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A recent survey commissioned by the digital association Bitkom shows that Germans consider the development of their own digital capacities and services to be urgently necessary. 93 percent consider Germany to be dependent on other countries when it comes to digital technologies. 79 percent demand that Germany should invest more in key digital technologies. And almost all of them (99 percent) think it is important for Germany to become more independent in digital technologies overall. 1,004 people in Germany aged 16 and over were surveyed.
"People in Germany want Europe to become more independent when it comes to digital technologies. This requires more investment and less regulation. More investment in key digital technologies by companies and a reduction in excessive regulation by politicians in Berlin and Brussels," says Bitkom President Dr. Ralf Wintergerst. "Critical technologies that do not come from Germany or Europe must definitely meet our requirements for security and sovereignty in practical application. It is also clear that we need cooperation with international tech companies on an equal footing, digital sovereignty cannot be achieved alone. Investments, measured regulation and strategic partnerships will create more digital sovereignty."
Conscious decision for digital offerings from Europe
A third of people in Germany (34 percent) have already made a conscious decision to use a digital service or a digital device from Europe. Another 27 percent have at least thought about it once. 34 percent say that they have not thought about it yet.
At the same time, consumers are seen as responsible: 87 percent believe that people must also adapt if Germany is to become more digitally independent. 62 percent are also of the opinion that short-term disadvantages should also be accepted if Germany becomes more independent in digitization as a result. At the same time, however, it also shows where there are often problems in practice: 55 percent often find switching to European providers too time-consuming.
So far, only a few European use digital applications and technologies
Only in a few areas have European digital applications and technologies already arrived in people's everyday lives.
The survey provides an initial orientation as to where European services are currently being used from the consumer's point of view:
14 percent say they already use European social networks, 13 percent a European search engine or browser and 11 percent a European messenger. 6 percent rely on European AI applications or chatbots, 5 percent on smartphones from European providers.
Wintergerst: "The interest in European offers is there. Europe must not only develop digital technologies, but also scale them faster and bring them into widespread use. This requires innovation-friendly regulation, more growth capital and public procurement that also gives young companies a real chance."
Source: Bitkom
Why European digital offerings can be an opportunity for founders and young companies
Building your own European digital capacities and offers opens up great opportunities for founders and young companies. One point: This reduces dependence on non-European platforms and creates new, locally adapted markets.
Start-ups can therefore develop innovative solutions for digital offerings that are initially specifically tailored to European needs.
In addition, the development of European technologies promotes the emergence of strong regional ecosystems. In these, start-ups could gain easier access to talent, capital and know-how.
At the same time, initiatives around digital sovereignty are creating new funding opportunities, partnerships and infrastructures that facilitate market entry.
For young companies, this means not only more room for manoeuvre in competition, but also the opportunity to develop interoperable and open solutions from the outset. These are based on common European standards and are therefore scalable across borders.
And finally, a clear European positioning – for example on issues such as data protection or sustainable digitization – can be a competitive advantage, simply because it creates trust and specifically addresses customer groups that value these principles.
