Technological Europe: We Need Awareness, Investment, and a Winning Mentality

When we Europeans look at the technological world, we have many reasons to be proud. Yet, many Europeans feel that we lack major tech companies and innovative firms. What we are truly missing, however, is awareness. People often don't realize that many significant tech companies were founded right here.

• Spotify: Transformed the way we listen to music and became a global leader in streaming services.
• ASML: This Dutch company manufactures advanced lithography machines that enable the production of semiconductor chips. Without ASML, there would be no chips for smartphones, computers, cars, or artificial intelligence.
• SAP: Helps companies around the world manage their processes efficiently through advanced software.
• ESET: Provides cybersecurity for millions of users and is a global leader in protecting against digital threats.
• BlaBlaCar: Connects people for carpooling, changing the way we travel while promoting eco-friendly solutions.
• Mastodon: A decentralized social network that emphasizes privacy, freedom of expression, and independence from corporations.

These are just a few examples proving that Europe is a hub of great ideas and solutions.

What Are We Missing?

One of the biggest challenges is a lack of a winning mentality. European innovators and entrepreneurs often lack the confidence we see in other parts of the world. We’re missing the determination not only to compete but also to win on the global stage. This mentality isn’t absent only among entrepreneurs. Today, with some honorable exceptions, it is missing across European society. We have become complacent.

It’s time to talk more about European products and services and highlight the contributions we can proudly present. By understanding our own success stories, we can use them as an inspirational resource for future scientists, entrepreneurs, and innovators.

Greater awareness will also help European companies attract not only customers but also investors, enabling them to grow faster. What we lack is a more active European capital market, one that focuses more on our own companies. Often, we invest overseas, not necessarily because North American companies are always better, but because they are better positioned in the media as technological leaders. Moreover, American companies are often overvalued, a topic I’ve discussed in more detail in my earlier articles. Our capital often fuels the growth of the biggest tech firms in the U.S. instead of supporting our own firms, and this needs to change.

Europe not only has potential but already boasts incredible tech companies shaping the future. To fully unlock this potential, we need to raise awareness about our achievements, develop a more robust capital market, and create an environment that fosters innovation. The future can be European, but only if we give it a chance.