On 24th September, Martel Innovate actively participated in the European Digital Independence event, a gathering that underscored the urgency for Europe to reclaim its digital autonomy. Central to the discussion was the need for Europe to establish the Eurostack, a resilient, homegrown public digital infrastructure that secures Europe’s sovereignty in an increasingly interconnected world. As one of the key messages, speakers highlighted how digital sovereignty is intertwined not only with technology but with Europe’s democratic principles and values.
‘Now is the time to focus on investing in public goods to develop independent digital infrastructures that protect our rights’, Francesca Bria, Professor of Innovation at UCL.
At the heart of the conversation was the recognition that Europe’s dependence on foreign tech giants poses critical risks to its economy and democratic fabric. Francesca Bria, Professor of Innovation at UCL, emphasised that Europe’s digital future cannot be left to external providers, noting that the region must build its own infrastructure if it is to remain competitive globally. A key point raised during the event was Europe’s over-reliance on non-European technology providers. Speakers emphasised the need for investment, with the Draghi report highlighting €800 billion required for the development of a strong and competitive Europe.
Cristina Caffarra, who is the co-founder of the Centre for Economic Policy Research CEPR, further elaborated that control over infrastructure is synonymous with power, making it imperative for Europe to avoid over-reliance on non-European platforms. The creation of the Eurostack would not only enable Europe to secure its digital autonomy but also ensure that the digital services developed are rooted in transparency, privacy, and democratic values—principles that are central to Europe’s identity.
A major focus of the event was the role of open-source technologies in achieving digital independence, because they offer the necessary transparency and interoperability. Participants called on European institutions to adopt open-source technologies to foster local innovation, ensuring Europe can become more self-reliant in the digital age. Integrating open standards will allow Europe to build scalable, secure, and transparent technologies that reflect the region’s commitment to ethical technology use.
The conversation also delved into the need for a digital commons approach. Several speakers stressed that democratic control over public digital infrastructure must be prioritised to ensure it serves the common good. Thus, involving communities would ensure that essential digital assets are not monopolised by corporations but managed through democratic oversight, enabling citizens to trust and participate in the digital future of their region. With public trust increasingly fragile in the face of corporate control of digital platforms, this approach is seen as key to ensuring a fairer digital future.
Throughout the event, several participants emphasised the risks of dependency on foreign tech providers. Recent disruptions in cloud services, controlled by non-European firms, have exposed the vulnerabilities in Europe’s reliance on external providers. The event reinforced the need for strategic intervention to create resilient European cloud infrastructure, ensuring that Europe is less exposed to these economic and security risks.
Further discussions focused on supporting Europe’s start-up ecosystem. Despite Europe’s strong record of innovation, many start-ups are acquired by foreign companies or relocated to more favourable environments abroad, weakening Europe’s position in the tech sector. By strategically investing in critical areas like AI and high-performance computing (HPC), Europe has the potential to foster self-reliance and support the creation of global tech leaders rooted in Europe. The call was clear: Europe must not only invest in innovation but also create an environment where home-grown talent can thrive and contribute to Europe’s digital future. For this we need a clear plan that will bring together all the parts and turn them into a thriving, competitiveness fostering ecosystem.
As the event closed, the consensus was that digital sovereignty is not merely a technological ambition, but a political and ethical one. Europe’s digital future must reflect its democratic values, rooted in transparency, fairness, and inclusivity. The Eurostack represents not only a pathway to technological independence but also a strategic step towards ensuring that Europe’s digital development serves the public good.
At Martel Innovate, we are deeply committed to supporting the creation of a resilient and independent European digital infrastructure. We firmly believe that open-source, interoperable technologies are essential to building a digital future that upholds Europe’s core values of democracy and transparency. Our efforts are focused on fostering collaboration across Europe, supporting local start-ups, and playing an active role in the creation of a sustainable Eurostack. By doing so, we aim to contribute to a digital transformation that serves both the public good and positions Europe as a global leader in ethical technology. In particular with the NGI Commons initiative, in which we are partners.
About NGI Commons
NGI Commons is run by a consortium that includes Martel Innovate, who coordinates the project, OpenForum Europe, the Open Future Foundation, the Linux Foundation, and the Centre Internet et Société (CIS) of the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS).
The project is a Cooperation and Support Action (CSA) within the Next Generation Internet (NGI) Initiative and will be carried out between January 2024 to December 2026.
About Next Generation Internet (NGI)
NGI Commons is part of the European Commission’s Next Generation Internet (NGI) Initiative. The NGI initiative aims to reimagine the internet as an interoperable platform ecosystem that embodies the values of openness, inclusivity, transparency, privacy, and cooperation. The end goal is to create a range of open-source and decentralised solutions, which provide an alternative to mainstream and help achieve digital sovereignty. NGI has already provided 1000+ innovative projects with more than 350 million euros of funding since 2018.
