Investing in Europe’s AI & Critical Tech: 41 European CEOs stand ready to invest in Europe’s Competitiveness and Security

Strasbourg, 09 September 2025

41 CEOs from Europe’s leading digitalising companies and trade associations have united and stand ready to invest, innovate and scale in Europe. Just one day before President Ursula von Der Leyen’s State of the Union speech, the CEOs calls for accelerating the direction set by the Draghi report and the European Commission on digital investments, reducing red tape, competitiveness and security. The signatories urge a strong public-private partnership to make Europe a global Digital Powerhouse on AI and critical technologies, driving competitiveness, security and prosperity.

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

‘European CEOs are sending a clear signal: industry leaders stand ready to co-invest and collaborate in making Europe a Digital Powerhouse, enhancing competitiveness and security. 
Draghi was clear: Europe has lost 30% competitiveness, and we have an €800 billion investment gap, mainly due to regulatory burden, lack of digitalisation of the economy and of a true scalable single market.  
European policymakers and industry leaders must collaborate and reach result in the next one to three years, not just long-term. We must change the way we invest to create real scalable market demand, reduce regulatory burdens and complete the single market. It is time to enhance digital sovereignty by unlocking Europe’s potential in critical technologies and build capacity on critical, dual use and AI technologies whilst collaborating with our international partners.’  

The European AI & Tech Declaration was launched today at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, alongside senior policymakers and industry leaders, for a dialogue on a joint movement to secure Europe’s leadership in AI and critical technologies. 

Through CEO leadership, concrete investment projects and strategic policy proposals, the Declaration translates vision into concrete action to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, innovation capacity and digital sovereignty. 

Today’s launch marks only the beginning of a strong joint movement, with 41 CEOs from European companies and national trade associations already signed on, and more joining in the coming months. 

Industry stands ready to invest and collaborate on digital investments that create real market demand and resilience, whilst supporting swift regulatory reforms that boost Europe’s competitiveness. 

We scale. We lead. We succeed. Together. 

Read the full CEO Letter and list of signatories. 

More information on the initiative, pan-European projects, and policy recommendations here.