Digital technology support in Europe must be strengthened

However, it remains to be seen whether the EU will actually live up to its self-imposed goals of strengthening Europe as a digital location. The budget for the EU's Horizon Europe research framework program is currently being negotiated.

The "Digital, Industry and Space" funding cluster plays a decisive role here. Here, all the much-discussed and necessary IT technologies and innovations, such as AI, blockchain, cloud computing and big data, are to be promoted in cooperation between industry and research.

Alexander Rabe, a member of the ICT strategic platform of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and managing director of eco - Verband der Internetwirtschaft e. V., appeals to the EU member states in this context:

"In the next few weeks, the course for the future of Europe as a digital location will be set as part of the negotiations for the Horizon Europe funding framework. We expect that the strategic importance of the Internet and digital economy and the significance of these technologies and innovations will also be reflected in the budgets earmarked for them."

The many announcements and assurances at European level regarding strengthening digital performance and sovereignty must now be followed by concrete impetus in funding policy.

This is the only way to make Europe fit for the future as a digital location internationally, Rabe continued. "Europe must compete with overseas and Asian markets in the field of digital technologies. This must also be reflected in the funding volumes made available to the relevant clusters.

A European funding volume of at least EUR 15 billion in the digital, industry and space sector is still the lower threshold for operating on an equal footing with international competitors.

In view of the current challenges, an increase in funding would be desirable here. Moreover, such funding would also send a strong signal to European IT professionals that it is worthwhile to conduct research and develop innovations in Europe on topics such as artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, blockchain, big data or cloud computing."