New EuroStack Report Launched: A Bold Vision for Europe’s Digital Sovereignty

Commissioned by the Bertelsmann Stiftung, the report "EuroStack – A European Alternative for Digital Sovereignty" is supported by a consortium of leading institutions, including the Mercator Foundation, the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), and UCL IIPP. Led by IIPP Honorary Professor Francesca Bria and IIPP PhD Candidate Fausto Garnone with significant contributions from IIPP Head of Research Cecilia Rikap, the report outlines a bold strategy for Europe's technological future.

Described as Europe’s “moonshot” moment by Francesca Bria, the report sets forth an ambitious yet necessary vision for European digital autonomy. Bria states:

“The measures needed to implement EuroStack are ambitious and complex, but they are also urgent. Europe’s sovereignty requires a technological leap. The EuroStack is our digital evolution of the euro and the single market—a strategic necessity to secure Europe’s critical digital infrastructures and supply chains, attract talent, scale indigenous technologies, and uphold democratic values.”

At a time of growing digital dependency on global powers like the United States and China, the report presents a strategic framework to drive innovation, competitiveness, and sustainability in Europe’s digital economy.

Professor Mariana Mazzucato, Founding Director of the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP), praised the report's visionary approach:

“The EuroStack report is a powerful call for Europe to move beyond incrementalism and embrace a mission-driven approach to digital sovereignty. This isn’t about replicating existing models but about designing a values-driven framework that protects our environment, secures our data, and places public-interest innovation at the heart of economic transformation. Governments must forge symbiotic partnerships with the private sector to enable catalytic change. This means driving sustainable growth, closing Europe’s innovation gap, and building independent public digital infrastructures that enhance European industrial competitiveness.”

The report arrives at a pivotal moment, coinciding with the announcement of InvestAI at the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has launched InvestAI, a 200 billion euro initiative to scale AI development, including 20 billion euros for AI gigafactories. Positioned as a CERN for AI, this initiative aligns with the EuroStack vision by investing in sovereign AI infrastructure, ensuring that European companies and researchers can develop cutting-edge AI models without dependence on foreign platforms. Von der Leyen emphasized that Europe must move beyond regulation and actively shape its AI future, making technological leadership a cornerstone of economic resilience.

The EuroStack report emerges at a pivotal moment for Europe, which faces increasing digital dependency on global powers like the United States and China. Bria’s introduction to the report draws parallels between Europe's current digital challenges and historical moments of transformation, such as Robert Schuman’s post-war initiative to unify Europe through coal and steel. Bria argues that today’s equivalent mission is building autonomous digital infrastructure that turns Europe’s vulnerabilities into strengths.

The report outlines a detailed strategy for Europe to:

• Secure critical raw materials through alliances with resource-rich nations and urban “mining” of electronic waste.
• Strengthen semiconductor production, targeting 20% of global supply with hubs in cities like Dresden and Eindhoven.
• Develop resilient digital networks, reducing reliance on foreign satellite systems by prioritizing European champions such as IRIS².
• Create a sovereign AI cloud, combining public supercomputers and decentralized systems to safeguard privacy and accountability.

In addition to technological advancements, the EuroStack proposes transformative policy changes, including a “Buy European” Act to prioritize homegrown technology and a €300 billion Sovereign Tech Fund to fuel innovation in strategic sectors. The framework emphasizes democratic values, inclusivity, and sustainability as fundamental pillars of Europe’s digital future.

Martin Hullin, Director of the Bertelsmann Stiftung’s Digitalization and the Common Good program, underscored the urgency of this initiative:

“We have seen how vulnerable European states and economies are when ideological interests ally with technological and economic power in other parts of the world. To maintain its place, Europe must actively shape digitization instead of chasing trends that emerge elsewhere. It's time for Europeans to take control of their digital future.”

This report sets a bold agenda for Europe to regain control of its digital destiny. It underscores the importance of symbiotic partnerships between governments and the private sector to achieve transformative outcomes.

For more information, visit the full report available here: https://www.euro-stack.info  and contact the leading author, Prof. Francesca Bria, Honorary Professor IIPP, UCL London, Fellow, Stiftung Mercator, New European Bauhaus High-Level Roundtable, European Commission. francescabria.com