How can Europe strengthen its technological autonomy, and what role do companies play in this effort? In this eco interview, Tyson Barker, Director of Digital Economy at Christ & Company, discusses digital sovereignty, technological resilience and the strategic importance of future technologies. Christ & Company supports companies and institutions with strategic positioning, public affairs and communications in digital future fields - from future tech, cybersecurity and AI to defence and geostrategy.

How far has Europe really come on the path to digital sovereignty?

Barker: Europe has made progress - both in terms of regulation and policy, and in concrete procurement decisions. Important steps have been taken to preserve freedom of choice and reduce lock-in effects. But the hard truth is: regulation alone is not enough. Europe is finally recognising what the US and China have long understood: whoever controls digital value creation holds the power. Procurement is a key instrument in this regard. Clear preferences for European digital infrastructure are needed - not rigid regulations, but targeted support.

A former German Minister for Economic Affairs once said: "In the age of the Internet of Things, the US has the Internet. We have the things." That logic no longer holds. Those who fail to build their own digital value creation capabilities will ultimately struggle to maintain their industrial strength.

What does technological resilience mean in practice for companies and the state?

Barker: Resilience is not about avoiding risks; it is about understanding them. It is about understanding where dependencies arise, when they become bottlenecks, and how they can be deployed geopolitically as leverage. The crucial point is to have alternatives and to retain the ability to act.

This is not merely theoretical. We can see it in concrete terms: whether in relation to cloud services affecting the International Criminal Court or Internet connectivity in Ukraine, we see how states are deliberately using technology companies to exploit dependencies as a geopolitical lever.

What Europe needs is investment in European players, an export control and market policy aligned with its own strategic priorities, more techno-industrial policy in technology and defence - and targeted measures to secure supply chains. The same applies to companies: those who do not develop their own resilience strategy now will find themselves reacting rather than shaping events later.

Which future technologies should already be on the strategic agenda today?

Barker: Quantum computing, fusion energy and new developments in health technology - these are fields whose economic and geopolitical relevance is currently growing rapidly. Germany already has world-class players in each of these areas. But it once had world-class capabilities in computer technology, solar energy and robotics as well. We know how that story ended.

"Keeping a close eye on developments" is no longer sufficient. Europe must recognise the promotion of these key technologies as strategically central - for national security as much as for long-term economic competitiveness.

How do companies successfully navigate the intersection of technology and politics?

Barker: The companies we work with are usually at the forefront of technology. The crucial question is: how does this translate into strategic influence? Two levers are crucial - actively shaping the regulatory environment and positioning the state as both a supporter and an anchor client. Both can only be achieved through the right dialogue.

Technological expertise is the foundation. But real impact is created through dialogue with political decision-makers and relevant stakeholders. Those who are visible and well-positioned in this arena help shape the framework conditions, rather than having to adapt to them later. That is precisely the core of our work.

About Christ & Company

Christ & Company supports companies and institutions with strategic positioning, public affairs and communication in digital future fields. Founded in Berlin in 2018, the company brings together specialists from the fields of Sustainable Strategy & Governance, Communications, New Media, Public Affairs and Ventures, supported by a network of experienced senior advisors.

Its expertise spans Future Tech, Cybersecurity, AI & Digital Markets, Finance & FinTech, Energy & Sustainability, Mobility & Infrastructure, Health Care and Defence & Geostrategy.

As part of the Christ Group, it operates alongside Joschka Fischer & Company and Cosmonauts & Kings, thereby combining political experience, strategic communications and digital expertise in a unique way. In addition, Christ & Company holds stakes in growth-stage companies as a business angel and venture builder.