Sovereign cloud, defence and AI: Europe’s industrial giants step up their push for technological autonomy

The launch of Atos Sovereign Cloud, the creation of the Bliksem EXO defence consortium and Telefónica’s EURO-3C infrastructure project all point in the same direction: Europe’s largest companies are increasingly taking the lead in strengthening the continent’s technological sovereignty.

Against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions, rapid advances in artificial intelligence and mounting cybersecurity threats, cloud computing, defence technologies and digital infrastructure have become central to Europe’s efforts to reduce its dependence on foreign technologies and improve the resilience of critical systems.

Once largely confined to policy debates in Brussels and national capitals, technological sovereignty has become a strategic priority for Europe’s industrial sector. Rising cyberattacks, intensifying international rivalries, dependence on non-European technologies and the rapid expansion of AI are forcing companies to rethink the foundations of their most critical infrastructure. The challenge is no longer simply to innovate, but to retain control over the technologies that underpin competitiveness, security and long-term resilience.

This shift is increasingly being driven by Europe’s largest industrial groups. Whether in cloud computing, defence or telecommunications infrastructure, companies such as Atos, Airbus, Thales, Safran, MBDA and Telefónica are pursuing a common objective: developing European technological capabilities capable of meeting the continent’s growing security, economic and strategic challenges.

Atos positions sovereign cloud at the heart of Europe’s digital strategy

On 23 July, French IT services group Atos unveiled “Atos Sovereign Cloud”, a cloud platform for application modernisation and orchestration designed and developed entirely within the European Union.

The platform is aimed at governments, defence organisations, healthcare providers and operators of critical infrastructure, sectors facing increasingly stringent requirements around cybersecurity, regulatory compliance and data governance.

Its objective is to enable organisations to modernise their IT environments while retaining control over their data, applications and digital operations. To achieve this, Atos has built the platform on an open architecture combining open-source technologies, advanced cybersecurity features and what it describes as a “sovereignty by design” approach, intended to reduce technological dependencies and strengthen the resilience of critical systems.

The announcement comes as demand for sovereign cloud solutions accelerates. Organisations face increasingly complex regulatory requirements, while the rapid adoption of AI is placing greater emphasis on data localisation, computing capacity and service continuity. In this environment, cloud infrastructure is no longer simply an enabler of digital transformation; it is becoming a strategic asset in Europe’s pursuit of technological independence.

Bliksem EXO reflects Europe’s growing defence ambitions

Europe’s drive for greater autonomy extends well beyond digital infrastructure. On 14 July, Airbus Defence & Space, Thales, Safran, MBDA and Destinus announced the creation of Bliksem EXO, a consortium aiming to develop Europe’s first sovereign exo-atmospheric missile interceptor.

The initiative seeks to address a longstanding strategic weakness. Many of the most advanced missile defence systems currently available are supplied by non-European manufacturers, leaving European countries dependent on external technologies in an increasingly uncertain security environment.

By bringing together several of Europe’s leading defence companies, the consortium aims to combine industrial expertise and technological capabilities to develop a new generation of missile defence systems tailored to emerging ballistic threats.

Beyond its military significance, the project reflects a broader evolution in Europe’s approach to sovereignty. Increasingly, technological autonomy is being driven not only by governments but also by industrial partnerships capable of designing and manufacturing critical technologies within Europe.

Telefónica bets on a European digital infrastructure

Earlier this year, on 2 March, Spanish telecommunications group **Telefónica** introduced **EURO-3C** at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Supported by the EU’s Horizon Europe programme, the initiative brings together more than 70 partners from 13 countries to develop a federated digital infrastructure combining telecommunications networks, edge computing, cloud services and artificial intelligence.

The project’s ambition is to create a digital ecosystem capable of supporting Europe’s growing technological needs while reducing reliance on infrastructure located outside the continent. Among its objectives are improving network interoperability, enabling the secure sharing of computing resources and supporting the development of digital services that meet European standards for security, performance and data protection.

EURO-3C also highlights another dimension of technological sovereignty: ensuring that the infrastructure required to support AI, connected industries and critical public and private services is built on European foundations.

Industry takes the lead

Although these three initiatives operate in different sectors, they reflect a broader transformation in Europe’s approach to technological sovereignty. What was once largely a public policy objective is increasingly becoming an industrial strategy led by Europe’s largest companies.

Rather than simply responding to European policy initiatives, major industrial groups are now launching their own large-scale projects in areas ranging from sovereign cloud computing and cybersecurity to digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence and defence technologies.

As international competition intensifies and geopolitical uncertainty continues to shape technology markets, this growing industrial mobilisation may prove to be one of Europe’s most important assets in strengthening its competitiveness, resilience and strategic autonomy.