Only six per cent of respondents believe that the German government is giving digital sovereignty the priority it deserves. More than half (58 per cent) have observed little or no concrete commitment in recent months to establish the necessary framework. Public debate on the subject is also seen as stagnant. Just two per cent reported a ‘clear positive change’. The prevailing perception: a lot of talk, very little action.
Competitiveness at Risk
Companies are feeling increasing pressure to act. Nearly half (48 per cent) of the executives surveyed believe their own company’s competitiveness is at risk due to a lack of digital sovereignty. One in five (20 per cent) cite geopolitical vulnerability as their main concern. One in ten are also worried about either losing control of their data or facing permanent legal uncertainty.
The business sector has clear expectations of policymakers when it comes to safeguarding digital sovereignty. Companies want the government to take a more proactive, hands-on role. While 39 per cent call for increased support for fundamental research and digital education, 28 per cent want to see more government investment in local technology champions. When asked what key demands respondents would make of politicians at the summit, one in three expressed a desire for substantial investment in key technologies such as semiconductors, cloud computing and artificial intelligence. A further 23 per cent want a faster rollout of digital infrastructure – for example, fibre-optic networks and 6G – while a quarter of respondents are calling for stronger measures to prevent European tech companies being sold off to global competitors.
