As Europe faces rising geopolitical pressure, from shifting transatlantic alliances to global competition in key technologies, one message is clear: we must act now to strengthen our strategic autonomy.
In the latest Pioneering Tech Magazine, TU Delft brings together influential European voices to explore how research and innovation can secure Europe’s resilience. Central to the story is Manuel Heitor, former Portuguese Minister of Science and co-author of the Align, Act, Accelerate report. Heitor makes an urgent call: Europe must double down on investments in defence, innovation and talent to withstand current and future challenges.
But the article goes beyond analysis — it outlines a Roadmap for Strategic Autonomy, developed by TU Delft especially for this article. The roadmap highlights concrete steps to harness Europe’s innovation potential through coordinated action by knowledge institutions, industry and policymakers.
Industry leaders Reineke Timmermans and Marhijn Visser (VNO-NCW) add a crucial perspective: strategic autonomy also depends on strengthening the European internal market and enabling public-private investment in key enabling technologies — from chips to quantum and photonics. The Netherlands, they argue, already offers powerful innovation ecosystems in places like Delft, Eindhoven and Wageningen that Europe should build upon.
Geert-Jan Houben, TU Delft’s Pro Vice Rector for AI, Data and Digitalisation, reinforces this vision. He warns that bureaucracy and fragmented funding are holding Europe back — and urges The Hague and Brussels to make bold decisions now. “Only if we invest in groundbreaking research and create the conditions to scale up innovation rapidly,” he says, “can Europe become secure, sustainable and truly resilient.”
Discover how TU Delft and its partners are shaping the future of Europe — and explore the full Roadmap for Strategic Autonomy in our latest Pioneering Tech Magazine (Click here to read the full article).
Interested in collaborating with TU Delft or learning more about our role in shaping Europe’s strategic resilience? Please reach out to Servaas Duterloo ([email protected]).
This full article was first published on 15 May by TU Delft.
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