The Digital Dependence Index is an invaluable resource due to its global coverage and its 14 years of nuanced data. Check out media mentions and related publications here.

Europas Anteil an Digitalpatenten fällt unter fünf Prozent

Europe’s share of globally granted ICT patents fell below 5% in 2023, while China accounted for more than half. Between 2000 and 2023, the EU held just 7% of ICT patents, compared with China’s 39% and the US’s 24%. This dependence on foreign intellectual property threatens Europe’s economic resilience and digital sovereignty. The EU is particularly weak in semiconductors, digital communications, and computer technologies. The report calls for stronger patent-focused innovation policies, greater investment in research, infrastructure, and skilled workers, closer industry–science cooperation, and strategic partnerships with countries such as Japan and South Korea.

• Authors: Miriam Dahlinger, Laurenz Gehrke, Gabriel Rinaldi, Charlotte Westphal
• Source: Süddeutsche Zeitung Dossier
• Publication date: 2026-07-14
• Language: German

Digital-Patente: Europa liegt zurück und verliert an Souveränität

Europe’s digital sovereignty is weakened by its shortage of information and communications technology (ICT) patents. The EU accounted for less than 5% of global ICT patents in 2023, while China held more than half. This leaves Europe reliant on foreign intellectual property, costs it more in licensing fees than it earns, and reduces its influence over global technology standards. The researchers argue that deregulation alone will not fix this weakness. They recommend stronger incentives for European ICT patents, better-coordinated research and development investment, and closer partnerships with technologically advanced countries such as Japan and South Korea.

• Authors: Corinna Visser
• Source: table.media
• Publication date: 2026-07-14
• Language: German

Industriepolitik: Europas stille Digitalschwäche

Europe’s digital weakness goes beyond regulation: it produces too few information and communications technology (ICT) patents. The EU accounted for less than 5% of global ICT patents in 2023 and 7% cumulatively from 2000 to 2023, while China held more than half in 2023. This leaves Europe paying more in licence fees than it earns—$138 billion more in 2024—and vulnerable to foreign influence over technology standards and supply chains. The report links China’s rise partly to sustained industrial policies and warns that patent ownership can become geopolitical leverage. It recommends stronger incentives for ICT patents, better coordinated research and development investment, and partnerships with patent-leading countries such as Japan and South Korea. Europe’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act may help, but the authors question whether it is sufficient on its own.

• Authors: Lisa Oder
• Source: Tagesspiegel
• Publication date: 2026-07-14
• Language: German

Europas digitale Abhängigkeit ist größer als gedacht – und sie kostet Milliarden

Europe’s digital trade surplus may overstate its independence. Ireland accounted for 87.2% of the EU’s cumulative surplus in digital services from 2020 to 2024, largely because US tech companies report European business there. Excluding Ireland, the EU ran a $350.1 billion deficit in digital goods and services from 2022 to 2024. Europe is also heavily dependent on China for digital hardware. China accounted for 76% of the EU’s ICT-goods trade deficit from 2020 to 2023, and the deficit reached $143.4 billion in 2024. These dependencies leave European businesses and governments vulnerable to supply disruptions and geopolitical tensions. The report calls for stronger European manufacturing and competitiveness, reduced reliance on Chinese goods, and technology partnerships to build resilience and shared digital autonomy.

• Authors: Eva Schmitt
• Source: Merkur
• Publication date: 2026-04-01
• Language: German

Digitales Handelsdefizit - Europas versteckte digitale Abhängigkeit

Europe’s digital trade surplus is misleading: US tech companies operating from Ireland distort the statistics, and without them the EU would have a digital trade deficit exceeding $350 billion from 2022 to 2024. Europe is also highly dependent on China for digital goods, leaving it caught between two major technology powers and more exposed to geopolitical risks. The authors recommend strengthening European manufacturing, reducing reliance on Chinese digital goods, and building technology partnerships across public and private sectors. They also plan to update the Digital Dependence Index, which measures reliance on foreign technology such as electronic components, communications equipment, software, operating systems, and patents. The expanded index will cover more than 50 countries, helping reveal digital vulnerabilities and trends worldwide.

• Authors: Johannes Seiler
• Source: Industry.Zero & Transformation
• Publication date: 2026-04-01
• Language: German

Europas digitale Abhängigkeit: Größer als gedacht – und teurer als vermutet

Europe’s digital trade surplus masks significant dependence on foreign technology. Ireland, where many US tech companies manage their European operations, accounted for 87.2% of the EU’s digital-services surplus from 2020 to 2024. Excluding Ireland, the EU had a $350.1 billion deficit in digital goods and services between 2022 and 2024. Europe also relies heavily on China for digital hardware: China accounted for 76% of the EU’s ICT-goods deficit from 2020 to 2023, which reached $143.4 billion in 2024. These dependencies could leave European businesses and governments vulnerable to supply disruptions and geopolitical tensions. The report recommends strengthening European industry, reducing reliance on Chinese digital goods, and developing technology partnerships. An expanded Digital Dependence Index, covering more than 50 countries, is intended to help measure these vulnerabilities.

• Authors: Eva Schmitt
• Source: Chip
• Publication date: 2026-04-01
• Language: German

Die digitale Abhängigkeit bleibt: Aktuelle europäische Strategien funktionieren nicht

Europe’s digital trade surplus is largely driven by US technology companies based in Ireland, which distorts trade statistics and masks the EU’s underlying dependence. Without the “Ireland effect,” the EU would have a digital deficit exceeding $350 billion for 2022–2024, which is nearly 40% of its planned defence spending through 2030. The study also highlights Europe’s reliance on China for digital goods, leaving it caught between two technology powers and more exposed to geopolitical risks. It recommends strengthening European manufacturing and competitiveness, reducing dependence on Chinese imports, and building public-private technology partnerships. The researchers also plan to update and expand the Digital Dependence Index, which measures reliance on foreign technology, from its focus on G20 countries to more than 50 countries worldwide.

• Authors: Heinz Arnold
• Source: Elektroniknet
• Publication date: 2026-03-31
• Language: German

Digitale Dekade: Ist Europas Tech-Erfolg eine Illusion?

Europe’s apparent digital-trade strength may be misleading. Ireland, where many US tech companies base their European operations, accounted for 87.2% of the EU’s digital-services surplus from 2020 to 2024. Excluding Ireland, the EU recorded a $350.1 billion deficit in digital goods and services over 2022–2024. Europe also depends heavily on China for digital hardware: China accounted for 76% of the EU’s ICT-goods deficit from 2020 to 2023, and that deficit reached $143.4 billion in 2024. The report warns that these dependencies increase economic and geopolitical vulnerability. It recommends strengthening European manufacturing, reducing reliance on Chinese digital goods, and developing technology partnerships. An expanded Digital Dependence Index will compare reliance on foreign technology across more than 50 countries.

• Authors: Viola Heeger
• Source: Tagesspiegel
• Publication date: 2026-03-30
• Language: German

Europa muss digitale Souveränität erlangen: Zeit für eigene Cloud-Infrastruktur

The authors argue Europe must redefine itself after the end of the US-led Western order, placing digital sovereignty at the center alongside security policy. They say France is showing how to do it by investing heavily (e.g., via “French Tech” and AI programs) and promoting tech companies internationally, while Germany has been hesitant but recently made good moves with a decision on technological sovereignty and stronger funding for research, chips, data centers, and skills. They warn Germany is still deeply dependent on US tech and criticize reliance on “European servers” or encryption because US legal access (e.g., Cloud Act) can still enable authorities to reach data. Finally, they call for major investment in European cloud infrastructure, cyber defense, and (if possible) domestic chip production, plus more funding for education and future technologies to speed up innovation.

• Authors: Liane Buchholz, Andreas Schelling
• Source: Frankfurter Allgemeine
• Publication date: 2025-03-26
• Language: German

America v China: who controls Asia’s internet?

The document discusses the escalating competition between America and China over control of Asia's digital infrastructure, particularly data centers and internet connectivity. As China expands its technological footprint in the region, American influence is waning, prompting concerns about data security and espionage. Countries in Asia are navigating this digital landscape, often hedging their bets between the two superpowers while facing increasing cyber threats.

Illustration: Ben Jones

• Source: The Economist
• Publication date: 2024-10-08
• Language: English

Wieso Deutschland in digitaler Abhängigkeit verharrt

Germany is portrayed as far from “digital sovereignty”: key digital technologies and services mostly come from abroad (e.g., the US, China, Taiwan, South Korea, and sometimes India and Israel). The Digital Dependence Index (DDI) places Germany in the weak-to-mid range and suggest little improvement since around 2010. The main issue is not lack of innovation potential, but weak transfer from research to the market due to limited incentives for technology transfer, start-up constraints, little university-industry exchange, and missed opportunities in acquisitions. The conclusion is that Germany must strengthen innovation and better commercialize it to turn one-sided dependency into more balanced, mutual dependence.

• Authors: Haya Schulmann, Michael Waidner
• Source: Frankfurter Allgemeine
• Publication date: 2024-06-27
• Language: German

Deutschlands Unternehmen unzufrieden mit eigener Digital-Abhängigkeit

A Bitkom survey says German companies’ concerns about digital dependency have increased since 2021. 44% of 604 firms say the German government’s efforts to strengthen digital sovereignty are insufficient, and many describe dependencies especially on the USA and also on the EU and China. The biggest concerns are tied to hardware such as semiconductors (75% reporting strong/easier dependencies), as well as AI, 5G components, cloud, and other advanced technologies. The companies argue that politics and firms must act through stronger investment in key technologies and more realistic, scalable strategies, because reducing dependencies quickly is difficult and takes around a decade.

asharkyu/Shutterstock.com

• Authors: Falk Steiner
• Source: heise online
• Publication date: 2024-01-17
• Language: German

Il manque en Europe 10 400 milliards d’euros de capitalisation boursière

Europe faces a major shortage of long-term savings and investment capital, which contributes to its dependence on foreign technology, energy, healthcare, and other essential goods and services. The article argues that Europe’s weak financing ecosystem, compared with the United States, has hindered innovation in areas such as digital technology, vaccines, and 5G. It estimates that Europe is missing around €10.4 trillion in stock-market capitalization, highlighting the need for stronger access to long-term capital to improve European innovation and sovereignty.

• Authors: Cécile Philippe
• Source: Institut économique Molinari/ L’Express.
• Publication date: 2023-05-24
• Language: French

Offener Brief an die Bundesregierung: Digitale Souveränität Deutschlands ist in Gefahr

The BITMi warns that Germany’s digital sovereignty is deteriorating: the promised digital shift is not happening yet, and the country is becoming increasingly vulnerable to US and Chinese technologies. It cites a study using the Digital Dependence Index (DDI), claiming Germany has a high vulnerability, with 82% of demand covered by foreign firms or imported services. In cloud and platform services, the dependence is said to be even stronger, with US control and very high European vulnerability. The association warns this could threaten political self-determination and calls on the government to give digitalization higher priority, strengthen “made in Germany/Europe,” improve access to growth capital, and make digital sovereignty a criterion in public procurement.

Lightspring – shutterstock.com

• Authors: Martin Bayer
• Source: Computerwoche
• Publication date: 2022-12-05
• Language: German

IT-Mittelstand warnt vor digitaler Abhängigkeit von China und USA

The BITMi warns that Germany is becoming alarmingly dependent on digital technologies from China and the USA, and says this is a measurable trend, not just a vague perception. Using the Digital Dependence Index, it claims Germany has a high vulnerability: over 80% of companies already feel dependent on non-European technologies, and Germany’s need for digital technologies is covered to about 82% by foreign firms or imported goods and services. The association argues that such dependency threatens political self-determination and could make it “irreversible,” risking Germany’s prosperity if Europe can’t stay globally competitive in digital business models. It calls for the state to prioritize “made in Germany/Europe” and to make digital sovereignty (including compliance with European standards like data protection) a procurement criterion, changing public tendering rules accordingly.

Weitwinkel/Shutterstock.com

• Authors: Stefan Krempl
• Source: heise online
• Publication date: 2022-12-01
• Language: German

In der digitalen Abhängigkeit

Podcast conversation about the globalization, political autonomy and the issue of digital dependencies with Maximilian Mayer.

• Authors: Martin Wolf, Maximilian Mayer
• Source: Golem
• Publication date: 2022-10-10
• Language: German

Blogreihe Digitale Souveränität

Germany and much of the EU are highly digitally vulnerable compared to the US, China, and South Korea. Both IT companies and non-IT industries should pursue independence to avoid long-term risks. Germany’s digital transformation into a “digital decade” requires long-term financial commitment from the federal government, business, and civil society. The German government must do more than set goals: it should actively strengthen digital sovereignty through concrete measures like the “sovereign workplace,” and by using its purchasing power to prioritize open-source software rather than relying on proprietary foreign solutions.

• Authors: Ann-Kathrin Jekel
• Source: Univention
• Publication date: 2022-09-21
• Language: German

Digitale Autonomie in der EU "kaum mehr als eine Illusion"

A new study for the Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation says Germany and much of the EU are highly dependent on the US and China in digital industries, especially because Germany hasn’t made up ground in recent years. It uses an index to show how vulnerable European countries are. Germany’s score indicates very limited digital self-sufficiency. The authors argue that instead of betting everything on big cloud projects, Europe should reduce dependency step by step through more patent and research investment, using South Korea as a model.

picture alliance/dpa | Christoph Dernbach

• Authors: Till Haase, Martina Schulte
• Source: Deutschlandfunk Nova
• Publication date: 2022-05-04
• Language: German

调研：实现"数码自主" 德国任重道远

A research report commissioned by the Adenauer Foundation, conducted by researchers at the University of Bonn, argues that Germany and other EU countries are falling behind the U.S., China, and South Korea in the digital economy. Using a “Digital Dependence Index,” the report claims the EU’s digital decade plan and initiatives like Gaia-X may not be enough to give the EU global dominance or true technological autonomy, since Europe shows high foreign dependence in key areas. It also notes that patents related to information and communication technologies are increasingly dominated by U.S., Chinese, and Korean firms. For Germany specifically, the report suggests that instead of demanding full “digital sovereignty,” more realistic policy aims would be to gradually reduce dependence from “highly vulnerable” to “less vulnerable.”

• Authors: dpa
• Source: Deutsche Welle
• Publication date: 2022-05-03
• Language: Chinese

Europäische Digitalwirtschaft fällt weiter zurück

A study by researchers at the University of Bonn finds that Germany and other EU countries are falling further behind the US, China, and South Korea in the digital economy, and that this contradicts the EU Commission’s claims. Using the Digital Dependence Index (DDI), the authors conclude that the US is the only leading economy with relatively low dependence, while China and South Korea score higher and Germany and most EU countries scores signal high vulnerability. The study questions whether big EU projects like GaiaX are the right path and notes growing competition in ICT patents from the US, China, and South Korea. It concludes that “digital sovereignty” as an absolute goal is unrealistic for Germany; a more feasible aim is to reduce dependence from “high vulnerability” to “lower vulnerability.”

• Authors: dpa
• Source: Die Welt
• Publication date: 2022-05-03
• Language: German

Partnerschaftliche Lösungen aus Deutschland für Deutschland

The interviewed experts argue that “digital sovereignty” matters across Europe because many EU states are technologically dependent, so Europe must invest early in future key technologies and maintain strategic autonomy. They also stress that complex digital challenges can’t be solved by one organization alone, so collaboration and ecosystem partnerships are essential.

• Authors: Burghard Lindhorst, Martin Wibbe, Martin Kaloudis
• Source: Hardthöhenkurier
• Publication date: 2022-01-01
• Language: German