ngi4all.e
16 de octubre de 2024
On September 24th, the NGI Commons project participated in the 'Toward European Digital Independence: Building the EuroStack' event.
This gathering focused on Europe's need to secure its digital sovereignty. Cristina Caffarra and Francesca Bria led the event, which brought together voices from across Europe, including Marleen Stikker and Adriana Groh, all members of the NGI Commons Strategic Advisory Panel.
The event centred on developing a European-led digital infrastructure known as the EuroStack. This initiative aims to ensure Europe's independence in healthcare, education, public services, and industry sectors. The goal is to create a digital framework managed as a public asset, supporting the interests of European citizens while maintaining EU values and protecting individual rights.
In the first panel, speakers highlighted the need for a coherent plan for this infrastructure. Europe must reduce its reliance on non-European technology providers and invest in solutions that integrate existing digital tools while enhancing autonomy. This effort would give policymakers more control over Europe's digital future.
The Role of Open Source and Investment in Europe's Digital Future
One key issue raised was Europe's dependence on technology from non-European suppliers. The event stressed the importance of investment, citing the Draghi report's estimate of €800 billion needed to strengthen Europe's position. However, a question remains: how much of this funding will be allocated to the digital ecosystem?
Open-source technologies were discussed as a potential way for Europe to create transparent and interoperable systems. These technologies are vital for maintaining self-reliance and allowing local innovators to build scalable solutions. Adriana Groh of the Sovereign Tech Fund noted that paying attention to open source could result in high costs for Europe, as replacing existing software infrastructure would be extremely expensive.
Strengthening Europe's Cloud and Digital Ecosystem
The need to improve Europe's cloud infrastructure was another point of focus. Recent disruptions in foreign cloud services highlighted the risks of dependency on non-European providers. Strengthening European-owned cloud solutions is important for enhancing security and digital sovereignty.
In addition, the event addressed the need to invest in high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI). Thibaut Kleiner from DG Connect mentioned that Europe has strong foundations in these areas, but collaboration is necessary to build the EuroStack. Europe's strengths in quantum technology, telecoms, and regulations offer an opportunity to create a competitive digital ecosystem.
The final message of the event was that Europe must work together to create a digital landscape that benefits all Member States. By adopting open-source technologies and building a cohesive digital environment, Europe can encourage innovation and enable communities to manage their digital spaces.
NGI Commons remains focused on supporting Europe's digital independence. By prioritising open, interoperable technologies and embracing the principles of digital commons, Europe can build a decentralised, democratic future aligned with the original vision of the Internet. The EuroStack represents a technical solution and a necessary step towards a more autonomous digital future for Europe.
