Tech Leaders Propose 25% EU Budget for Energy and Digital Autonomy

Tech leaders have advocated for allocating 25% of the EU budget towards securing Europe's energy and digital future. This proposal, highlighted by a recent Tech.eu report, underscores the strategic importance of these sectors for EU autonomy and resilience, particularly in light of ongoing energy security concerns following events such as the Strait of Hormuz crisis, which has led to significant additional fuel costs.

The call for increased digital investment aligns with ongoing discussions about the future role, framework, and prioritisation of EU digital funding. For instance, the DigInvest4EU project, running from January to October 2025, aims to foster early and inclusive European discussion on these very topics, informing policymaking in view of upcoming legislative proposals and aligning with the priorities of the next European Commission. This proactive approach to digital investments is seen as crucial for European competitiveness, especially when considering the broader landscape of European tech investment, which has recently seen challenges in early-stage funding.

Securing Europe's energy future involves significant digital transformation within the energy system. Initiatives such as EU-DREAM, a Horizon Europe project with an EC maximum contribution of nearly €4 million, are already working to accelerate innovation in digital tools and promote the effective uptake of digital services to empower consumers and communities in the energy transition. This project, aligned with the EU Action Plan on the Digitalisation of the Energy System, develops next-generation energy services tested across six EU countries. Similarly, the DSO4DT project focuses on accelerating the uptake of Digital Twins of the European electricity grid, a key digital infrastructure for modernising energy management. These projects exemplify the practical application of digital technologies to enhance energy system resilience and efficiency, directly addressing the strategic objectives outlined by tech leaders.

What this means: This proposal signals a growing consensus among tech leaders regarding the critical need for substantial, targeted EU funding to bolster Europe's strategic capabilities in both the digital and energy domains. It suggests that future EU budget allocations may increasingly reflect these priorities, aiming to foster greater autonomy and resilience across key sectors, thereby addressing both economic competitiveness and geopolitical stability.