Prepare, Provide, Pioneer: digitalisation as a motor for Europe’s success TCS Europe Policy Summit (TEPS 2025)

An informal conversation with a top leader in their field.

As Europe faces an evolving security landscape, ensuring digital resilience has become an urgent priority. Cyber threats, AI vulnerabilities and geopolitical tensions are testing the EU’s ability to safeguard its critical infrastructure. With cyberattacks on European institutions and key industries increasing, the EU is working to reinforce its digital security, including the development of secure digital borders, stronger cybersecurity frameworks and improved cyber agility to respond to emerging threats. The recently proposed Cyber Resilience Act and the AI Act highlight the necessity of proactive risk management, ensuring that AI AI-driven technologies enhance security rather than expose new vulnerabilities. At the same time, Europe must balance security with innovation, ensuring that regulations do not stifle the competitiveness of its digital economy. Securing Europe’s digital future also requires a robust approach to data security and AI risk mitigation. The EU’s increasing focus on de de-risking its technological dependencies, particularly in critical sectors such as telecommunications, energy and defence underscores the need for stricter data governance and investment in cyber defence capabilities. While AI can improve threat detection and crisis response, it also presents new challenges, such as deepfake technology and autonomous cyberattacks. With initiatives like the ReARM EU plan aiming to bolster Europe s technological and security resilience, the time has come to set clear priorities: strengthening cybersecurity cooperation, investing in secure digital infrastructure and ensuring that AI and other emerging technologies serve as safeguards rather than risks.

• How can Europe create a secure digital border while maintaining openness and
  innovation?
• What regulatory and investment priorities are needed to build cyber resilience across the
  EU?
• How should the EU de de-risk AI and digital infrastructure without stifling competitiveness?
• What role can public public-private partnerships play in strengthening Europe s digital
  defences?

As Europe faces increasing economic and security challenges, digital transformation presents a significant opportunity to enhance public services, reduce costs and improve efficiency. By integrating advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and e e-government platforms, public administrations can streamline operations and deliver more responsive services to citizens. For instance, Denmark s adoption of electronic invoicing has resulted in annual savings of €150mn for taxpayers and €50mn for businesses. If implemented across the EU, such measures could lead to annual savings exceeding €50bn. Despite these advantages, the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) reveals disparities among EU member states in the adoption of digital public services. While countries like Finland and Sweden lead in digital performance, others, including Romania and Greece, lag behind. Addressing these gaps requires targeted policies to promote digital literacy, invest in secure digital infrastructure and ensure that technological innovations are accessible to all citizens. Furthermore, interoperability among digital systems is crucial for seamless cross
cross-border interactions and efficient service delivery. The EU s strategy emphasises enhancing
accessibility, efficiency and user user-centricity in digital public services, aiming to create a cohesive and digitally advanced public sector ecosystem. By fostering collaboration between governments, the private sector and civil society, Europe can harness technology as a force for good, ultimately delivering more efficient and citizen citizen-centric public services.

• How can digital tools be leveraged to make public services more cost cost-effective,
  efficient, and accessible?
  
• What strategies can accelerate the adoption of technology in public administration
  across diverse EU member states
• How can Europe ensure responsible use of AI and digital solutions while fostering inno-
  vation in public services?
• What role should governments play in building digital trust and literacy among
  citizens to maximise the benefits of digital transformation?

As Europe navigates an era of geopolitical and economic uncertainty, investing in the foundations of innovation is key to ensuring long long-term competitiveness and strategic autonomy. Europe must also prioritise investment in cutting edge technologies, human capital and digital infrastructure, laying the groundwork for sustainable economic growth. The Draghi report on EU competitiveness underscores the urgent need to boost productivity and innovation, highlighting the importance of research, skills and entrepreneurship in securing Europe s position as a global leader. However, while Europe excels in research and earlyearly-stage innovation, it lags behind in scaling up, commercialising breakthroughs and attracting top talent. Addressing these gaps requires a bold, forward forward-looking approach. From AI and quantum computing to semiconductors and biotech, Europe must invest strategically in the factors of production that will define the next economic era. Talent development is equally crucial – closing the digital skills gap and fostering entrepreneurship will ensure that Europe does not fall behind in the global race for technological leadership. Initiatives like the RePowerEU show a commitment to strengthening Europe s industrial and digital capabilities, but questions remain about whether investment levels match the ambition. Ultimately, for Europe to pioneer the technologies of the future, it must commit to a framework that supports innovation, riskrisk-taking and a thriving ecosystem of talent and ideas.

• How can Europe prioritise investment in critical technologies while maintaining fiscal
  sustainability?
• What policies can attract and retain top talent in key industries, particularly in AI, digital
  infrastructure and deep tech?
• How can the EU foster a culture of entrepreneurship that bridges the gap between
  research and market deployment?
• What role should public public-private partnerships play in scaling up European innovation and
  securing technological primacy?
  

Dinner will start with welcome cocktails.