On the occasion of a conference hosted by France (as President of the Council of the European Union), 12 EU Member States announced plans to invest 7 billion euros in the cloud. A program that involves 180 European companies in around sixty projects with the aim of developing the next generation of cloud services and infrastructures in Europe.
7 billion euros for the cloud
“Building Europe’s digital sovereignty”such is the name of this conference organized on February 7 and 8, 2022, the objective of which is to take stock of the progress made in recent years and to stimulate reflection and a dynamic on the continued construction of European digital sovereignty.
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This conference was also organized to advance three of the six main European strategic priorities: “supporting a new generation of technologies fit for the digital age, creating an attractive investment environment and building a modern, climate-neutral economy”.
It was on this occasion that 12 Member States of the Union (France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, the Czech Republic) published a manifesto common to announce their desire to “pre-notify the European Commission of an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI)”by the end of March 2022.
An estimated envelope of 7 billion euros will be put on the table to accelerate the development of the cloud within Europe. The goal would be to “create a continuum of services from cloud to edge”.
Support the emergence of technological champions in Europe
This new PIIEC is fully in line with the European data strategy with the Data Governance Act which aims to create a single data market. This is not a financing from Europe. The 12 Member States in question notify Brussels their intention to collectively inject funds in the cloud.
Cédric O, Secretary of State for the digital transition and electronic communications, present at this conference, specifies that “This project will bring together companies, laboratories and European academics. The idea is to create value and jobs across Europe while supporting the emergence of French and European cloud technology champions.”.
The alliance of 12 Member States also wondered about the emergence of a European cybersecurity model. Through European legislative initiatives, increased solidarity mechanisms between Member States, and the strengthening of an industrial fabric.
Bruno Le Maire, Minister of Economy, Finance and Recovery, also present at this conference, assures that the objective is now “to amplify this growth and position the European start-up ecosystem at the forefront of the international scene by activating all the financial levers and public policies”.
The Member States have announced that they want to make Europe the land of tech talent. Objective: to support the hyper-growth of European startups.