Online panel discussion: The Geopolitics of Tech: Europe in an Era of Realignments?

Speakers

• Antonio Calcara, Head of the Geopolitics and Technology Programme at CSDS, Brussels School of Governance
• Julia Pohle, Co-head of the Research Group on Politics of Digitalization, WZB Berlin Social Science Center

• Shyam Krishnakumar, Executive Director, The Pranava Institute

   

The priorities of the first Von der Leyen Commission (2019-2024) focused on a human-centered digital transition firmly rooted in European values. However, anno 2025, the geopolitical landscape has shifted and the three most salient concepts in European policymaking circles today are security, resilience, and competitiveness. This is most recently evidenced by the EU’s Digital Omnibus Regulation that has been criticized for walking back on democratic commitments laid out in the AI Act or GDPR, in the name of simplification needed for the flourishing of European businesses. Indeed, the new approach of the second Von der Leyen Commission (2024-2029) is illustrative of the challenges, shifts, and realignments that have been reflected in the EU’s digital strategy and politics. While the traditional ‘like-minded’ partnership with the US is under pressure and the rivalry with China intensifies, this panel discussion aims to take stock of the rapidly changing geopolitics of the tech arena and the possibilities brought about by building closer relations with newly emerging digital powers, such as India. What do the EU’s nascent efforts in the face of power struggles mean for global security, the global data economy and the digital politics of the future?

Antonio Calcara is Head of the Geopolitics and Technology Programme at CSDS and a Research Professor at VUB, where he is leading the European Research Council project ‘Competition in the Digital Era’ (CODE): Geopolitics and Technology in the 21st Century’. He holds a PhD in Political Science from LUISS University in Rome. He has previously held academic positions at the University of Antwerp, LUISS University and SciencesPo Paris. He has received research funding from the European Research Council, the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO), and the European Commission. His research focuses on geopolitical and technological competition in the advanced technology sector.

Julia Pohle is co-head of the research group "Politics of Digitalization" at the WZB Berlin Social Science Center. Her research focuses on digital geopolitics and the role of states in communication governance. Lately, she is particularly interested in the discourse on digital sovereignty and how it influences national internet policy in Europe and beyond. Among other roles, Julia currently serves as academic editor of the Internet Policy Review, as co-chair for the Communication Policy & Technology Section of the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR), and on the Steering Committee of the Internet Governance Forum Germany.

Shyam Krishnakumar is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of The Pranava Institute, and currently heads the Research Advisory work at Pranava. At Pranava, Shyam’s work engages with key questions around India’s digital transformation, including regulatory frameworks for emerging technologies, India’s cybersecurity and technology ethics.