Artificial intelligence is entering a phase in which, beyond model performance, data control, intellectual property protection, infrastructure security, and the ability to govern the entire lifecycle of solutions are becoming decisive. Sovereign AI is therefore not only about where data is stored, but about the ability to maintain control over models, workloads, access, and operational processes.

This is the perspective outlined by Forrester in its report The Top 10 Trends in Sovereign AI 2026, according to which sovereignty is becoming a requirement to be considered from the earliest stages of technology design and procurement. The report also highlights growing demand for systems capable of reflecting local languages, cultures, and regulations, while preserving flexibility and freedom of choice.

In this context, Forrester cites Istella among the operators developing Italian and sovereign models: a mention that reinforces our strategic direction, focused on building artificial intelligence based on our own data, language, and expertise, with attention to privacy, security, governance, and intellectual property.

Istella develops Italian and European language models, vertical and adapted to different contexts and enterprise use cases, integrating data, AI engineering expertise, and proprietary software. This work is supported by a technological heritage that includes datasets, cognitive technologies, and proprietary infrastructure designed to support complex workloads, AI applications, and real-time processing.

To this heritage is added Intacture, the strategic project in which Dedagroup has invested to enable the development and execution of sovereign and precision AI solutions. The integration strengthens Istella’s offering for enterprise and institutional organizations, providing additional operational capacity in a controlled, secure environment consistent with digital sovereignty requirements. Within this framework is the ESS-AI framework (European Secure & Sovereign AI Framework), the foundation of a joint end-to-end offering across the entire AI value chain, integrating Istella’s language models and expertise with Intacture’s infrastructure and Dedagroup’s technological expertise.