São Tomé and Príncipe’s Citizenship Unit Partners with UAE’s IOPn-Led Atlas Sovereign Smart Solutions to Power the Nation’s Digital and AI Transformation

The Citizenship and Investment Unit (CIU) of São Tomé and Príncipe, operating under the national Citizenship by Investment Program and represented by STP Service & Advisory FZCO, has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with Atlas Sovereign Smart Solutions LLC — a joint venture between IOPn and Betabytes, leveraging NVIDIA’s Sovereign AI Data Computing platform.

The partnership establishes a comprehensive framework to mobilize up to USD 10 billion in investments over the next decade, setting the stage for transforming São Tomé and Príncipe into the world’s first fully digital and AI-enabled island nation powered by sovereign technology infrastructure.

IOPn, a UAE-based technology ecosystem and partner of the NG9/Gewan Holding conglomerate, specializes in sovereign AI, blockchain, and data infrastructure. Atlas Sovereign Smart Solutions, led by IOPn and in partnership with Betabytes, an NVIDIA-certified cloud partner, is developing national digital frameworks, including compute centers, digital identity systems, and Web3 economies — empowering governments to achieve technological independence and sustainable digital growth.

Under the leadership of IOPn, Atlas Sovereign Smart Solutions will finance, manage, and execute key national projects, including the development of a Modular Data Center, an NVIDIA-certified AI Academy, and an AI Factory built on OPN Chain.

These initiatives will form the technological foundation for digital governance, blockchain-based e-citizenship and e-residency programs, AI-integrated public systems, and smart-city infrastructure.

Mojtaba Asadian, Founder and CEO of IOPn Ltd, stated: “São Tomé and Príncipe is not just adopting digital transformation — it is redefining what a nation can be in the age of AI and Web3. Together, we’re building a model for sovereign digital economies, where identity, innovation, and opportunity converge on-chain.”

Disney Ramos, former Minister of Economy and Director of the CIU, added: “This cooperation marks a decisive milestone for the CBI Program. It ensures that investments under the Program directly strengthen digital sovereignty, create employment, and position São Tomé and Príncipe as the Digital Lighthouse of Africa.”

The partnership also supports the creation of a Digital Treasury and Web3 Free Zone, designed to attract global fintech, blockchain, and AI enterprises — positioning São Tomé and Príncipe as a new innovation hub connecting Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.