Canada and Spain unite to boost digital sovereignty through AI partnership

Canada and Spain have agreed to work together on strengthening digital sovereignty. The deal, signed on 20 May, brings tech firms and government leaders into a shared effort to improve AI infrastructure. Officials described it as a way to build reliable partnerships in an uncertain tech landscape.

King Felipe VI of Spain attended the event alongside Canadian and Spanish ministers. The collaboration includes companies like Cohere, Coveo, and Multiverse Computing, all aiming to boost AI development between the two nations.

The agreement was finalised during King Felipe VI’s diplomatic visit to Canada. Alongside the tech discussions, the monarch met with author Margaret Atwood, presenting her with the 2025 Joan Margarit Prize for poetry.

At the signing, Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Carlos Cuerpo and Canada’s Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Evan Solomon joined the king. The partnership focuses on optimising AI systems and deployment, helping both countries compete in a field dominated by larger players. Samuel Mugle, CTO of Multiverse Computing, stressed the need for responsible AI growth. He highlighted privacy, governance, and ethical standards as key priorities. The framework also carries symbolic importance, aligning democratic values and long-term tech strategies between the two nations. Neither Canada nor Spain has yet taken a leading position in the global tech race. This alliance aims to create stronger, more independent AI capabilities for both countries.

The deal links government support with private sector expertise to advance AI infrastructure. Tech firms and officials will now work on shared projects to improve digital resilience. The partnership could help both nations reduce reliance on dominant tech powers while promoting their own innovation.