Latest news with #technologySovereignty
Malay Mail
03-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Raise technology sovereignty for national resilience and competitiveness — Ahmad Ibrahim
JULY 3 — Protectionism is on the rise. The US, through recent pronouncements, gave clear signals of this. The US is not alone. Many other economies are on a similar path. As a trading nation, this should be a concern to us as well. The global trade dynamics are changing. We need to restrategise. The global supply chains are at risk of being disrupted. Much of our manufacturing economy relies on such supply economics. To cope, we need to be more resilient. We must strive for greater economic independence. Since technology has become a critical factor in the economy, calls for technology sovereignty have grown louder. Some countries have developed indices to help monitor and make strategic changes to their technology ownership. Technology sovereignty refers to a country's ability to develop, access, and control key technologies that are critical for its economy, security, and society without being overly dependent on foreign powers. In an increasingly interconnected and competitive world, this concept has become central to national strategies. It matters for national security. Too much technological dependence on other nations, especially for critical infrastructure, exposes countries to risks such as cyberattacks, espionage, and supply chain disruption. Sovereignty ensures control over defence technologies and communication systems, protection from backdoors or surveillance by foreign powers, and continuity of critical services during geopolitical tensions. Countries that develop and retain their own technologies are better positioned to innovate and move up the global value chain, protect intellectual property, and foster homegrown industries. Sovereignty allows countries to shape their own industrial policies and ensure long-term growth. With data being the new oil, nations want to ensure personal and industrial data is stored, processed, and used according to local laws and ethical standards. Citizens' data is then not exploited or stored overseas without consent. National strategic data on health, education, and security remains protected. Technology sovereignty is closely linked to a country's ability to make independent decisions and avoid being caught in the crossfire of global tech rivalries. It enables control over critical sectors like health, energy, and transportation. It supports self-reliance during crises like pandemics or trade wars. Sovereignty allows countries to promote and preserve their cultural narratives in digital content and platforms, and develop ethical frameworks that align with local values. It will help countries resist technological colonialism and maintain political independence in the digital sphere. Technology sovereignty is closely linked to a country's ability to make independent decisions and avoid being caught in the crossfire of global tech rivalries. — Picture from Unsplash/Adi Goldstein Furthermore, developing local tech capacity drives education, STEM advancement, and job creation. It encourages innovation ecosystems, prevents brain drain, and builds domestic expertise — not to mention supports inclusive economic development by tailoring technologies to local needs. In the 21st century, technology sovereignty is as important as food, energy, and defence sovereignty. It empowers nations to shape their futures on their own terms. As technologies like AI, quantum computing, and biotechnology evolve rapidly, the gap between tech-sovereign and tech-dependent countries may define future global power dynamics. The EU has developed its own Technology Sovereignty Index (TSI). This measures a country's ability to control its critical technological supply chains without excessive reliance on foreign entities. Other countries should consider developing their own versions of such an index for several strategic reasons. Over-reliance on foreign technology can make a country vulnerable to supply chain disruptions or geopolitical coercion. Dependence on foreign tech increases exposure to espionage, backdoors, and cyberattacks. A TSI helps pinpoint gaps in domestic R&D, manufacturing, and innovation, allowing targeted investments. It would boost local tech ecosystems and can nurture homegrown tech champions. Countries like China and the EU use sovereignty frameworks to protect citizen data from foreign surveillance. Over-dependence on foreign big tech can undermine local digital autonomy. A TSI helps prioritise investments in technologies that will shape future economic power. Without sovereignty, smaller economies risk becoming mere consumers rather than innovators in the global tech hierarchy. Countries can benchmark their tech sovereignty against peers and adjust policies accordingly. Nations with aligned TSI goals can form tech blocs (US-EU Trade and Technology Council vs. China's Belt and Road digital expansion). COVID-19 and the Ukraine war exposed vulnerabilities in global tech supply chains (semiconductor shortages). Countries like Russia and Iran face tech embargoes. A TSI could help pre-emptively localise critical tech. A TSI is not just a metric. It is a strategic tool for security, economic growth, and geopolitical influence. As the EU has shown, countries that fail to assess their tech dependencies risk losing control over their digital futures. Nations like the US, India, Japan, and others are already moving in this direction. Those that don't may find themselves at the mercy of more technologically sovereign rivals. * Prof Dato' Ahmad Ibrahim is affiliated with the Tan Sri Omar Centre for STI Policy Studies at UCSI University and is an associate fellow at the Ungku Aziz Centre for Development Studies, Universiti Malaya. * This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Crypto Insight
06-06-2025
- Business
- Crypto Insight
European Parliament to vote on tech sovereignty proposal in July
The European Parliament is set to vote on a technology sovereignty proposal submitted by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) under the leadership of pro-Bitcoin lawmaker Sarah Knafo. ITRE, one of 24 standing committees in the European Parliament, on June 3 adopted a non-binding report on tech sovereignty and digital infrastructure, calling for a European policy for the digital ecosystem. The proposal highlights concerns that Europe is falling behind the United States and China in strategic sectors such as the cloud, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, semiconductors and communication infrastructure. The report suggests lifting barriers to private investment in innovation, promoting energy-efficient computing and blockchain infrastructure and safeguarding privacy in digital finance. Parliament vote expected in July According to the communication from the ITRE, the European Parliament is expected to vote on the proposal in the upcoming plenary session. Knafo, a key backer of the proposal, told Cointelegraph that the vote will most likely occur during the July session. 'If all the right-wing parties vote in favor of the text, and normally they should, we have a good chance to get a majority,' said Knafo. 'But left-wing parties put pressure on the center-right party to block it. We will see if they resist it.' Knafo emphasized that the report is not yet a legally binding piece of legislation and is supposed to define political guidelines only. Is the EU set for a digital revolution? 'I strongly believe that we are still at the very beginning of the digital revolution. So far, Europe is lagging behind, to say the least,' Knafo said, adding: 'We have all the talented engineers and scientists we need to catch up with the US and China. We just need a suitable political frame to let them work in Europe.' While Knafo is confident about the potential for a digital revolution in the EU, some commentators are less optimistic about the outcome. Skeptics in the French media portal Frontières expressed gratitude for Knafo's efforts but doubt whether the proposal will gain the support of a majority of the parliament's 720 lawmakers. 'Change will come from the nations. Change will come from people. AfD [Alternative for Germany], Poland, Hungary, Netherlands. It's shy but it moves,' one commenter wrote. Knafo's protest against the digital euro Knafo's advocacy for tech sovereignty follows her vocal opposition to the European Central Bank's (ECB) plans for a digital euro. In a speech to the European Parliament in late 2024, she called instead for a Bitcoin strategic reserve 'No to the digital euro, yes to a strategic Bitcoin reserve,' Knafo stated in her speech to the European Parliament last December. However, the European Union has moved in the opposite direction. ECB officials such as Piero Cipollone highlight the urgent need for the digital euro to counteract the rising adoption of US dollar stablecoins. In January 2025, ECB President Christine Lagarde also dismissed the opportunity to create a Bitcoin reserve, emphasizing that central bank reserves must be 'liquid, secure and safe.' Source:
