Cybersecurity and AI: From Theory to Reality

Cyber / AI Expo 2026 confirms its position as a strategic European event.

The second edition of Cyber-IA Expo was held on February 3, 2026, at the Palais des Congrès in Paris. It brought together public and private decision-makers, cyber and data managers, manufacturers, scale-ups, investors, and institutional players to discuss the profound transformations brought about by artificial intelligence in the field of cybersecurity.
With the European context marked by the acceleration of AI use, the rise of cyber threats, and stricter regulatory requirements, Cyber-IA Expo confirmed its position as an event designed to be a space for decision-making, strategic analysis, and economic structuring of the market.

An edition marked by maturity and scaling up
Throughout the day, discussions highlighted the shift from experimentation to industrialization. Artificial intelligence has a concrete impact on governance. It is no longer seen as an abstract technological promise, but is becoming a structuring lever that is simultaneously redefining risk models, security architectures, value chains, and the economic balance of the sector.

The opening keynotes set out a strong political and strategic framework, as did the round table discussion: “Transforming European assets into technological independence.” The presence and speech by Anne Le Hénanff, French Minister Delegate for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technology, confirmed the importance attached to the challenges of controlling the use of AI at the highest level of government. These speeches highlighted the need to consider innovation, security, and technological sovereignty together, with a view to European competitiveness.
The plenary conferences highlighted a view widely shared by market players, namely that AI can only build trust if it is based on solid foundations of cybersecurity, governance, and control of technological dependencies. The discussions emphasized the growing responsibility of decision-makers in the face of increasingly autonomous systems.

The plenary sessions highlighted a view widely shared by market players, namely that AI can only build trust if it is based on solid foundations of cybersecurity, governance, and control of technological dependencies. Discussions emphasized the growing responsibility of decision-makers in the face of increasingly autonomous systems capable of directly impacting critical organizational operations.
Among the topics discussed were the security of generative AI, the issue of autonomous agents, the protection of sensitive data in the cloud, regulatory compliance, third-party risk management, and supply chain risks, with a central concern being to regain technical and organizational control over systems that integrate AI.

With 14 thematic conferences, 82 exhibitors, more than 70 practical workshops, and a program firmly focused on feedback, Cyber-IA Expo 2026 highlighted the transition from discourse to execution and allowed participants to compare industrial visions, regulatory interpretations, and operational realities.
This second edition highlighted a market in an advanced stage of structuring. Players are driven by the search for solutions capable of scaling up, integrating into critical environments, and meeting European trust requirements.

Scale-Ups Investment Day was one of the highlights of Cyber-IA Expo 2026
This side-event, organized by Ryder&Davis, brought together entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and more than 90 investors representing over 60 funds, including around 20 European and American funds, to discuss financing and growth issues in the cybersecurity and artificial intelligence market.
Alexis Delb, founding partner at Ryder&Davis, emphasizes: “This concentration of French cybersecurity financiers, probably the largest ever assembled in France, offers scale-ups a unique opportunity to initiate their fundraising processes. This is the case for more than half of the entrepreneurs present. We thank Cyber-IA expo for giving us the opportunity to organize this event.”
This dedicated session also confirmed the growing interest in strategic partnerships in a market undergoing rapid organization.

An effective and operational European perspective
Cyber-IA Expo 2026 is part of a pragmatic European dynamic, promoting exchanges between national ecosystems and the circulation of best practices. Institutional and industrial speakers reiterated the importance of a coordinated approach at the European level to strengthen the resilience of organizations, secure supply chains, and support the emergence of competitive players.
This European opening will continue with the development of the Franco-German axis and the establishment of Cyber/ AI Expo in Munich on June 24, 2026, at BMW Welt, in order to strengthen the bridges between the cyber and AI ecosystems in Europe.

Michel Van Den Berghe, co-founder of Cyber-IA Expo, explains: “We have created a space for strategic and operational exchanges. This edition confirms the usefulness of a venue where all stakeholders can share their visions. In Paris, as in Munich tomorrow, our goal is to build bridges between ecosystems to support the emergence of a competitive, responsible, and sovereign cyber and AI market.”
Buoyed by the momentum and lessons learned from this second edition, the Cyber-IA expo team has already announced that its third event will be held on February 2, 2027, at the Palais des Congrès in Paris.
Cyber-IA Expo will continue its mission of providing decision-makers with a framework for strategic and operational reflection to understand, anticipate, and control the impacts of artificial intelligence on cybersecurity, while supporting the economic and industrial structuring of the European market.

Further information and to view the event websites:
Paris: www.ia-cyber.com
Munich: www.cyberai-expo.de