Germany vs. France vs. the Nordics

State of Digital Sovereignty 2026

Digital sovereignty has evolved from a political buzzword into a strategic guiding principle. While theoretical commitment still dominated in 2025, we are witnessing a pro-European boom in 2026: Companies in Germany, France, and the Nordic countries are actively beginning the transition to European solutions.

87.5% of IT decision-makers favor European products for KRITIS.
The number of companies actively switching to EU software has nearly doubled.
The focus is shifting: from theory to operational implementation.

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Key Insights at a Glance

Geopolitical Drivers

From Legal to Political: The CLOUD Act and geopolitical tensions are no longer peripheral issues; rather, they actively shape IT strategies.
Data Sovereignty Through Control: There is a growing recognition that security depends not on server location, but on the provider’s structure and the applicable legal jurisdiction.
Response to Instability: Geopolitical uncertainty acts as a catalyst—in all regions, companies are intensifying their focus on their own sovereignty.

Sovereignty in Practice

Critical Sectors: Cybersecurity, cloud services, and AI are the key areas where sovereignty determines operational freedom of action.
Confidence in Innovation: While fundamental confidence in Europe is high, there is a disparity in levels of confidence: The Nordic countries, in particular, firmly believe in the global competitiveness of European products.
Industrial Focus: In Germany, IT decision-makers are placing greater emphasis on sovereignty in hardware (semiconductors and chips).

Strategic Potential

Guidance Instead of Obstacles: The biggest challenge is no longer overcoming resistance, but rather providing clarity on available European alternatives.
Leverage Flagship Projects: To strengthen confidence in operational viability, we need more reference cases and visible success stories.
European architecture: The complementary strengths of the regions (Germany: hardware expertise; France: AI ambitions; the Nordics: cloud experience and implementation capabilities) must be brought together.