Tech Sovereignty into action: DIGITAL SME summit unveils Europe’s homegrown digital solutions
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European Commission’s Zaharieva, and Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Virkkunen, emphasised at the summit that tech SMEs must take the lead in boosting Europe’s tech capacity and strategic independence.
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At the summit, two milestone initiatives were launched: the Tech Sovereignty Catalogue and two labels, “Software-made-in-Europe” and “Software-hosted-in-Europe,” showcasing the very best in European digital technologies.
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The 2025 DIGITAL SME summit brought together over 500 participants from policymaking, industry, and academia to advance Europe’s tech sovereignty and competitiveness.
The third edition of the DIGITAL SME summit gathered more than 500 participants. Organised by the European DIGITAL SME Alliance and hosted at the European Social and Economic Committee in Brussels, the summit marked a turning point for the future of Europe´s tech sovereignty and competitiveness.
It did so by launching two concrete, milestone initiatives bridging ambition and action: the Tech Sovereignty Catalogue and two certification labels: “Software-made-in-Europe” and “Software-hosted-in-Europe.” These pragmatic tools make European tech solutions visible, verifiable and accessible, allowing public administrations and businesses to identify sovereign alternatives across the tech stack.
In his opening remarks, DIGITAL SME President Dr. Oliver Grün warned that Europe is in the midst of a decisive decade. With 80% of digital technologies still imported and global uncertainty rising, the continent can no longer outsource its digital future “Tech sovereignty”, he argued, “is no longer optional — it is instrumental to safeguarding the continent’s economic competitiveness”.
The summit’s discussions delivered a clear message: technological sovereignty is now operational.
Panels examined the European tech stack layer by layer — from data governance and cybersecurity to standards, AI, chips and cloud — outlining the industrial strategy needed to scale homegrown technologies.
A strong emphasis, throughout the day, was placed on:
- Competitiveness and strategic independence: the two issues are inherently linked. There is no real competitive advantage for the EU industry if it remains dependent on technologies controlled by others.
- Simplification as a key step to make room for innovation: The Digital Omnibus – together with the upcoming 28th regime – must deliver real benefits for homegrown innovators, who are currently constrained by a patchwork of overlapping laws; Europe now needs a genuinely simplified and harmonised framework that finally allows its innovative companies to scale.
- Data as a crucial strategic enabler of the tech stack: a rigorous implementation of the Data Act can ensure access to data and allow data-driven SME innovation
- Cybersecurity as a precondition of sovereignty: rules such as the CRA and NIS2 need to be workable for SMEs, for them to boost cyber resilience as a strategic asset in a world in turmoil
- Innovation policy as a trigger for investments in homegrown tech: SMEs and start-ups need to access capital that helps them flourish in Europe
- ICT standards are central to competitiveness: SMEs must shape them to promote uptake and interoperability
- Public procurement is Europe’s most powerful lever to boost demand for homegrown tech: EU procurement rules should include a clear European preference — the public sector must become an anchor customer for innovative SMEs
Throughout the day, demo sessions provided proof of Europe’s digital excellence in action — with competitive, deployment-ready SME solutions showcased across Europe’s tech stack.
As the Fireside Chat with Commissioner Zaharieva underlined, Europe must invest to ensure these companies grow, stay, and succeed on European soil. “Without innovation, there will be neither competitiveness nor sovereignty,” she emphasised, acknowledging SMEs’ role as backbone of the digital economy and highlighting further support measures, including the harmonised 28th regime and the Scaleup Europe Fund.
Closing the summit for the second year in a row, EU Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen called for SMEs to lead Europe´s efforts to attain tech sovereignty and underlined that Europe must now build capacity — from AI to cloud to quantum.
“I’m delighted to learn about the initiatives being launched today”, the EVP commented, “The Sovereign Tech Catalogue gives Europe what has been missing. Homegrown solutions already exist, yet consumers and businesses often do not know it. This effort finally creates a clear bridge connecting Europe’s sovereign digital ecosystem with the people who stand to benefit from it”.
The day ended by celebrating concrete achievements with the DIGITAL SME Awards, highlighting innovators delivering impact in skills, green and social tech.
“Sovereignty is no longer abstract: Europe’s homegrown innovators are already building it,” Dr. Grün summarised the day. “The Catalogue and Labels give Europe the tools to choose its own digital future.”
