Europe’s Tech Leaders Unite to Counter Big Tech Power

At the 2025 Digital Summit in Berlin on November 18, Europe’s leading technology and industrial companies joined forces with policymakers and researchers to push for greater digital sovereignty. The initiative aims to reduce dependence on US and Chinese technology giants in key sectors such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors.

The summit unveiled a joint investment framework worth EUR 1 billion, designed to accelerate the development of European AI solutions and digital infrastructure. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized a “Buy European” approach, prioritizing European providers in public procurement to strengthen the internal market.

Critics, however, warned of a widening gap between political rhetoric and concrete implementation. Civil-society groups such as LobbyControl called for measurable milestones and binding commitments rather than symbolic declarations.

The summit underscores a strategic turning point for Europe: transitioning from a technology consumer to a technology creator. Whether the effort succeeds will depend on aligning political will, industrial execution and competitive scale in a rapidly shifting global tech landscape.

SK