Europe Future Ready

Europe stands at a crossroads. While possessing world-class research capabilities and skilled workers, the continent has fallen behind in technological innovation and commercialization. The root cause is not a lack of talent or ideas, but a fundamental mindset problem: Europe views technology through a lens of risk rather than opportunity. Europe must adopt a strategic approach to technology, mobilizing its assets to translate ideas into globally competitive solutions. In a world where technology defines power, this strategic shift is an imperative: to protect Europe’s citizens, secure prosperity and global influence.

Chair

Participants

Three obstacles that define Europe’s current position:

1. Mindset: Europe must replace risk aversion with a delivery mindset that turns its research excellence and talent into technological leadership. A risk-based approach dominates policymaking, stifling innovation before it can flourish.

2. Misplaced Priorities: For too long, Europe has been underinvesting in future-oriented sectors and missed the opportunity to define its own strategic interests.

3. Structural Fragmentation: Overlapping regulations and unaligned strategies on important regulatory dossiers, bureaucratic barriers and fragmented capital markets prevent the emergence of European champions.

Three Pillars for Transformation

The Issue

Europe lacks a coherent concept of digital sovereignty and clearly defined strategic priorities. Calls for technological autarky are no substitute for genuine innovation strategy.

Our Proposals:

• Conduct transparent assessments of technological vulnerabilities and strategic dependencies

• Integrate economic and security policy, recognizing technologies as geopolitical instruments

• Pursue interest-driven partnerships on core technologies with like-minded partners

• Advance integration of core capabilities, particularly in financial services

• Reduce dependencies in critical infrastructure, e.g., through the targeted development of European consortia

• Strengthen cooperation between business, science and public administration on cybersecurity and cyber-defence (e.g. through joint situational centers, CERTs)

The Issue

Overlapping regulations cause fragmentation and deter innovation. Excessive bureaucracy hinders global champions.

Our Proposals:

• Simplify administrative processes and ensure decision-makers possess technological literacy

• Harmonize digital regulations across Member States – putting innovation first

• Develop unified approaches to data use and transfer within the EU and with trusted partners

• Align public investments with long-term technological priorities

• Lower energy costs and modernize grids for a digitalized, climate-neutral future

• Introduce an innovation check for EU legislative initiatives that affect the Single Market

• Develop an ecosystem of regulatory sandboxes that must be easily accessible for SMEs and start-ups

The Issue

Weak infrastructure, fragmented financing, and the absence of a Banking Union limit Europe’s ability to scale innovations.

Our Proposals:

• Invest strategically in energy systems, digital networks, mobility, and defense infrastructure

• Align geospatially important dossiers and strategies for future digital technologies and defence-friendly environments

• Foster competitive, innovation-driven markets to help European AI leaders scale globally

• Develop autonomous launching capabilities and satellite networks for economic and military resilience

• Prioritize European software and automation leadership, medical tech and space tech

• Complete the Banking Union to empower start-ups and future industrial champions

Call to Action: Changing the Narrative

Unleash Europe’s potential – make technology Europe’s decisive edge. The time to act is now. Europe possesses the talent, research base, and innovative capacity to become a global technological leader. What is required is a fundamental shift in mindset – from risk-averse to opportunity-driven, from fragmentation to unity, from regulation to innovation. Forge assets into a strategic edge – Europe’s secure and prosperous future depends on it.

This position paper synthesizes insights from industry leaders, policymakers, and academic experts to chart a path toward European technological leadership and economic renewal. It outlines the structural barriers holding Europe back and proposes concrete solutions to transform the continent into a global innovation leader.