What is Digital Sovereignty?

Digital sovereignty is the ability of an organization to maintain control and autonomy over its digital systems, data, and development priorities.

For hospitals, digital sovereignty means:

• Decision autonomy - Setting your own digital agenda and priorities
• Data control - Maintaining ownership of sensitive patient data
• Technology independence - Avoiding vendor lock-in and dependence
• Innovation capability - Developing custom solutions for unique needs

The consequences of limited digital sovereignty:

• Dependence on external vendors' development roadmaps
• Limited ability to implement hospital-specific requirements
• Constrained innovation due to standardized software limitations
• Higher long-term costs through ongoing license fees
• Reduced ability to quickly adapt to regulatory changes

Strategic importance: As healthcare becomes increasingly digital, the ability to develop and control your own software becomes a critical differentiator in the competitive hospital landscape.