Nvidia is no longer just a manufacturer of graphics cards for gamers. Since 2020, and even more so since the surge in demand linked to OpenAI and large language models, the company has become one of the key infrastructure providers for the global AI revolution. Its H100, H200 and now Blackwell GPUs have become strategic assets for governments, hyperscalers, research laboratories and major technology companies.

Eva-Maria Hempe holds a particularly sensitive position within this framework: she oversees Nvidia’s relations with governments, ministries, public health systems, universities and critical infrastructure across the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. Her role involves supporting public institutions in the practical integration of AI capabilities into their operations – no longer through isolated trials, but within administrative systems, hospitals, research infrastructure, cybersecurity and essential public services.

This issue of infrastructure will be at the very heart of her presentation at Nexus. On 10 June, on the Horizon Stage, Eva-Maria Hempe will open the day with a keynote speech entitled “AI Sovereignty: The Five-Layer Stack”, before taking part in a panel discussion on a question that has become central in Europe: “Who Controls the Five-Layer Stack?”. Behind this highly technical phrasing lies one of the major current debates surrounding artificial intelligence: who actually controls the various layers – semiconductors, the cloud, models, data and applications – on which tomorrow’s digital economy will be built?

Far beyond technology

Demand for AI in the public sector has surged over the past two years. Tax authorities are now using anomaly detection models to identify complex fraud. Hospital systems are deploying medical imaging analysis and clinical support tools. Cybersecurity agencies are strengthening their behavioural detection capabilities. Universities are investing in AI clusters for scientific research, simulation and high-performance computing. Underpinning much of this infrastructure are Nvidia architectures.

The issue goes far beyond mere technological performance. European governments are now seeking to understand how to build AI capabilities that are compatible with their requirements for sovereignty, privacy and resilience. The question of data localisation, control over models, access to computing power and dependence on US infrastructure is becoming central to public policy decisions.

In this respect, Luxembourg presents a particularly interesting case. The country’s relatively streamlined public administration has greater capacity for implementation and coordination than many large European bureaucracies. The country is stepping up its initiatives in the areas of digitalisation, the sovereign cloud, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. AI is no longer a peripheral issue: it is gradually being integrated into the operational strategies of government departments, healthcare institutions and critical public sector organisations.

Specific challenges in Europe

Ms Hempe is also expected to address the key challenges observed in European public sector deployments: integration with legacy systems, training for public sector staff, the governance of sensitive data, the energy consumption of AI infrastructure, and new European regulatory requirements regarding explainability and the AI Act. These issues are now becoming just as important as the technology itself.

Nvidia’s positioning also has a significant geopolitical dimension. US restrictions on exports of advanced semiconductors to certain countries have turned GPUs into strategic assets. Europe is simultaneously attempting to ramp up its sovereign computing capabilities whilst remaining dependent on US players for a large part of its cutting-edge AI infrastructure. Understanding Nvidia’s strategy for the European public sector therefore also means understanding the new global technological balance of power.

For public decision-makers, healthcare professionals, IT managers and Luxembourg institutions attending Nexus, Eva-Maria Hempe’s session will, above all, offer a first-hand insight into what is currently being implemented in Europe’s most advanced public administrations and infrastructure – and the very practical trade-offs these organisations now face.

Practical. Nexus Luxembourg 2026 – 10 and 11 June at Luxexpo The Box, Luxembourg-Kirchberg. Tickets available from €250 excluding VAT (standard rate). Book your place at nexusluxembourg.com/tickets.