Two-Pager: Reverse Dependency: Making Europe's Digital Technological Strengths Indispensible to China

Disclaimer: This two-pager has been prepared by the CKN Secretariat and should not be considered the work of the individuals listed as authors of the report.

Key Takeaways

• In adapting to growing geopolitical competition over digital technology, the EU and the UK are striving for economic security and technological sovereignty.
• European policies focus on reducing critical over-dependencies on China. This de-risking is a necessary process of adaptation to the new geopolitical realities.
• Europe’s greatest source of strength is research and innovation, but intellectual property and production contribute too.
• Technological superiority, as well as commercial, political and regulatory aspects, are all decisive factors in European technological indispensability.
• Europe should calibrate its levels of ambition by technology.
• Not every European technological strength carries the same degree of political leverage.
• Integrate strategic and commercial considerations for a durable technology policy.
• Balance strategic entanglement and autonomy as two elements of achieving European security.
• Policy recommendations for Europe are technology-specific and vary according to the level of ambition, from research promotion to knowledge security and commercialization.