Make European digitalisation a project to be proud of

May 15, 2025

Debate on digital sovereignty: “Feeling urgent is good, panic absolutely not”

The call for digital independence is louder than ever. The dominance of American hyperscalers like Amazon and Microsoft has led to growing concerns about geopolitical risks, talent outflows, and loss of control over critical infrastructure. They offer fast, accessible, and versatile services, but at the same time, the need to be less dependent on these foreign players is growing. Digital sovereignty is no longer an abstract ideal; it's an urgent necessity.

This has now also reached The Hague. A majority of the House of Representatives has stated that the government's widespread use of American cloud services must be halted. These services not only pose a risk due to geopolitical tensions but also lead to an outflow of talent and capital.

Strong starting position: Europe is not starting from scratch

The good news is that Europe already has a strong foundation for building a European digital infrastructure. We have a large number of innovative technology companies specializing in cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, data storage, identity management, and digital chains. European solutions are already available for virtually all components of a fully-fledged digital infrastructure. What's missing is the integration of these technologies into a cohesive and scalable ecosystem.

The Airbus model for the cloud

"If we connect them, we'll take a giant step toward digital independence," says Ludo Baauw, CEO of Intermax Group. "We really don't need to catch up for years. The expertise and innovation power are already there. If we model our strategy on the aviation industry, we even have a huge opportunity to be ahead of the curve in a few years."

In the 1970s, Airbus successfully combined European technology and expertise into a winning formula. The company has since surpassed Boeing in several respects. "Nowadays, Airbus aircraft outperform Boeing's, something that once seemed impossible. What can be done in aviation should also be possible in the cloud," says Baauw.

The role of government and companies

The European Commission, in close coordination with tech companies and digital service providers, must take the lead in this, but this takes time. In the meantime, we can work more quickly on a national government cloud, with a wide range of services, based on open standards and, where possible, open source. Consider privacy-sensitive information relevant to healthcare, security, defense, and Rijkswaterstaat (the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management). This would not only improve data security but also boost European tech companies that are currently being overshadowed by American giants.

Urgency without panic

A sense of urgency is good, but there's no reason to panic, says Jan van der Wel of Technolutions. "We need to stay calm and continue to build a strong European digital infrastructure step by step."

Van der Wel believes that politicians and the media shouldn't be led by panic. "Current geopolitical developments have made them the ones who tend to shout loudest that things need to change. Yet, it's more effective if the government acts as a referee. They've only truly officiated effectively when the game has run smoothly and you barely notice they were there. Calm, invisible, but purposeful management."

Nuance and a sense of reality

The debate is currently too driven by sentiment, while a topic like data strategy actually requires common sense and nuance. It's as if we should suddenly be afraid that certain countries or parties can access our data, while protecting it should have always been part of your data strategy, agrees Jurgen Duijster of Transfer Solutions.

We really need to add more nuance and realism to the debate. Similar to recent years, the key lies in, among other things, a hybrid cloud architecture. This determines which data can be shared in the cloud, which data is better off in a private cloud, and which should even be kept on-premises. You won't be able to transfer all the data at once. So start with the most sensitive data and develop a realistic picture of what's feasible. This is based on sound data classification.

Knowledge and expertise in the Netherlands

Jan Bakker, founder and co-owner of Avisi, compares the situation to the rise of the internet in the early 2000s. At that time, there was enormous demand for IT and an immediate gap between software development and management.

"That was the moment when outsourcing and secondment really took off. But with that, we also lost a lot of process knowledge in the Netherlands," says Bakker. "The lesson from that is that you can lose knowledge and expertise very quickly when you outsource technology."

Bakker's main focus is on ensuring we can transition away from the American cloud when necessary. "We need a plan B for when American services are no longer an option. This goes beyond developing local products and services. It's primarily about developing and securing the right knowledge."

Invest in continuity, not in the quick fix

Establishing a European cloud isn't a sprint, but a marathon. Quick fixes, such as copying existing American models or temporary partnerships, won't work and won't solve the fundamental problem of dependency.

"What we need is a structural and long-term approach with local ownership, engaged collaboration among entrepreneurs, and social relevance focused on digital sovereignty, resilience, and innovation," says Erik Leus of DEC-Alliance. DEC-Alliance is an investment fund and collaborative alliance focused on the long-term sustainability of Dutch and European tech companies.

By investing in sustainable digital infrastructure and robust supply chains, we're not just building an alternative, but strengthening our ability to truly compete better with existing hyperscalers in the long term, where it's truly needed. This requires strategic choices and visions that extend beyond the short term. Businesses and governments must jointly invest in reliable, innovative, and scalable European technologies that will last for generations.

Help build digital sovereignty

Our call is clear: invest in the long term. Both businesses and government should consciously choose technology that contributes to our digital independence, safely, and reliably. We have the knowledge and innovation power, and the urgency is there. Let's steer the discussion toward initiatives we can be proud of.