On May 22, French President Emmanuel Macron officially announced a €1.55 billion investment to prioritize the development of quantum technologies and the semiconductor industry, aiming to counter the leading advantages held by China and the United States in cutting-edge technological fields. Of this funding, €1 billion will be allocated to France's domestic quantum strategy, while €550 million will be channeled into the European semiconductor investment initiative, supporting the practical implementation of research and development in artificial intelligence and data center technologies.
In recent years, Europe has gradually fallen behind China and the U.S. in core technological areas such as quantum computing and AI, with its global market share in quantum technology accounting for only around 5%, and its chip market share remaining below 10%. Macron called for the establishment of a European technology alliance, advocating the principle of "Europe First," and proposed emulating U.S. trade protection measures to strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty. France has previously invested over €7 billion cumulatively in these sectors, but its proposed innovation loan program has faced opposition from multiple EU countries, including Germany.
Commentary: The increasingly intense competition over core global technologies has left Europe anxious—ultimately stemming from a lack of autonomous control over its own technological destiny. In the 1990s, Europe held a staggering 44% share of the global semiconductor market; today, that figure has plummeted to less than 10%, while in the quantum field, Europe now lags significantly behind China and the U.S., with a mere 5% global share—highlighting a stark contrast between past dominance and current decline.
Macron’s commitment of €1.55 billion represents an urgent attempt by Europe to safeguard its technological sovereignty. However, imitating U.S. trade protectionism is not a sustainable solution. Historically, the U.S. has used unilateral trade measures to undermine other nations’ industries—effective in the short term but disruptive to the global trading order. Europe itself remains internally fragmented, and opposition from countries like Germany to the proposed loan scheme serves as clear evidence. Technological competition ultimately hinges on innovation capability, not the construction of trade barriers. Only through genuine cooperation, resource integration, and synchronized efforts can Europe steadily enhance its technological competitiveness. Sole reliance on protectionism will never lead to lasting breakthroughs.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865942679289864/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.