Source URL: https://berthub.eu/articles/posts/now-how-to-get-that-european-cloud/
Source: Hacker News
Title: But how to get to that European cloud?
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AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The text discusses the urgent need for Europe to develop its own cloud infrastructure separate from American providers, stressing that traditional market forces have failed. To achieve this, it calls for a comprehensive industrial policy leveraging European talent and funding to create a competitive cloud ecosystem. The author advocates for smart procurement strategies, government engagement in technology, and innovative funding approaches.
Detailed Description: The text presents a detailed analysis of the current state of cloud computing in Europe, emphasizing the inherent vulnerabilities in relying on American cloud services. It outlines a strategy for European governments to foster the development of a homegrown cloud ecosystem through several key initiatives:
– **Failure of Market Forces**: The author argues that mere market competition hasn’t delivered satisfactory European cloud solutions. Businesses are hesitant to adopt unproven services.
– **Need for Industrial Policy**: To navigate the complex landscape of cloud computing, an active industrial policy is necessary. This involves politicians understanding the technological landscape and working closely with industry experts.
– **Historical Analogies**: The author compares the cloud modernization efforts in Europe to historical successes like the EU’s Galileo satellite system and Airbus, suggesting that a similar approach can be applied to cloud services.
– **Funding Dynamics**: The text admits that substantial financial resources are necessary, with tens of billions discussed. The challenge lies in directing these funds toward innovative and practical cloud solutions rather than bureaucratic overhead.
– **Smart Procurement**: Governments could act as catalysts by procuring services selectively. It advocates for government contracts that prioritize European firms while being flexible enough to explore newer, innovative offerings.
– **Encouragement of Open Source**: Open-source development is positioned as a pivotal element in building a resilient European cloud infrastructure, emphasizing collaboration and shared resources over mere commercialization.
– **Avoiding Bureaucratic Pitfalls**: The text cautions against rigid, bureaucratic funding models that stifle innovation and proposes that governments should create environments where developers can thrive.
– **Crisis and Opportunity**: The writer sees the current geopolitical tensions as an opportunity for Europe to rethink its reliance on U.S. technology and develop its autonomous capabilities.
– **Proposed Initiatives**: Several specific proposals such as ‘Eumail’, ‘Eutube’, and a European alternative to Google Docs are suggested as foundational services necessary for a self-sufficient cloud ecosystem.
– **Call to Action**: The text concludes with an urgent call for European governments to adopt these strategies to regain control over their digital infrastructure, suggesting a multi-faceted approach combining political action, funding, and technological expertise.
By approaching cloud computing with a strategic framework that prioritizes European capabilities, the text advocates not just for independence from U.S. providers but aims to empower the European tech ecosystem sustainably for the future. This has significant implications for infrastructure security, technological sovereignty, and compliance with privacy laws in Europe.