Technological Sovereignty

Promoting technological sovereignty means avoiding one-sided economic dependencies on politically sensitive third countries in key technologies. Using trade and patent data-based key technology monitoring, the EU shows strengths in production, material and biotechnologies, but deficits in digital technologies. Approaches to proactively reduce dependencies can be guided by the EU's distance to the frontier in key enabling technologies and use a policy mix of RTI and broader economic policy instruments. Significantly higher research and development (R&D) spending and better availability of venture capital are also key. The most important measure for Austria's technological sovereignty is its membership in the European Union.