Tech sovereignty means staying independent, not going it alone

Europe can’t innovate in isolation, but it can avoid one-sided relationships, says Jakob Edler

Even before the coronavirus pandemic, technological sovereignty was rising up Europe’s political agenda. The pursuit of growth and prosperity, a desire not to be left behind and increasing geopolitical tension were driving the EU and its member states to ponder their dependence on technologies developed elsewhere and explore what they could do to reduce it.

The pandemic has amplified that activity. It has dealt a severe economic blow, highlighted the fragility of supply chains, increased reliance on digital technologies and brought a renewed focus on resilience.