As Europe pushes for tech sovereignty, one open-source advocate has a warning: don\u2019t forget global cooperation.<\/span><\/p>\n Amanda Brock, CEO of industry group OpenUK, told TNW that the EU must \u201cget real\u201d about the trade-offs of going it alone.<\/span><\/p>\n Brock said tech policymakers must move beyond \u201ctit-for-tat schoolyard politics\u201d and instead \u201cprotect global collaboration whilst ensuring the needs of their citizens are met.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Her comments follow a speech by Eva Maydell<\/a><\/span>\u00a0in Brussels yesterday, where <\/span>the <\/span>Bulgarian lawmaker urged Europe to \u201csober up\u201d in its quest for tech independence.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Price increase this week! Register for TNW Conference by Thursday, 15 May<\/p>\n Save \u20ac\u20ac\u20acs and join 1000s of founders, investors and innovation champions on June 19 & 20.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWe need to have a very clear outline plan which, first and foremost, assesses where our strengths are, where we have certain dependencies, and where we need to cooperate,\u201d said Maydell.<\/span><\/p>\n In a bid to reduce reliance on global tech giants, European institutions have been ramping up efforts to grow homegrown capabilities in areas such as AI, cloud computing, and semiconductors. These efforts have gained urgency amid rising tensions with the US and China.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, Brock believes Europe must beware of the trade-offs of tech sovereignty. She points to open-source software, which is freely available for anyone to use, modify, and share \u2014 and inherently requires cross-border cooperation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>Every time we hear talk of \u2018sovereignty\u2019 from the EU, in the next breath we hear \u2018open-source\u2019,\u201d she said. \u201cYet these two concepts sit in direct conflict, as open-source has global collaboration at its heart.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Brock urged Europe to invest in tech infrastructure and talent to support the growth of technologies such as AI, while remaining open to the rest of the world. \u201cNo one said it would be easy,\u201d she added.<\/span><\/p>\n Andreas Riegler, general<\/a> partner at APEX Ventures, agrees that Europe must continue to embrace global collaboration.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He warned against competing head-on with the US and China in technologies like cloud infrastructure or foundational AI models.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEurope must resist isolationist instincts and instead integrate into global tech ecosystems where app<\/a>ropriate,\u201d he said. \u201cNot doing so risks duplication of effort, talent drain, and diminished geopolitical influence in setting global standards.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Europe\u2019s tech sovereignty will be a hot topic at\u00a0<\/span>TNW Conference<\/a>, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam. Tickets for the event are\u00a0<\/span>now on sale<\/a> \u2014 use the code TNWXMEDIA<\/a>2025 at the checkout to get 30% off.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
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