“Check against delivery”
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure to attend for the first time your annual conference, as Executive Vice President in charge of Tech sovereignty, security and democracy.
The broad range of issues that you are covering and the variety of stakeholders that you are bringing together testify the major role played by space for EU competitiveness.
Today, I would like to share my vision on how to ensure tech sovereignty in Europe and why this is extremely relevant for space.
Tech sovereignty means two things: first, having a competitive digital economy; second having in place adequate digital rules that guarantee a safe space for EU citizens.
With the most advanced digital rules in the world, the EU is ahead on the regulatory front. Our rules aim to ensure security and safety for citizens, fair competition for our businesses, and protect democracy and privacy, as well as children from harmful content and abuse. They apply without discrimination to all companies operating in the EU
– whether they are European, American, or Chinese.
Let me be clear about it: I am determined to enforce these rules robustly and fairly.
I am equally determined to make the EU a global tech and digital leader. In the uncertain world in which we live, Europe must have unrestricted access to critical technologies such as AI, semiconductors, quantum and advanced connectivity. Unfortunately, today, 80% of them are imported from outside the EU.
We must close our innovation gap with global peers.
This is important because these tech sectors are engines of growth in themselves, but also because they help other sectors, such as space, to remain competitive.
Let me give you some examples.
Every day, we see headlines about the potential of AI to revolutionize just our life. Space is no exception. For instance, AI-powered simulations can help to optimize spacecraft and satellite design, launch trajectories, and mission operations. Even to process information in space itself.
At a time when the global AI race remains extremely competitive, the potential of AI in space and defence is yet another reason to ensure that the EU remains at the forefront of AI innovation.
We are already establishing seven AI Factories, which will put the latest AI-optimized supercomputers at the centre of a flourishing generative AI ecosystem, with access to computing capacity given to researchers and start-ups.
And we will continue in this track in the course of this spring.
Looking ahead, our Apply AI Strategy will focus on producing world class fundamental research on AI – with the help of the new EU AI Research Council – and on boosting new industrial uses of AI.
Our ultimate aim is to make Europe an ‘AI Continent’ integrating the most advanced models into strategic sectors.
Speaking of critical technologies, the satellites and launchers needed for missions simply cannot exist without chips.
Our efforts to boost the competitiveness and resilience of Europe’s chips industry through the implementation of the EU Chips Act are therefore vital for space.
I am thinking for example to functions like power management, controls, and sensing. Recently, we launched the
first five semiconductor pilot lines, for which the Commission has mobilized 3.7 billion euro and will continue to work with Member States and industry to ensure our strategic autonomy.
Another critical technology is Quantum. Here we can be more optimistic, because Europe has top quality research.
But of course, this is not enough. Quantum gravity sensors can enable the development of new reliable and extremely accurate navigation systems and enhance our defence capabilities. Quantum communication links in space can connect distant sites on Earth via quantum cryptography, allowing them to communicate without interferences.
For all these reasons Europe needs to stay ahead of the quantum revolution. This is why this year, which coincides with UN international year of quantum, we will launch a Quantum Strategy to support and grow Europe’s quantum ecosystem and continue investments in major quantum infrastructures. This will be followed by a Quantum Act with concrete legislative measures.
In the meantime, the EuroQCI initiative, an integrated terrestrial and space quantum communication infrastructure, shows that we are already investing in cutting-edge quantum technologies with real-world applications. As these technologies mature, the EuroQCI will be gradually integrated in IRIS², the new EU Secure Satellite Constellation.
Here again I want to be clear: IRIS² is not just a new technological flagship—it is a testament to Europe’s ambition and unity. A clear demonstration of the power of public-private collaboration to drive innovation and deliver tangible benefits to all Europeans by protecting our critical infrastructures, connecting our most remote areas and increasing Europe’s strategic autonomy.
But, space is not only vital to keeping our society safe, it also plays a role in the fight against climate change.
Through Destination Earth, space data can help us not only assess the past and monitor the present but also to predict events and model scenarios on climate adaptation and mitigation of future natural disasters.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
You might wonder how are we going to bring forward this ambitious agenda? The competitiveness compass that the Commission will adopt tomorrow will show us the way and drive our agenda for the next 5 years. One of its objectives is exactly to make the EU a global tech and digital leader.
To do so, we will mobilize the EU budget smartly. But even more importantly, we will encourage and derisk private sector investment in critical sectors, notably with the European Savings and investment Union.
We also intend to improve the business environment for companies in Europe, notably by simplifying rules, cutting red tape, reducing reporting obligations and digitalizing public administration at EU but also Member States level.
Skills are another essential ingredient. An European strength that we will reinforce by further developing our excellent education and research ecosystem, especially in fields such as AI and applied frontier sciences, but also by facilitating legal migration pathways of skilled non-EU workers.
Finally, we will maintain and expand strong partnerships with allies and key partners, to reduce our dependencies, diversify our supply chains of critical material and inputs, and create mutually beneficial economic and trade relations.
To conclude, I see a lot of challenges but also many opportunities ahead. I am determined to work tirelessly with my colleagues, Member States and European stakeholders but also allies outside the EU to achieve tech sovereignty in Europe, reinforce EU security and protect our democracy and values.
And I count on the space sector to play its role!
Source – EU Commission