[INTERVIEW] Investigating the economic roots of digital sovereignty, with Sarah GUILLOU

What are the economic factors that support the digital sovereignty of a country? Are the “digital champions” really essential for this sovereignty to exist? What is the scale of its expression? How did the Covid crisis impact the digital economy and what does it mean for sovereign States?

Following up with the publication of a fascinating policy brief (in French) titled “France’s digital sovereignty will come through investments in digital technologies”, Sarah Guillou, Director of the Innovation & Competition Department at the OFCE (Observatoire Français des Conjonctures Économiques), comes back in this interview for the Chair Digital, Governance and Sovereignty on her recent research works dedicated to the complex relationship between economic activity and digital sovereignty.

Technological mastery is what defines digital sovereignty.

In order to master digital technologies, investment is needed and must be substantial. The European scale is the market scale that is required if investments in digital technology are to benefit from economies of scale. […] Europe would be the efficient scale of negotitation with China and the United States, […] the market for exercising this digital sovereignty.

Sarah Guillou, Director of the Innovation & Competition Department at the OFCE