The debate on digital sovereignty in Europe has intensified against the backdrop of the geopolitical situation. According to the latest Lünendonk study on digital sovereignty, 96% of companies still see an acute need for action even if the geopolitical situation eases. Companies and organizations are looking for more resilient structures to better protect sensitive data and become less dependent on individual global technology groups.

The dependencies are well documented: A study published by Bitkom shows that more than 90 percent of all IT end devices are imported. In the discussion about digital sovereignty, this figure is now considered a structural finding.

For Frank Konrad, Managing Director of Microsens GmbH & Co. KG, the conclusion is clear: "Digital sovereignty starts at network level. We should increasingly rely on our own hardware, especially in critical applications in Europe."

"Made in Germany" as an argument abroad?

Microsens develops and produces components for IP-based networks in Hamm, Westphalia. According to the company, the production location "Made in Germany" often plays a greater role in international business than in Germany.

Frank Konrad describes it like this: "Our components are in use in critical locations around the world - from Ali Jebel Port in Dubai to Tocumen Airport in Panama, the busiest airport in Central America, to the new airport terminal in Wrocław. Wherever the requirements for reliability and quality are the highest. In Germany, the argument that we develop and manufacture here was often not the top priority, especially for larger companies. I also regularly hear this experience from other medium-sized German companies from the German Association of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (BVMW)."

Sovereignty along the supply chain

According to Konrad, the empirical findings also indicate a pressure to change. 95% of the companies surveyed in the Lünendonk study stated that they wanted to reduce their dependencies in the IT supply chains. At the same time, the structure of procurement remains largely import-driven: 62% of the companies surveyed by Bitkom source their IT and communications hardware from abroad.

Konrad sees this less as a short-term procurement problem and more as a question of basic industrial structures: "By developing and producing IT components in Europe, we ensure that not all of the expertise flows away. However, we need the knowledge and production capacities at all levels. In our view, the prompt implementation of the European Chips Act is crucial to becoming truly sovereign."

The future of the German technology industry

An analysis by Deloitte also points to strategic uncertainty. In a policy paper on the future of the German technology industry, the consulting firm outlines four scenarios for the year 2035, according to which Germany is at a crossroads between technological upward development and structural backwardness.

For Konrad, these scenarios are an expression of real pressure to make decisions: "In my view, German SMEs are not interested in being digitally nationalistic. We need to create reliable political and entrepreneurial foundations in order to continue developing technology in Germany. Diversifying the IT technology we use and consciously opting for IT products from Europe will strengthen our sovereignty in the short term and create the conditions for reaching the digital pinnacle."

Critical infrastructure as a touchstone

The issue of digital sovereignty becomes particularly clear in the area of critical infrastructures. Fiber optic networks and IP-based data transmission are regarded as the technical foundation of modern communication systems, while at the same time the requirements for reliability and robustness are increasing.

Whether video surveillance, industrial control systems or the networking of airports, railroad lines and energy infrastructure - durable and reliable network components are crucial.

Companies are specifically developing technologies for these fields of application. Konrad formulates this as a question of strategic selection: "There are still many responsible companies in Germany that offer technologically outstanding products. It is worth consciously looking for them and comparing technologies. Only if we strengthen our providers will we achieve digital sovereignty in the short term and maintain it in the long term."