New sovereign cloud collaboration combines SAP enterprise applications expertise with AWS cloud infrastructure, enabling customers in highly regulated industries to pursue AI innovation

WALLDORF — Amazon Web Services (AWS), an Amazon.com company (NASDAQ: AMZN), and SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) today unveiled plans to make SAP Sovereign Cloud capabilities available on the AWS European Sovereign Cloud, a new, independent cloud for Europe backed by a planned €7.8 billion investment from Amazon.

The collaboration builds on the companies’ longstanding partnership and SAP’s comprehensive new approach to digital sovereignty and AI innovation. SAP Sovereign Cloud capabilities are security-hardened cloud solutions from SAP, aligned with industry standards for regulated industries and governments. The collaboration will focus on uniting these capabilities and SAP’s deep enterprise expertise with AWS infrastructure and operational expertise to meet customers’ evolving digital sovereignty needs across Europe.

“We’re delighted that SAP Sovereign Cloud capabilities will be available on the AWS European Sovereign Cloud. This will give organizations more choice in how they meet their sovereignty requirements while leveraging best-in-class cloud technologies,” said David Brown, vice president of Compute and Machine Learning at AWS. “SAP and AWS share a mutual vision – we want to ensure that our customers have access to some of the most advanced sovereignty solutions available, so organizations can focus on innovation and driving tangible outcomes. We’re looking forward to our ongoing collaboration with SAP and seeing the ways that organizations across Europe will innovate with the AWS European Sovereign Cloud.”

The AWS European Sovereign Cloud, which is set to launch its first AWS Region in Brandenburg, Germany by the end of 2025, is designed to give public sector organizations and customers in highly regulated industries further choice. The offering can help these organizations meet their unique digital sovereignty needs, including data residency, operational autonomy, and resiliency requirements. SAP Sovereign Cloud capabilities are already available on AWS in Australia and New Zealand (since 2023), the UK (since 2024), Canada and India (since 2025), and the addition of SAP’s capabilities to the AWS European Sovereign Cloud is a significant milestone for customers across Europe.

SAP Sovereign Cloud empowers organizations to innovate more securely, comply with local laws, and scale on their own terms. SAP Sovereign Cloud on AWS European Sovereign Cloud solutions will initially include SAP Business Technology Platform and SAP Cloud ERP. These solutions will provide customers with a secure foundation for managing critical business processes and sensitive data, while supporting compliance with relevant regulations.

“With our expanded SAP Sovereign Cloud offerings, we’re enabling customers across all industries to harness the full power of cloud innovation and AI,” said Thomas Saueressig, Member of the Executive Board of SAP SE, Customer Services and Delivery. “By deploying the SAP Sovereign Cloud portfolio on the AWS European Sovereign Cloud, customers gain access to our comprehensive suite of sovereign cloud solutions, further strengthened by our trusted, long-standing partnership with Amazon Web Services.”

The AWS European Sovereign Cloud will be separate and independent from AWS’s existing Regions and will have no critical dependencies on non-EU infrastructure. Backed by strong technical controls, sovereign assurances, and legal protections, customers can benefit from the full capacity of AWS with the same industry-leading security, resilience, and expansive service portfolio available in existing Regions.

AWS and SAP have been innovating in the cloud together for more than 16 years.  This new collaboration builds on that history to support customers’ digital sovereignty requirements and accelerate their digital transformation in Europe.

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About Amazon Web Services

Since 2006, Amazon Web Services has been the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud. AWS has been continually expanding its services to support virtually any workload, and it now has more than 240 fully featured services for compute, storage, databases, networking, analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), mobile, security, hybrid, media, and application development, deployment, and management from 120 Availability Zones within 38 geographic regions, with announced plans for 10 more Availability Zones and three more AWS Regions in Chile, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the AWS European Sovereign Cloud. Millions of customers—including the fastest-growing startups, largest enterprises, and leading government agencies—trust AWS to power their infrastructure, become more agile, and lower costs. To learn more about AWS, visit aws.amazon.com.

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.

About SAP

As a global leader in enterprise applications and business AI, SAP (NYSE:SAP) stands at the nexus of business and technology. For over 50 years, organizations have trusted SAP to bring out their best by uniting business-critical operations spanning finance, procurement, HR, supply chain, and customer experience. For more information, visit www.sap.com.

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E.ON Digital Technology, one of Europe’s largest energy companies, operates across energy distribution networks, infrastructure solutions, and retail. As the company grew, so did the complexity of its data and operations. Legacy ERP systems, combined with decentralization and ambitious green transformation goals, could no longer keep pace.

The solution was clear: implement a cloud-based ERP architecture designed to adapt, scale, and drive a full-scale transformation.

Building strategy on speed and people

E.ON Digital Technology’s move to the cloud was never about chasing modernity for its own sake, but about seizing control in a fast-moving world. The company understood that transformation is not only about technology; it’s about people and their needs.

Together with employees, E.ON Digital Technology crafted a strategic vision to keep pace with rapid technological change while empowering teams to deliver real solutions. At the core of this transformation was the Digital Lighthouse Project, which became the guiding force through the complexities of digitization.

As Athanasios Tabakis, the lead of the Digital Lighthouse technology at E.ON Digital Technology, explained, “We’re not just implementing isolated solutions; we’re building a platform that integrates speed, planning, reporting, cost transparency, and AI into one seamless ecosystem.”

This cloud ERP foundation shattered old habits, igniting true transformation by putting agility and speed at the heart of the business.

Today, E.ON Digital Technology boasts an intuitive, adaptive, finance-first design, built around how people actually work. The company’s guiding principle remains unchanged: transformation doesn’t start with systems; it starts with trust and clarity.

Max Englisch, manager of Finance Transformation at PwC Germany, emphasized the human and scalable nature of the project: “This has never just been about technology. It was about creating a vision that scales, brings people in, and drives real impact — not only for E.ON Digital Technology, but also across the entire company.”

PwC Germany continues to support E.ON Digital Technology in rolling out this vision, ensuring the Digital Lighthouse remains a catalyst for change.

Beyond technology: culture, process, mindset

Standardizing across a complex group like E.ON Digital Technology involves far more than technical upgrades. It requires navigating cultural, operational, and political layers. The S/4 United Program, the backbone of Digital Lighthouse, launched the company’s journey toward SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition as the “mother ship” guiding the entire enterprise.

Innovation layers were carefully added on top to balance strategic consistency with the flexibility to differentiate. Early work focused on identifying where processes could deliver efficiency and value, laying a solid foundation for future-proof operations. As Tabakis put it, “The future of ERP is invisible. It anticipates your needs, speaks your language, and acts when it truly matters. It is not just digital; it is almost human.”

E.ON Digital Technology’s transformation challenges the entrenched mindset of “this is always how we’ve always done it.” In a heavily regulated and complex energy sector, data consistency is critical for both compliance and for confident decision-making. By building a semantic layer aligned with business logic, the company moves from fragmented inputs to coherent, faster decisions with increased accountability.

“Success comes from those who relentlessly pursue their vision until it becomes a reality,” Englisch added. “That’s exactly what E.ON Digital Technology has achieved.”

E.ON Digital Technology embraces AI and flexibility for the future

E.ON Digital Technology’s innovation journey did not stop at cloud ERP. Early adoption of generative AI transformed data into conversational insights. Now, the company is advancing toward agentic AI, where AI proactively supports decision-making by alerting teams to deviations and nudging interventions before the issues arise. In energy finance, where timing is everything, this responsiveness is a game changer.

Trust in AI remains paramount. Tabakis noted that “true confidence in AI comes when it aligns with how people think and work. Our mission is to build that trust step-by-step, helping people see AI not as a threat, but as a powerful ally to accelerate their work.” This human-centered approach is essential in a world where half embrace AI’s promise and half fear its impact.

The energy transition itself demands agility. Renewables introduce volatility, and new consumption patterns like heat pumps and electric mobility add complexity. The grid must balance supply and demand in real time, pushing E.ON Digital Technology’s business units — and adding their IT teams — to stay flexible.

To manage this, E.ON Digital Technology relies on SAP Profitability and Performance Management, a real-time financial management engine that mirrors actual usage, supports dynamic modeling, and scales with demand within the ERP. This technology allows the company to trace billions in value flows accurately and auditable, ensuring flexibility and compliance go hand in hand.

Englisch summarized the future vision: “The future of ERP lies in creating an open, connected data foundation that integrates SAP and non-SAP sources, enabling scalable data products and AI-ready architectures. It’s about moving beyond process efficiency to real-time insights that empower business users to unlock true value.”

E.ON Digital Technology’s transformation journey shows how cloud ERP, combined with human centered approach and cutting-edge AI, can drive speed, trust, and agility in the complex, rapidly evolving energy landscape. It is a blueprint for how companies can not only adapt but also lead in the digital age.

Since 1994, SAP has showcased publicly accessible art exhibitions at its Walldorf training center while simultaneously building its own collection of now more than 2,000 works. SAP’s art historian Alexandra Cozgarea has been responsible for art at headquarters since 2008.

On a cold day in February 2023, Cozgarea stood alone in building one on the Walldorf campus. In just a few days, the building’s renovation was set to begin. Workstations and meeting rooms has already been cleared, heating and water had been shut off.

About 400 pieces of artwork were still on the walls, all of which she needed to personally take down, document, and have professionally packed — a logistical masterpiece that demonstrates the importance of art at SAP.

From Hasso Plattner’s vision to corporate collection

SAP’s art collection traces back to co-founder Hasso Plattner, a passionate art collector. “He was the driving force behind bringing art to SAP,” Cozgarea explains. Until his departure from operational business, Plattner was involved in art selection decisions for SAP. “At the time, art at SAP was handled at the Executive Board level, specifically by Hasso’s staff.”

But the company didn’t just acquire its own art objects. As early as 1994 and 1995, the first of now 60 exhibitions of contemporary artists took place at the Walldorf training center. What made it special was that the exhibitions were publicly accessible from the beginning, a deliberate step to promote interest in art in the region and encourage exchange with SAP and its employees.

“We opened ourselves to everyone who wanted to visit SAP,” Cozgarea emphasizes. “Art is a good way to start conversations.”

External visitors were able to gain an unusual insight into a technology company while simultaneously experiencing contemporary art.

Encounters between company and society

The exhibitions create a special place of encounter. An average of 400 to 600 visitors attend the opening receptions, a mix of about 30 percent SAP employees and 70 percent external guests.

“What’s beautiful is that people come together and talk with each other,” Cozgarea explains. “Whether about art or other topics – art creates connections.”

These encounters extend across various target groups: school classes use the exhibitions for workshops, students from Heidelberg University of Education develop their own projects based on the themes shown, and corporate groups incorporate tours into their team days.

From South Africa to NFT art: 60 exhibitions

Since 2008, Cozgarea has curated almost 30 of the total 60 art exhibitions at SAP. The themes have ranged from social questions to technological developments. “I observe a lot, research, and then make contact with artists or institutions. Over time, ideas come to life that address social questions and developments or that have a connection to SAP themes,” she says, describing her curatorial approach.

In 2018, SAP was one of the first companies worldwide to present an NFT art exhibition, with the title “Poetry of the Blockchain.” The 2023 exhibition “The Metaverse: Dreamland or Dystopia?” was dedicated to the metaverse theme and is currently viewable via virtual tour. The design thinking methods that have been in use at SAP for many years are addressed in the exhibitions “Fail Early and Often” and “From Bauhaus to AppHaus” (both 2019). Other exhibitions like “Un Paseo de Arte Latino” (2016) and “South African Identities” (2018) build bridges to cultures and continents where SAP is represented.

Currently, the exhibition program is on hiatus as new spaces are being planned as part of the training center renovation. During this pause, SAP offers online virtual tours that allow employees and non-employees alike worldwide to experience the exhibitions.

“That’s important,” says Cozgarea, “because this way colleagues and external art enthusiasts around the globe can visit our exhibitions – not just on-site in Walldorf.”

Art historian with a feel for corporate culture

Cozgarea came to SAP in a roundabout way — or rather, she came back to SAP. During her studies in art history and psychology in Heidelberg, she was a working student at SAP in Communications and supported regional art projects. After her studies, she gained further experience in corporate collecting at Heidelberg Cement. “We built a very focused corporate collection back then – everything around the theme of building and cement,” she remembers.

Then, in 2008, came the call that changed her life. “They asked if I wanted to come back to SAP. And I said: ‘No, of course not — I do exclusively art.’ They said: ‘That’s exactly why!’” SAP was planning at the time to professionalize its art program and set it up more structurally. For this, there was an independent curatorial role to fill.

Today Cozgarea moves fluidly between two worlds of technology and art. “I try to bring these together through themes and bridges,” she says. The connection is what makes her work particularly appealing to her.

More than decoration: art as an educational mission

For SAP, the most important aspect is not the investment value of the artworks, but rather the educational mission and employee development they support. “The intention was always to give something back to the employees and the region,” she explains.

SAP’s collection now comprises more than 2,000 artworks distributed across SAP locations in Germany. Teams in Germany may borrow art for their offices and team rooms, a service that was originally reserved for top management but is now open to all interested parties.

“Colleagues appreciate the very personal approach,” Cozgarea says, describing the process. “They come to me, we select a piece of art together, and then we organize transport and hanging.” Many employees appreciate this small break from their work routine to select a picture.

The 400 artworks removed from building one, currently closed due to renovation, are waiting in the training center’s storage facilities for their next deployment. Some will re-enter building, but many of them will also be available to all employees in Germany for the first time.

The HARTING Technology Group has established itself as a pioneer in sustainability and a leading provider of connectivity solutions for industrial technologies. With the implementation of SAP Sustainability Footprint Management, part of the SAP Sustainability portfolio, HARTING has automated and scaled CO₂ emission calculations for 13,000 materials.

This data-granular, verifiable, one-click solution supports the company on its path to carbon neutrality by 2030.

Challenges and opportunities

HARTING faced the challenge of finding a reliable method to calculate CO₂ emissions across thousands of production materials while meeting customer and supplier expectations regarding sustainability. Leveraging its existing ERP application landscape with SAP and maintaining established green production and renewable energy processes were crucial.

“Conducting our business and protecting the environment are not mutually exclusive. We are convinced that we must consider both to be successful in the long run,” says Dietmar Harting, member of the Board and partner of the HARTING Technology Group.

Innovations for a sustainable future

Considered the connectivity gold standard across various industrial sectors, HARTING required a robust system to accurately assess emissions. SAP Sustainability Footprint Management can automate data collection, scale emission calculations, and create CO₂ transparency throughout the supply chain. “The key to communicating our CO₂ emissions transparently and recognizing potential for reduction lies in the automated calculation and granularity of the data provided by SAP Sustainability Footprint Management,” explains Dr. Stephan Middelkamp, general manager, Quality and Technology at HARTING.

This solution enables HARTING to provide real-time, granular data to support the “GreenLine” label, an environmentally sustainable designation highlighting renewable materials offering up to a 70% CO₂ reduction.

Strengthening sustainable production

With SAP Sustainability Footprint Management, HARTING can now precisely calculate and report product carbon footprints. This capability is essential to address upcoming EU sustainability regulations, such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and Digital Product Passport. The solution helps simplify complex data into verifiable, one-click results, promoting sustainable production practices.

Also integrated into HARTING’s sustainability strategy is the use of SAP Responsible Design and Production, which helps the company design products responsibly from the start, reduce plastic taxes, and promote recycling.

“The site-level data derived from SAP Sustainability Footprint Management will drive cleaner production in environmentally friendly facilities while mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and reducing the impact on water and land life. Green is how we think, green is how we act,” emphasizes Jordy Brinks, global environmental manager at HARTING.

On the path to a greener future

SAP is advancing HARTING’s sustainability journey by enabling the company to design products more sustainably, reduce plastic taxes, promote responsible sourcing, and further recycling practices. With these efforts, HARTING aims to achieve carbon neutrality at all locations by 2030, underscoring its commitment to sustainable growth and environmental stewardship.

“As a family business, we combine consistency with a willingness to innovate and regional loyalty. For us, this means taking responsibility for people and the environment,” Harting says. “We’re not only shaping a livable planet for our future generations, we’re making the future possible. We want to shape the future with technologies for people.”

The HARTING Technology Group continues to drive meaningful change, connecting business success with a greener future and aligning family ideals with sustainability goals.

HARTING at the 2025 SAP Innovation Awards

All of these efforts did not go unnoticed: HARTING has long been recognized as a pioneer in sustainability. This year, it won an SAP Innovation Award in the Sustainability Hero category, leveraging SAP Responsible Design and Production to create 85% of its plastic packaging material from recycled materials.

This article first appeared on the German SAP News Center.