Airbus Leads Call for European Sovereignty Fund
Funding | Mar 17, 2025 | Zawya
Airbus, Dassault Systemes, and over 90 European tech firms and lobby groups have called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to create a sovereign infrastructure fund aimed at increasing public investment in advanced technologies. The intention is to bolster Europe's strategic autonomy in critical digital infrastructure and reduce dependencies that pose security and sovereignty risks. The open letter emphasizes public investment in capital-intensive fields like quantum technologies and semiconductors. The discussion arises amid concerns around U.S. commitment to Europe and competitive pressures from China. Furthermore, the letter suggests a 'buy European' policy in procurement to boost domestic demand and investment. Notable signatories include OVH Cloud, European Software Institute, European Startup Network, and BPI France.
Sectors
- Technology
- Public Sector
- Finance
Geography
- Europe – The focus on European strategic autonomy and the involvement of European companies and institutions makes Europe the relevant geography.
Industry
- Technology – The call for investment in cutting-edge technologies and critical digital infrastructure places the article squarely within the Technology industry.
- Public Sector – The lobbying of the European Commission and the suggestion of procurement policies position this within the Public Sector.
- Finance – The discussion of a sovereign infrastructure fund involves significant financial aspects, closely linking the article to the Finance industry.
Financials
- – The article discusses the creation of a sovereign infrastructure fund but does not specify a financial amount.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus | Companies | A European multinational aerospace corporation and one of the main advocates for the sovereign infrastructure fund. | |
| Dassault Systemes | Companies | A French software company involved in the call for a sovereign infrastructure fund. | |
| OVH Cloud | Companies | French cloud services provider supporting the initiative for a sovereign infrastructure fund. | |
| European Software Institute | Companies | An organization that is part of the initiative advocating for an EU sovereign infrastructure fund. | |
| European Startup Network | Companies | A network supporting European startups, involved in the call for increased infrastructure investment. | |
| German AI Association | Companies | A German association for AI companies, part of the advocacy for the fund. | |
| Amsterdam Internet Exchange (AMS-IX) | Companies | An internet exchange point in the Netherlands, supporting the push for the fund. | |
| BPI France | Companies | French public investment bank backing the initiative. | |
| Ursula von der Leyen | European Commission President | People | Target of the letter urging the creation of a sovereign infrastructure fund. |
| Henna Virkkunen | EU tech chief | People | Recipient of the letter addressing technology strategy in the EU. |