DIGITALEUROPE launches US presence, strengthening transatlantic tech alliance

Washington D.C., 24 September 2025

DIGITALEUROPE has officially kicked off its US presence, a milestone marked with a high-level Transatlantic Tech Reception in Washington D.C. The launch underscores the importance of European and US collaboration of critical technologies to win the global tech race. While the US leads in semiconductors, cloud and AI, Europe leads in connectivity, additive manufacturing and green tech. Transatlantic trade in goods and services reached over €1.68 trillion and the EU and US already form the world’s largest trade and investment relationship. European companies have invested more than $2.4 trillion in the US, supporting millions of US jobs through their local affiliates. 

Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl, Director-General of DIGITALEUROPE, said: 

‘By strengthening our presence in Washington, we are reinforcing the transatlantic tech alliance. We represent 45,000 companies with head quarters both in Europe and the US, who all have a profound interest in a strong and stable transatlantic market. Europe and the US lead in different tech areas, and only together can we win the global tech race. This partnership drives innovation and growth on both sides of the Atlantic and ensures global leadership. Europe and the US are not only close partners, they are each other’s largest investors: European investment in the US is $2.4 trillion, with our European members alone contributing over $172 billion. This is testament to Europe’s leadership in technology and to the strength of the transatlantic partnership we are building together.’ 

The European Union is the most important trade and investment partner to the U.S. European companies are among key investors in the US economy, and their commitment continues to grow. Our members are deepening their footprint in the U.S, including BMW’s $1.7 billion expansion in South Carolina, Siemens’ $190 million plant in Texas, Siemens Healthineers’ $150 million investment in Palo Alto, and Danfoss’s $62 million facility in Florida. Going forward, these investments are set to increase with the right framework for collaboration.  

The DIGITALEUROPE Tech Reception welcomed around 250 senior participants, including business leaders from EU and US, Ambassadors, representatives from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the Department of Commerce and the State Department.
The event featured speeches by EU Ambassador Jovita Neliupšienė, Bill Guidera from the US Department of Commerce, and Hendrik Bourgeois of Mastercard. 

Jovita Neliupšienė, EU Ambassador to the US, said: 

‘We need representatives like DIGITALEUROPE in Washington. Transatlantic tech collaboration is also about involving business representatives who understand what works in the real world. DIGITALEUROPE is a champion of promoting a common transatlantic market. To succeed, we have to join forces.’ 

Bill Guidera, Deputy Assistant Secretary, said: 

‘ITA extends a warm welcome to #DIGITALEUROPE’s new presence in Washington D.C and looks forward to continued collaboration.’ 

The launch also highlighted areas where policy alignment can deliver impact: negotiations for a mutual recognition agreement on cybersecurity, commitments on advanced AI chips, and coordinated export rules. Harmonised approaches reduce costs, strengthen security, accelerate responses, and drive innovation on both sides of the Atlantic. 

DIGITALEUROPE has already been highly active in shaping the EU-US tech agenda. We have contributed to US consultations on the AI Action Plan and AI Diffusion Framework. We have published key papers on AI, cybersecurity, regulatory simplification and international digital strategy, and issued a statement on tariffs. Our recommendations have also helped shape the Tech7 agenda. 

Europe’s strengths in connectivity, energy tech, and additive manufacturing can be leveraged for the benefit of a resilient EU-US partnership. Moreover, DIGITALEUROPE’s critical tech gap study (see one pager here, and full study here)shows that while the US is a leader in semiconductors and AI, the transatlantic collaboration offers a unique opportunity to make both partners more competitive. 

With our new US presence, we look forward to deepening the transatlantic partnership. Together, Europe and the US can shape a secure, innovative, and competitive digital future. 

* Source: DG Trade The European Union’s Business Footprint in the United States 

https://trade.ec.europa.eu/eu-footprint-us/home