"SAP CEO Christian Klein hit the nail on the head with his criticism of the European AI strategy. It is true that Europe has been too slow to successfully adopt AI. Many companies have long relied on American cloud providers, automatically losing control of their data. And it is right that Europe should be much more consistent in converting its industrial strengths and data wealth into market-ready AI solutions.
But concluding that Europe can save itself the trouble of building its own digital infrastructure is too simplistic. Those who rely solely on software, without considering the technical and political foundations, are building on shaky ground.
Digital sovereignty is not just about good software. It is about the interplay of computing power, data sovereignty, clear rules and the ability to innovate independently. Without its own high-performance data centres, Europe remains structurally dependent on service providers outside the continent.
This dependency may not be a problem today, but it becomes a weakness when geopolitical or economic conditions change.
In a world where technology is increasingly intertwined with political decision-making power, business-oriented thinking alone is no longer enough. Those who do not control their digital infrastructure have to rely on external systems to operate even in critical moments. This can be convenient when everything is running smoothly, but risky when it matters.
The economic aspects also speak for our own infrastructure. Properly planned, Europe’s computing power can be used efficiently and turned into added value. When universities, start-ups and medium-sized enterprises have easy access to powerful technologies, innovation occurs where it is needed. Those who build these systems in an open, sustainable and reliable way not only create growth, but also build trust in digital policy, worthy of their name.
At the same time, it is undeniable that Europe needs to catch up in terms of application. But this cannot be achieved through flagship projects, but only through real transformation in industry, healthcare, administration and science. All this requires not only good ideas, but also access to computing power. Those who leave this foundation to others are giving up economic and technological freedom of action.
Europe now needs not a change of direction but a two-pronged strategy. On the one hand, investment in independently managed and sustainably organised European data centres. On the other, decisive programmes that promote the application of artificial intelligence precisely in areas where Europe has its strengths. Only by considering both aspects together can a system be created that enables innovation and remains competitive in the long term.
Christian Klein is right to demand that Europe focus its resources on impact. But impact does not occur in a vacuum. It needs structure, assumptions and freedom of action. An artificial intelligence strategy that focuses only on what seems useful today risks being powerless tomorrow. Those who want applications must also secure the infrastructure. Only in this way will Europe become an active shaper of the next digital era and not just a user of foreign systems.
The author is CEO of Silicon Saxony.
An AI strategy that focuses only on what seems useful today risks being powerless tomorrow.” [1]
Data centers require a lot of energy. As long as it is expensive in Western Europe, we will not be able to compete here. Russia has a lot of energy in use today and a large area of land and ocean to produce and sell us future energy. It is time for us to stop playing with the Ukrainian oligarchs and trade with Russia again. Otherwise, all the data centers that could be ours will be in China.
Western Europe is facing an increasing challenge in meeting the growing energy needs of data centers, especially those used for artificial intelligence (AI). Existing power grids are under pressure, requiring significant investment in transmission and distribution infrastructure and renewable energy sources such as solar, onshore and offshore wind.
Russia’s energy and data center potential
With its abundant energy resources, including hydroelectric and nuclear power, Russia is a potential alternative for building data centers or selling us the energy they need. Some Russian data centers already use cheap hydroelectric and nuclear power. In fact, the Russian State Nuclear Energy Corporation Rosenergoatom is building a large data center next to its nuclear power plant.
While Russia offers lower energy prices compared to Western Europe, the geopolitical environment surrounding its energy trade with the EU is challenging. The EU is trying to reduce its dependence on Russian energy, especially after the events in Ukraine. This has led to a significant reduction in imports of Russian gas and other energy products into the EU. However, the EU also recognises the need to ensure stable energy supplies and prices during this transition period.
Data centre competition and location decisions
The data centre industry is becoming increasingly competitive, with the US and China leading the way in data centre construction and investment in AI. The relatively slower growth in data centre construction in Europe raises concerns about its ability to maintain technological competitiveness and consolidate its regulatory leadership in AI if it does not have the necessary infrastructure.
Data centre location decisions involve balancing several factors:
Energy costs: this is an important consideration as data centres consume a lot of electricity.
Geographical location and proximity to renewable energy sources: locations with abundant hydropower (e.g. Nordic countries), solar energy (e.g. desert regions) or wind energy (e.g. coastal areas) can reduce energy costs and promote sustainability.
Climate and cooling costs: Cooler climates allow for free cooling methods, reducing energy consumption, while hotter climates require more expensive cooling solutions.
Government incentives and regulations: Some regions offer tax breaks, lower energy tariffs or other incentives to attract data centers. In addition, data localization and sustainability regulations are increasingly influencing data center development.
Data sovereignty and security: Geopolitical tensions and concerns about data security are influencing companies’ decisions about where to store their data.
The proposal to “trade with Russia again” to secure cheap energy for data centers involves assessing the complex geopolitical and economic aspects of the current EU-Russia relationship.
While Russia offers potentially lower energy prices for data centers, Western European countries are foolishly stuck prioritizing reducing their dependence on Russian energy and investing in their own renewable energy sources and infrastructure (there is not enough free land and ocean space for this). The decision on where to locate future data centers will likely continue to be determined by a combination of factors, including energy prices, access to renewable energy, geopolitical stability, and the regulatory environment. In this way, the EU will achieve corpse stability.
1. Europas KI-Strategie braucht kluge Anwendungen und souveräne Infrastruktur. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung; Frankfurt. 11 July 2025: 22. By Frank Bösenberg
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