Event Summary
Taking Stock of Europe’s “Tech Stack”: MSC Technology Roundtable in Brussels
On October 15, 2025, the Munich Security Conference (MSC) organized a Technology Roundtable in Brussels to review one year of the European Commission’s tech “competitiveness” agenda. High-ranking participants discussed Europe’s transatlantic tech partnerships and dependencies, its semiconductor industry plans, and, in a Night Cap session, Europe’s position in the new space race.
One year ago, the European Commission made “competitiveness” the guiding principle of a new, ambitious agenda. Strengthening Europe’s capabilities in high tech is central to those ambitions. Thus, European initiatives are targeting all layers of the so-called “tech stack.”
But in areas like semiconductors and space capabilities, Europe faces tough questions. Some issues may be addressed though compromises and cooperation with the US and other technology partners, others by doubling down on resilience or even independence. Against this backdrop, more than 50 policymakers and experts from the tech industry and civil society came together at the MSC Technology Roundtable on October 15, 2025, to discuss the global technology competition and Europe’s position in it.
Transatlantic Technology Ties: Unfriended?
Disputes over tariffs, digital regulation, and other issues between Europe and the US have created an “us vs. them” mentality in many transatlantic circles. The Roundtable’s first discussion session on transatlantic technology relations, suggested this framing is unhelpful: Real transatlantic cooperation is needed, especially at a time when China and some Gulf states are building advantages in artificial intelligence (AI), computing, and energy.
Participants acknowledged that Europe would have to accept and manage dependency on the US for some technological capabilities. Even so, Europeans noted they do not want to be treated by the US as customers but as partners. Participants agreed that Europe needs to leverage its existing technological strengths more. In order to grow its tech sector further, however, Europe would need to make serious reforms—including realizing a digital single market and deepening the capital markets union, allowing innovative technology companies to scale.
However, participants also highlighted, countries which aim to be leaders in new technologies should focus not only on innovation. Instead, the diffusion and broad adoption of new technologies like AI within societies will be a decisive factor in which countries will “win” the future. Yet, compared to the US or China, for instance, Europe is lagging in implementing across business and society.
Semiconductor Resilience: Fishing for Chips?
In the second session, discussions drilled down on chips—an area where Europe is simultaneously indispensable for and critically dependent on international supply chains. Participants highlighted that Europe should strategically use its unique competitive advantages more where the rest of the world is dependent on Europe, for instance with products from highly specialized, world-leading companies like ASML.
At the same time, Europe should remain protective of budding efforts to grow chip production in Europe. Without secure access to the requisite chips, participants agreed, much of Europe’s efforts in high-tech industry and defense would be dead in the water. To promote the industry in Europe, participants named more focused investment and other enablers like industrial ecosystems and guaranteed demand as policy priorities. Cooperation with the US, Japan, South Korea, and other high-tech partners was also considered essential for increasing resilience and resisting economic coercion.
Assessing European Ambitions in Space: Starry-Eyed or Down to Earth?
The Roundtable concluded with a Night Cap session on Europe’s ambitions in the new space race. Here, too, the discussion underlined the need to diversify and promote European solutions: Access to space should not depend on just a few companies. The role of the European Space Agency in helping new space companies take risks and scale was highlighted. Diversifying European and transatlantic space launch capabilities would also help improve deterrence in space, which is urgently needed.
As participants cautioned, space capabilities are very vulnerable, and just one strike or incident in earth orbit could make space unusable for the indefinite future. To secure space, European and US participants agreed, transatlantic and indeed global cooperation would be needed—to deter aggression, establish effective norms for conduct, and develop sustainable and safer space technology.
About the Technology Program
The Technology Roundtable in Brussels is part of the MSC’s Technology Program. Technology increasingly permeates every aspect of how states, societies, and individuals pursue their interests. The Munich Security Conference aims at advancing the debate on the regulation, governance and use of technology to promote inclusive security and global cooperation.
