The Race for Europe’s Digital Future

Technological choices have become tools of geopolitical influence, and calls for European strategic digital autonomy are multiplying. However, it is an ambition that has so far failed to materialize, hindered by structural dependencies and a lack of political coordination. Is it possible that the continent responsible for so many scientific inventions is incapable of responding to the challenges of US digital imperialism and China’s technological ascent?Far from being destined for subordination, Europe has the ability to transform its digital strategy into a driving force for sovereignty and self-determination. In this sense, building a strategic plan for European autonomy in digital development requires not only collective awareness but also a strategy articulated around a clear vision: protecting what exists, developing what does not and structuring what can be shared.

Defining a Real European Digital Industrial Strategy

A good plan starts with knowledge of the terrain. Systematically mapping current technological dependencies to identify the components that pose a risk to political sovereignty would be a crucial first step in achieving European strategic autonomy.

For example, in the 2023 publication Geopolitics of Digital: Imperialism in Giant Steps, we identified the ten most-used services available on the main cloud platforms – all US-owned – by European businesses. Each of these services had robust European alternatives, ready to support technological transition. However, due to a lack of visibility, coordinated investment and strong political will, choosing European solutions remains a marginal activity.

Choosing a Targeted Path to Digital Independence

Building European digital power does not mean replicating the centralized model that gave rise to US tech giants. Although it might be useful to create entities dedicated to market competition and public-facing services, the true mastery of political sovereignty lies in autonomy across key sectors that form the backbone of society – starting with health, security, energy, education and administration. Unlike other industrial sectors, digital technology has an inherent advantage: it is, by nature, decentralized and territorial. Another key strength of the European digital sector is its diversity: Europe does not have an equivalent to Silicon Valley but instead a dense and varied network of innovative small- and medium-sized enterprises. It has a wealth of talent that a skilled director could coordinate, structure and choreograph.

Directing European Digital Industry

Europe does not want for talent or technology, but it lacks a targeted industrial policy. The European digital sector often resembles a fragmented ensemble where players struggle to move beyond competitive logic. The solution lies in coordinating effort, identifying common anchor points and fostering collective responses in key segments, with concrete and operational objectives in both software and hardware industries.

In software, this means pooling infrastructure, such as data centres, and building a shared base using pre-existing components. This would provide businesses with a solid foundation to market solutions in a decentralized manner, ensuring compatibility and continuous improvement. Not only would such architecture support strategic autonomy, but it would also foster innovation through cooperative technical bridges, contributing to the emergence of a European digital commons. Building Europe’s digital capability does not entail replicating the centralized model of US giants. Europe possesses its own unique digital assets. This fabric must be structured and coordinated around a common technical foundation.

Strengthening Industrial Policy in Hardware

A more ambitious industrial policy is equally crucial for hardware. This would not simply involve fostering new European players but also protecting existing ones. The sale of strategic enterprises to foreign groups, especially in critical sectors such as submarine cable installation or essential digital infrastructure management would have to be prohibited.

Submarine telecommunication cables are of particular strategic importance and are currently subject to aggressive acquisition attempts by American digital multinationals and Chinese telecom firms. By targeting key dependency nodes – including both cable manufacturers and fleets of cable-laying ships – Europe can maintain leverage in negotiations with major players.

Technological Choice as a Political Act

Technological choices are not neutral; they reflect political and economic orientations that shape state sovereignty. Public decision-makers play a crucial role in this transition. Each technological choice – from the messaging services used by administrations to the storage of sensitive data – directly impacts European political and economic sovereignty. It is imperative that policymakers and key industries have access to European tools.

This strategy cannot succeed without a campaign to raise awareness of European alternatives. The Murena mobile operating system, derived from Android but stripped of Google trackers, demonstrates that user comfort can be combined with data protection. Similarly, Nextcloud provides a credible alternative to dominant office suites. In hardware, companies like SiPearl – specialized in high-performance processors for intensive computing – prove that Europe already has industrial potential. A competitive European digital ecosystem is achievable, but it requires collective mobilization to break the cycle of professionals trained on dominant tools inadvertently becoming ambassadors of the very models they depend on.

This dual approach – grounded in local investment and a shared vision – reflects European identity and provides a realistic path towards digital autonomy. Independence is not something that is declared; it is built, patiently, with rigor and determination. The tools already exist. All that is needed is coordination to turn potential into reality.