Germany and France present a joint definition of digital sovereignty with quantum technology as key capability for securing Europe’s long-term technological resilience and competitiveness.
Announced at VivaTech, this new bilateral framework highlights both political ambition and operational criteria across the entire technology stack from cloud infrastructure and data protection to sovereign AI and quantum technologies.
Wildberger: “Strengthening digital sovereignty is the order of the day”
True digital sovereignty isn’t just about securing today’s data layers; it’s about ensuring the ability to develop, operate and use quantum computing, quantum sensing, and quantum communication architectures of tomorrow.
Key Takeaways:
- Six Operational Dimensions: The framework defines digital sovereignty across six operational dimensions, prioritizing the legal enforceability of European data rights, the strict protection of sensitive data, and building resilient infrastructure to mitigate cyber and supply chain risks.
- Action over Lock-Ins: To avoid vendor lock-in effects, both nations are mandating the modular architecture of digital systems, the consistent deployment of Open-Source solutions, and a strong preference for digital providers based in the EU or trusted international partner states.
- Concrete Cloud & AI Proof Points: The ministries highlighted practical, sovereign AI integration happening right now using a newly revealed partnership between SAP and Mistral AI to demonstrate how European AI can securely meet the data demands of both industries and public administrations.
- Focus is Civilian, Not Military: Crucially, the agreement explicitly isolates civilian digital infrastructure and economic capabilities. Defense and military tech are deliberately carved out of this specific framework to ensure rapid, unhindered industrial and commercial rollout.
- The Franco-German Forum for the Future: Alongside the definition, both countries officially re-launched this structured dialogue platform to align industrial policy strategies, map critical dependencies, and build a unified catalog of sovereign European digital solutions.
This announcement signals a shift of the conversation from abstract political ideals to a strict, criteria-driven roadmap, but it is important to note that this is a signed political position paper rather than a legally binding state treaty. Its explicit purpose is to act as a unified Franco-German mandate designed to guide, shape, and drive upcoming legislative work at the EU level.
A Shared Deep-Tech Journey
This joint announcement didn’t happen in a vacuum. It is the latest milestone in a long history of deep collaboration between France and Germany. Years ago, this momentum started at a foundational level with the Franco-German Quantum Dialogue, co-organized by the French Embassy and QBN. What began as an ecosystem-level conversation quickly evolved into a powerful cross-border movement.
As the strategic stakes grew, further key players such as QUTAC, a consortium of DAX companies working on quantum computing, the European Champions Alliance and many others jumped on board. This collective hold another strategic gathering at Station F and at the German Embassy in Paris and anchored crucial deep-tech tracks at the European Tech Sovereignty Summit.
Next stop: Servus Scale Up on Quantum Technologies
While we are actively scaling the ecosystem together, this Franco-German momentum is culminating again next month right in Munich with the first-ever Servus Scale Up on Quantum Technologies. With support by QBN, Servus Scaleup will bring together quantum startups, scale-ups, investors, and industrial end-users from both sides of the Rhine to turn the newly defined sovereignty goals into concrete business partnerships, investments, and deployments.
Details on the event: QBN Events › Servus Scale Up 2026 – The Bavarian-French Startup Festival
Digital sovereignty is a team sport, and the Franco-German quantum axis is proving to be its strongest engine. Stay tuned for updates from Munich as we build Europe’s quantum future together.
Press Release from the Federal Ministry for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation (BMDS): https://bmds.bund.de/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/detail/deutschland-und-frankreich-praesentieren-gemeinsame-definition-von-digitaler-souveraenitaet
Image: Germany and France present a joint definition of digital sovereignty, screenshot, PR from BMDS website, 17.6.2026
