Berlin (OTE) – On the eve of the Summit on European Digital
Sovereignty in Berlin,
leading European think tanks and experts announce the creation of the
European Network for Technological Resilience and Sovereignty (ETRS).
This new initiative unites research, policy, and industry to boost
Europe’s capacity for innovation and independence in key technologies
like AI, cloud infrastructure, and semiconductors. ETRS aims to build
the evidence base, foster collaboration, and shape policy for a
resilient and values-driven digital future.
Marking a decisive step toward European digital sovereignty, the
initiative is led by founding members the Bertelsmann Stiftung (
Germany), the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) (Belgium),
the AI & Society Institute (France), and the Polish Economic
Institute (PEI). Together with over a dozen inaugural institutional
members from across Europe they aim to strengthen Europe’s
technological resilience and sovereignty in an era of rapid digital
transformation and growing global dependencies. Europe currently
relies on the United States and China for more than 80 percent of its
critical digital technologies, which jeopardize not only the
continent’s economic competitiveness, but also its strategic agency
and democratic values.
„Europe has heard the wake-up call, but greater coordination and
evidence-based policymaking are needed. This is about more than
technology or economics. We want support fresh ideas that strengthen
Europe’s capacity to act with confidence in the digital age,“ says
Martin Hullin, Director Network for Technological Resilience and
Sovereignty at Europe’s Future Program, Bertelsmann Stiftung, and one
of the network’s initiators.
„ETRS will serve as the knowledge pool and connective tissue
linking Europe’s research, policy, and industry communities turning
fragmented efforts into a shared vision for technological resilience
and social and responsible progress,“ adds Constance de Leusse,
Executive Director of the AI and Society Institute. ETRS brings
together leading research institutions and experts to facilitate
knowledge exchange, conduct strategic analyses of technology
dependencies, and identify practical, evidence-based solutions. By
promoting policy advocacy for a European values-driven, open, and
resilient digital infrastructure, the network seeks to turn growing
political momentum around technological sovereignty into coordinated,
actionable strategies that help Europe remain innovative, secure, and
globally competitive. The network’s mission is anchored in fostering
stakeholder coordination and knowledge sharing through regular
dialogues and joint initiatives; conducting strategic mapping of
technology dependencies and developing metrics for tracking progress
on the way to tech sovereignty and resilience; and advancing policy
frameworks that support a sovereign and competitive European tech
landscape. Interested experts and institutions can express their
interest to join here: www.etrs.network
About the Bertelsmann Stiftung: Inspiring people. Shaping the
future.
The Bertelsmann Stiftung is committed to enabling social
participation for everyone – politically, economically and
culturally. Our programs include Education and the Next Generation,
Democracy and Social Cohesion, Digitalization and the Common Good,
Europe’s Future, Health, and Sustainable Social Market Economies. A
nonprofit foundation, the Bertelsmann Stiftung was established in
1977 by Reinhard Mohn.
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