Trump’s focus on “America First,” should spur Europe to take control of its technological future

In an opinion piece in Welt ,Filip Dames argues that the U.S. election results, including Trump’s focus on “America First,” should spur Europe to take control of its technological future. The U.S. government’s anticipated support for tech giants like SpaceX and reduced regulatory oversight for mergers signals an era where the U.S. prioritizes national interests over global cooperation. In contrast, Europe faces complex bureaucratic hurdles that slow down tech innovation, evident in Germany's startup ecosystem where founders face months of delays for essential documentation.

Dames highlights Estonia's streamlined “e-Residency” program as a model for simplifying business processes, suggesting a need for a unified “EU-Inc.” structure to reduce red tape across the continent. While American firms progress with autonomous technologies, European startups struggle with regulatory barriers. Dames stresses that Europe must foster a more supportive environment for technology companies and startups to avoid falling further behind. He calls for decisive action in defense, AI, and deep tech, warning that the continent cannot rely on global goodwill and must actively invest in technological independence to remain competitive.