Key Takeaways
- Paddy Cosgrave Opens Web Summit, framing it as a pivotal moment in the global tech landscape.
- The summit has rapidly evolved into a global convening point, highlighting the intersection of innovation, capital, and geopolitics.
- Cosgrave emphasized that a multipolar tech world is no longer theoretical, showcasing advancements like humanoid robots from Unitree.
- Web Summit Qatar draws attendees from over 120 countries, fostering new relationships and strategic partnerships.
- The event reflects a changing world where technology leadership and influence are increasingly distributed across various regions.
Doha, Qatar — Opening Web Summit Qatar, Paddy Cosgrave, Founder and CEO of Web Summit, delivered a keynote that framed the summit not just as a technology event. Instead, he described it as a reflection of a profound shift underway in the global tech landscape. It is notable that Paddy Cosgrave Opens Web Summit in a way that signals a pivotal moment for the region.
“In three short years, the technological centre of the world has begun to change,” Cosgrave told a packed audience, pointing to the rapid emergence of a multipolar global technology ecosystem—one no longer dominated by a single region or bloc.
From Launch to Global Impact in Three Years
Reflecting on the summit’s rapid rise, Cosgrave noted how quickly Web Summit Qatar has grown since its launch. Indeed, the world watched as Paddy Cosgrave Opens Web Summit and sets the tone for its growth.
“It feels like only yesterday that we launched Web Summit Qatar,” he said. “And yet here we are, three years later, with the biggest—and more importantly, one of the most impactful—technology events in the world.”
What began as a regional expansion has evolved into a global convening point. Here, innovation, capital, and geopolitics intersect in real time.
A Multipolar Tech World Is No Longer Theoretical
Cosgrave highlighted how shifts in global innovation are now tangible—not theoretical.
Citing recent demonstrations of advanced humanoid robots built by Unitree, a Chinese company, he underscored how the pace of innovation in China is accelerating rapidly.
“Western companies, while still large, are struggling to keep up with the growing pace of Chinese innovation,” he said.
What was once described as an emerging multipolar world has now become reality.
“Three years ago, people were talking about entering a multipolar world,” Cosgrave noted. “We are now living in a multipolar world.” In summary, Paddy Cosgrave Opens Web Summit and uses the platform to highlight these global changes.
A Rupture in the Global Order — Reflected on the Summit Floor
Cosgrave pointed to recent global political developments as further evidence of this shift. He referenced remarks made just days earlier by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who publicly acknowledged a rupture in the traditional global order.
“That rupture, that new multipolar world—you’ll find it here at Web Summit,” Cosgrave said. In addition, it is clear that Paddy Cosgrave Opens Web Summit with a vision for a multipolar future.
A Truly Global Gathering
Web Summit Qatar’s scale and diversity reflect the reality Cosgrave described. This year’s summit welcomes attendees from more than 120 countries, including India, Singapore, China, Poland, Nigeria, and Palestine. Startups, investors, enterprises, and policymakers are also present.
The event also hosts official trade delegations from across the world. All are seeking to build new relationships, form strategic partnerships, and create alliances aligned with the emerging global tech order.
Web Summit Qatar as a Mirror of the New Tech Reality
Cosgrave’s opening remarks positioned Web Summit Qatar not just as a conference but as a living snapshot of a changing world. In this world, technology leadership, innovation, and influence are increasingly distributed across regions and cultures.
As the summit continues in Doha, the conversations unfolding on its stages and show floor reflect the same reality Cosgrave described. There is a global technology ecosystem reshaped by new centres of innovation, new alliances, and new balances of power.
Event Details
📍 Web Summit Qatar
📅 February 1–4, 2026
📍 Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC)
📍 Doha, Qatar
About Web Summit Qatar
Web Summit Qatar is part of the global Web Summit series. It is one of the world’s leading technology conference platforms. Hosted annually in Doha, the summit brings together founders, investors, enterprises, policymakers, and media from around the world. Together, they explore the technologies and ideas shaping the future of innovation, geopolitics, and the global economy. Therefore, Paddy Cosgrave Opens Web Summit each year with forward-thinking themes and aspirations.