Even though the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic shock threatens to derail a decade of progress, the European Tech has never been stronger. With more than 42 Billion Euro invested in 2021 in European start-ups, and over 190 startups surpassing the $1 Billion valuation milestone since 2000 (and therefore becoming unicorns), European Tech is trying to keep up with the rest of the world. But, the pandemic has also shown the great dependence on foreign tech companies, mostly from the US or from Asia. While we might have lost the battle on B2C business models and marketplaces, there is still hope in many B2B-related fields, for example, 5G, AI, cybersecurity, quantum computing, cloud, edge infrastructure, and industrial data strategy. Europe needs to regain its digital sovereignty and aim for a global level playing field. To make this possible, and build a supportive European eco-system, collaboration is key.
