April 2026 Geneva, Switzerland
On 23 April 2026, the Tomorrow Foundation had the privilege of participating in a high-level conference held at the iconic Palais des Nations in Geneva, a venue that, for over a century, has served as a crossroads of international diplomacy. Organised jointly by the CMF Crans Montana Forum and the Cercle des Ambassadeurs à Paris, the event convened ambassadors, diplomats accredited to the United Nations and the WTO, government representatives, and leading technical experts around a theme of pressing global relevance: the securitisation of sovereign state instruments and the digitalisation of public infrastructures.
The conference unfolded across two substantive parts. The first explored innovations in the securitisation of sovereign instruments, from combating documentary fraud to next-generation anti-counterfeiting devices and biometric identity systems. The second part turned to the digitalisation of sovereign infrastructure: digital land registries, civil status records, and secure public platforms. The afternoon concluded with bilateral exchanges exploring potential technical and institutional cooperation.
A highlight of the afternoon was the presentation delivered by Oberthur Fiduciaire. One of the world’s foremost private security printers, Oberthur Fiduciaire specialises in the design and production of banknotes, secure cheques, passports, identity documents, and other high-security instruments that underpin state sovereignty worldwide. Their presentation, titled Sovereignty: Mastering Physical Assets & Digital Infrastructures, offered a panoramic view of the challenges facing governments today, from the relentless rise of documentary fraud to the transformative potential of secure digital ecosystems.
A striking data point from the session: according to the Entrust Identity Fraud Report 2025, national identity cards account for 40.8% of all document fraud globally, outpacing passports, driving licences, and other credentials.
The session illustrated how the combination of advanced security printing, biometrics, and interoperable digital identity platforms represents the most robust response to this escalating threat. The presentation also showcased the latest proprietary security-printing technologies, combining multiple layers of protection to combat increasingly sophisticated forms of forgery.
On the sidelines of the conference, our Foundation’s board member had the distinct pleasure of an in-depth conversation with Mr. Nicolas Koutros, Deputy Managing Director of Oberthur Fiduciaire. The exchange covered a broad range of challenges and opportunities facing African nations as they advance their digital transformation and modernisation agendas.
Discussions also touched on the impact that artificial intelligence is already having on every aspect of our personal and professional lives, and on the profound transformation currently underway. The conversation also explored the specific contexts of several African countries, highlighting how tailored, sovereignty-respecting technological solutions can serve as genuine catalysts for governance reform, investor confidence, and social stability.
The room at the Palais des Nations reflected the broad international stakes of the topics at hand. Among those present were ambassadors and diplomatic representatives from a range of nations, including Fiji and the Democratic Republic of Congo, alongside delegates from other member states of the United Nations family in Geneva. The diversity of perspectives, from small island states navigating digital transformation with limited resources, to larger nations managing complex legacy systems, enriched the discussions and underscored the universality of the governance challenges addressed.
The CMF Forum, now celebrating its 40th anniversary as one of Switzerland’s most respected international institutions, continues to serve as a rare and valuable forum where government officials and the private sector can engage frankly on the issues shaping our shared future.