Explore The Foyer!
This year, we are excited to have a lineup of exhibits, exciting initiatives, and hands-on interactive experiences taking place in our foyer. Check out them out!
Inspiring Books featured at CDS
To Dare - A Memoir by Anders Fogh Rasmussen
Denmark’s most globally influential politician, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, has written his memoir At Turde (To Dare), which chronicles his journey from entering the Danish Parliament, to serving as Prime Minister from 2001 to 2009, then as NATO Secretary-General from 2009 to 2014, and up to the present day. The book is divided into three parts: part one focuses on the world’s great powers and Rasmussen’s encounters with their leaders. He shares how he was selected as NATO Secretary General and recalls his confrontations with Vladimir Putin - who once suggested that NATO should be dissolved. He reflects on Xi Jinping’s transformation of China, and writes about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Part two dives into his years as Denmark’s Prime Minister, covering the government transition in 2001, the Muhammad cartoon crisis, and key developments in Danish politics. Part three outlines Rasmussen’s vision for the emerging new world order, shaped in part by the strategic shifts of the United States.
At Turde offers a rare and compelling insight into Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s thinking and motivations throughout his political career. He writes candidly about the joys and frustrations, the setbacks and triumphs, both in the Danish Parliament and at NATO.
Please note that this is in Danish and available for sale at the information desk.
The Battle for Taiwan by Jonas Parello-Plesner
Taiwan is a geopolitical hotspot. Militarily, financially and the frontline of freedom. For China's leader, Xi Jinping, it is a prestige project to incorporate Taiwan into mainland China including using military force.
Economically, the stakes are high. China is the world’s second largest economy and a focal point for supply chains. On the other side, Taiwan produces the bulk of microchips powering our electronic everyday life. A conflict or even a blockade will shave trillions of US dollars of the global economy. The future of the world is at stake. The dividing line between democracy and autocracy cuts right through the Taiwan Strait. Since Nancy Pelosi's visit in August 2022 and China's largest military exercises in decades, the Chinese military has attempted to establish a "new normal" with almost constant military incursions. Chinese and Taiwanese jet fighters in the air have become a part of everyday life for the Taiwanese population.
Author & Alliance of Democracies Foundation executive director Jonas Parello-Plesner shares how the Taiwanese ensure their resilience against China. He has talked to top politicians, microchip executives, military personnel, Taiwanese volunteer soldiers in Ukraine, and digital experts to draw a close-up picture of the resilience of the small island democracy. A must read for every reader interested in geopolitics and the story of Taiwan's struggle against their big neighbor.
Available to buy in Danish or in English edition in foyer. The English version was reviewed in Foreign Affairs and in Politico China Watcher.
The Technological Republic by Alex Karp
Silicon Valley has lost its way.
Our most brilliant engineering minds once collaborated with government to advance world-changing technologies. Their efforts secured the West’s dominant place in the geopolitical order. But that relationship has now eroded, with perilous repercussions.
Today, the market rewards shallow engagement with the potential of technology. Engineers and founders build photo-sharing apps and marketing algorithms, unwittingly becoming vessels for the ambitions of others. This complacency has spread into academia, politics, and the boardroom. The result? An entire generation for whom the narrow-minded pursuit of the demands of a late capitalist economy has become their calling.
In this groundbreaking treatise, Palantir co-founder and CEO Alexander C. Karp and Nicholas W. Zamiska offer a searing critique of our collective abandonment of ambition, arguing that in order for the U.S. and its allies to retain their global edge—and preserve the freedoms we take for granted—the software industry must renew its commitment to addressing our most urgent challenges, including the new arms race of artificial intelligence. The government, in turn, must embrace the most effective features of the engineering mindset that has propelled Silicon Valley’s success.
Above all, our leaders must reject intellectual fragility and preserve space for ideological confrontation. A willingness to risk the disapproval of the crowd, Karp and Zamiska contend, has everything to do with technological and economic outperformance.
At once iconoclastic and rigorous, this book will also lift the veil on Palantir and its broader political project from the inside, offering a passionate call for the West to wake up to our new reality.
The Republic is a journal published by The Palantir Foundation, featuring commentary and essays on technology, national security policy, and international affairs: https://therepublicjournal.com/
Complimentary copies available in the foyer. First come, first serve.
Tech Impact Corner
The Tech for Democracy Impact Accelerator (TDIA)
The Tech for Democracy Impact Accelerator was launched at a critical time when state-sponsored threat groups are attacking government institutions across Europe, endangering systems and civil society organizations, making it more vital than ever to foster resilience against these threats. As part of the accelerator, posters showcasing the Impact Projects will be exhibited at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit.
Kristin Sigus – the artist behind these posters - is an Estonian born, Copenhagen based multidisciplinary artist. Inspired by the enterprising solutions of the Impact Leaders and their efforts on tackling democratic challenges, Sigus translates the organisations as developers of new tools in the toolbox of democracy. A parallel with tools shows the action that is taken to improve the quality and strength of different things; in this case it is done with democracy.
AI as a new reality plays a significant role in the means of the Impact Leaders, to highlight this, Sigus is proposing a contrast of something real, and something hand-made in the execution of the posters. The new tools for democracy are co-created with AI by humans for humans. As a combination of mixed-media, craft and hand-drawn elements, the feel of human should shine through. Every poster is treated separately, while the concept of a toolbox for a better future gives continuity to the ensemble.
As a creator Kristin Sigus defines herself as an observer. Using the societal climates; experiences-expressions of the society as her main source of inspiration, art is her medium to communicate and comment on cultural and historical contexts. Her work is linked to elements that are readable and relatable for the audience with the aim of bringing them to discussion and interpretation.
CFG Tech
The Centre for Future Generations is bringing some of their work to life in the Tech Impact Corner, where our Advanced AI, Climate Interventions, and Neurotechnology teams will share insights and demos related to emerging tech and democracy.
Lumi Global
Lumi Global powers the meetings and elections that matter for the world’s most trusted decisions, ensuring seamless, engaging experiences for in-room and online participants. Lumi Global’s cutting-edge technology and unique global presence empower informed decision-making across annual meetings, member-based meetings, legislative meetings, elections, IR meetings, and earnings calls. With over 30 years of industry innovation, Lumi Global collaborates with customers to simplify complexity and deliver flawless, stress-free meetings that foster accountability and meaningful engagement.
Activist Corner
The Pillar of Shame by Jens Galschiøt
The Pillar of Shame is an eight meter tall, copper sculpture, erected in Hong Kong in 1997 by Danish artist, Jens Galschiøt. The statue depicts 50 torn and twisted bodies to symbolize those who died in the government crackdown of the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 in Beijing. In 2021 China removed the Pillar of Shame from the University of Hong Kong, which has led to an international scandal.
The Pillar of Shame was the only monument in China to commemorate the thousands who died at the Tiananmen Square massacre. By removing the sculpture, China is trying to erase the event from their history. At present the Pillar of Shame locked inside a container in Hong Kong, and China refuses to let the artist bring it back to Europe - as this is a collective symbol of Hong Kongers being suppresed by China.
Meanwhile copies of the sculpture are being 3D-printed all over the world. China took down one Pillar of Shame and got thousands in return.
The Art of Winning by Tech Force UA
The Art of Winning Project by Tech Force in UA was launched on February 21, 2025, in Kyiv. The next stops include world capitals such as Brussels, Rome, London, and Washington. But the first foreign city where they are presenting The Art of Winning is Copenhagen. And this is no coincidence. After all, Denmark was perhaps the first country to do everything possible and impossible to support the Ukrainian people and their Armed Forces from the first days of the full-scale invasion. Denmark handed all its Caesar self-propelled howitzers to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Denmark was also the first country to join the fundraising initiative aimed at developing Ukraine’s defence industry.
Ukrainian drones present a unique example of how brainpower defeats brute force. This is knowledge we are obliged to share with the world. The Art of Winning Project is the first international project by the alliance of private Ukrainian arms producers — Tech Force in UA — that showcases our innovative struggle to the world. The Art of Winning is more than just a series of photographs. This exhibition tells the story of how Ukrainians turned technology into a tool of liberation and transformed brainpower into a weapon. Each image is evidence of how Ukraine leverages brainpower and creativity to protect its people, change the course of the war, and shape the future.
Saint Javelin Merch
Saint Javelin started on February 16, 2022 as a simple sticker fundraiser meant to help Ukrainian orphans who had lost their parents to war since 2014, but on February 24, 2022, the Russians launched their full scale invasion and Saint Javelin became a global symbol of support for Ukraine. Tens of thousands of people bought Saint Javelin stickers, and shirts to show they support Ukraine, and since then we've been able to donate over $2M from our sales, as well as over $3M from additional fundraising campaigns.
Saint Javelin has evolved from a fundraiser, to a global military inspired apparel brand, with the goal of producing every item in Ukraine, supporting Ukrainian manufacturers and creating exceptional products that showcase the nation's relentlessness and craftsmanship. Our mission is to support and rebuild a free Ukraine
Reality Helicoide
Reality Helicoide allows others to experiment and be educated through experiential learning, seeing how it feels to be a political prisoner within one of the torture centers in Venezuela, listening to the testimonies of survivors about the atrocities committed by Venezuelan State intelligence services, and standing in solidarity with the victims. It is an experience in virtual reality that aims to educate, denounce, make visual, and measure the crimes against humanity committed by the intelligence services of the Venezuelan State in the torture center “El Helicoide”. In this space, we seek to honor and recognize survivors, victims, and their families. This is done by stimulating reflection, dialogue, and critical thinking about the atrocities committed in the country through an immersive experience that encourages empathy and recognition. The experience allows users to develop a “memory” as a tool of training and teaching that transcends ideologies, divisions, intolerances, and preconceptions.
This, therefore, acquires a higher level of human consciousness. The experience allows users to undertake a practical course of effective and appropriate actions for them to be part of the search for justice, truth, reparation, and non-repetition. It is important to remember that the crimes against humanity that are committed in Venezuela are not crimes against Venezuelans, they are crimes against humanity perpetrated in the body of the Venezuelan people. This project aims to increase public attention to the case of Venezuela by expanding understanding and stimulating reflection, allowing others to debate and critically think about how the existence of torture centers today represents an attack on human dignity. This virtual reality experience exists thanks to the contribution of 30 survivors of this torture center who gave their testimony for the recreation of this experience. They also provided photographic material and evidence to enrich the experience.
The Political Prisoners Support Team
The Political Prisoners Support Team (PPST) is a dedicated network within the World Liberty Congress that provides crucial support to the families and advocates of political prisoners. With more than one million political prisoners worldwide, this initiative addresses an urgent need for coordinated advocacy, emotional support, and access to resources for those unjustly detained.
Ukraine House in Denmark
Ukraine House in Denmark is a cultural diplomacy institution dedicated to strengthening Ukrainian-Danish cooperation through art, dialogue, and civic engagement. At the Summit, UHD will share information about its current and upcoming projects, initiatives, and how individuals and institutions can get involved in supporting Ukraine through culture. As over 194 Ukrainian culture makers were killed during Russia’s full-scale invasion, we consistently elevate Ukrainian voices in Denmark and in the Nordics.
A selection of posters from UHD’s current exhibition, The Ukrainian Literary Poster, will also be featured at the stand. This striking collection of nearly 100 typographic artworks, created by the Ukrainian project Odesa City Letters, amplifies the voices of Ukrainian poets across generations, reflecting the nation’s resilience and cultural identity amid ongoing conflict. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase select posters on-site, with all proceeds supporting Hospitallers, a volunteer paramedic organization working on Ukraine’s frontlines.
Ukraine House will also introduce an installation “Democracy stands because the Ukrainian infantry stands”, an Installation by the Ukrainian Infantry presented by Ukraine House in Denmark in collaboration with the Embassy of Ukraine in Denmark and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. This powerful installation, premiered internationally during Copenhagen Democracy Summit and later to be placed at Ukraine House in Denmark, features combat-worn boots from the Ukrainian infantry soldiers who have served on one of the most intense frontlines of Russia’s war of aggression. These boots, marked by mud, time, and fire, are more than remnants of war — they are imprints of resistance. Unveiled in May to commemorate Ukraine’s Infantry Day, the installation honors the men and women who bear the weight of Europe’s security on their shoulders. These are the soldiers who stand in defense of Ukraine’s freedom, confronting overwhelming odds, relentless fire, and daily sacrifice. Their steps mark not only Ukrainian soil — they mark the front line of democracy, dignity, and the rule of law. A pair of boots tells a silent story of courage — of someone who stood so others may live free. This installation reminds us that democracy does not stand on its own — it stands because someone defends it. Europe stands, because the Ukrainian infantry stands. Glory to the Ukrainian infantry. Glory to Ukraine.