons

    Expert: Laura Schulz, Head of Department, Quantum Computing and Technologies, LRZ and with the Munich Quantum Valley TBC
    Facilitator: Jeanette Miriam Lorenz, Acting Head of Business Unit & Head of Department at Fraunhofer IKS

  • Blockchain

    Discover the principles and transformative potential of Blockchain technology. Learn about decentralized ledgers, cryptographic security, and consensus mechanisms. Explore how blockchain is revolutionizing industries like finance, supply chain, and healthcare. Understand practical applications such as cryptocurrencies and smart contracts, and gain insights into future trends and challenges. 

    Date: 15 May 2025
    Time: 12:30 - 14:00 (lunch provided)
    Venue: European Parliament salons

    Expert: Nicola Attico, BlockChain Engineer and Senior Product Manager at ServiceNow's Innovation Office
    Facilitator: Ondrej Kovarik MEP (TBC) 

  • Cybersecurity

    Delve into the critical aspects of protecting digital assets in today's interconnected world. Explore key topics such as network security, encryption, risk management, and incident response. Understand the best practices and strategies to safeguard data and systems across various industries, and the roles played by state actors and non state actors. Equip yourself with the knowledge to stay ahead of emerging threats. 

    Date: 5 June 2025
    Time: 12:30 - 14:00 (lunch provided)
    Venue: European Parliament salons

    Expert: Jean-Charles Griviaud, Chief Security Officer at Cisco Systems France
    Facilitator: Christiane Kirketerp de Viron, Acting Director, Digital Society, Trust and Cybersecurity, European Commission