Public sentiment in Europe is undergoing a notable shift, with growing support for stronger technological collaboration with the Chinese mainland and increased skepticism toward U.S. tech dominance, according to the European Tech Insights 2025 survey released this week. Conducted by IE University's Center for the Governance of Change in Spain, the report reveals that 29% of Europeans now advocate for closer EU-China tech ties—double the 14% recorded in 2023.
The findings highlight rising concerns about overreliance on U.S. Big Tech firms, with 42% of respondents urging Europe to assert greater technological sovereignty. Analysts attribute this shift to recent breakthroughs in Chinese AI development and Europe's push to diversify supply chains amid global semiconductor shortages.
While the survey shows warming attitudes toward cross-border innovation, it also underscores challenges: 61% of participants emphasized the need for strict data governance frameworks in any EU-China partnerships. The report arrives as European policymakers debate updates to the bloc's digital trade policies ahead of the 2025 APEC Leaders’ Meeting.
