&w=1200&q=75)
EU Launches Initiative to Reduce Dependence on Foreign Technology
EU to unveil plan to wean itself off US, Asia tech
Image: Yahoo!news
The European Union is set to announce a comprehensive plan aimed at reducing its reliance on American and Asian technology, promoting European alternatives instead. The initiative, unveiled by EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen, focuses on enhancing domestic production in sectors like chips, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence to bolster European digital sovereignty.
- 01The EU relies on foreign providers for over 80% of its digital products and services, according to a 2023 report.
- 02New laws will be introduced to encourage the construction of data centers in the EU and boost semiconductor production.
- 03The EU plans to triple its cloud computing capacity within five to seven years through these initiatives.
- 04Current US cloud services dominate the European market, with Microsoft, Amazon, and Google accounting for 70% of it.
- 05The EU aims to impose sovereignty criteria for public contracts in the cloud and AI sectors to prioritize European providers.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
On Wednesday, the European Union will present a new strategy aimed at reducing its dependence on technology from the United States and Asia, promoting European alternatives instead. This initiative, introduced by Henna Virkkunen, the EU's tech chief, is part of a broader effort to enhance domestic manufacturing and maintain competitiveness against US and Chinese firms. The plan, termed 'technological sovereignty,' includes new regulations for chips, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence (AI), with the goal of building a self-sufficient digital ecosystem. Currently, the EU is heavily reliant on foreign technology, with over 80% of its digital services sourced externally. The proposed measures aim to triple the EU's cloud capacity in five to seven years and boost semiconductor production. Additionally, the EU will encourage public sector adoption of open-source software to avoid vendor lock-in and will establish criteria for public contracts to favor European suppliers. This shift reflects the EU's determination to secure its digital future amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
The EU's push for technological sovereignty is expected to strengthen local tech industries and reduce reliance on foreign technology, impacting various sectors including cloud computing and AI.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
Do you support the EU's initiative to reduce reliance on foreign technology?
Connecting to poll...
More about European Union
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.