The purpose of the study was to comprehensively examine the impact of technological sovereignty on economic and national security. The paper considered key aspects of technological sovereignty. The results of the study showed that technological sovereignty has a substantial and multifaceted impact on national security, including economic, energy stability, and military security of the country. This ensures the sustainability of national economies and reduces dependence on global markets and critical technologies, which is especially important in the context of growing competition with major technology players. Ensuring economic independence also allows the country to control strategically important resources, contributing to more sustainable development in the face of international turbulence. The impact on energy security is manifested through the introduction of innovations in the field of renewable energy sources, the development of own energy efficiency technologies, and the creation of national networks for energy management, which helps to reduce dependence on imported energy resources and increases resistance to external influences, such as energy crises and economic sanctions. Military security, as an important component of national security, is also substantially strengthened through technological sovereignty. In particular, the development of its own cyber technologies, defence systems, artificial intelligence systems, and data analysis technologies minimises the risks of external interference in defence processes and ensures the country’s independence in the field of national defence. Technological sovereignty allows for a more effective protection of critical infrastructure from cyber attacks and a reduction of dependence on foreign developments. The experience of Ukraine and the EU showed different approaches to achieving technological independence, including support for national research, development of their own semiconductors and digital technologies, cybersecurity programs and initiatives to reduce technological dependence. These factors highlighted the need to integrate public strategies to build technological sovereignty as a key component of national and economic security
Technological sovereignty of the state: Practical experience of Ukraine and the European Union
Abstract
Keywords
technological sovereignty; economic independence; digital infrastructure; data protection; innovation; cybersecurity; energy efficiency
[1] Ade, M. (2024). The role of smart grids in modernizing power distribution and energy efficiency. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/384445107_The_Role_of_Smart_Grids_in_Modernizing_Power_Distribution_and_Energy_Efficiency.
[2] Andriienko, B. (2024). The theoretical meaning of the concept of “smart energy system”. Economic Herald of the Donbas, 75-76(1-2), 14-19. doi: 10.12958/1817-3772-2024-1-2(75-76)-14-19.
[3] Attinà, F., & Carammia, M. (2024). EU, world order transition and strategic autonomy. European Foreign Affairs Review, 29(3), 275-294. doi: 10.54648/EERR2024013.
[4] Badea, D., & Ranf, D. (2021). The impact of technological development on managerial resilience in the military organisation. Romanian Military Thinking, 2021(4), 260-271. doi: 10.55535/RMT.2021.4.15.
[5] Boga, D. (2024). Military leadership and resilience. In A. Sookermany (Ed.), Handbook of military sciences (pp. 1-20). Cham: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-02866-4_101-2.
[6] Cantner, U. (2024). Technological sovereignty in a time of radical technological change. In Y. Ouyang, R.R. Nelson & H. Hanusch (Eds.), Technological revolution and new driving forces for global sustainable development (pp. 59-64). Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-97-7332-9_8.
[7] Crespi, F., Caravella, S., Menghini, M., & Salvatori, C. (2021). European technological sovereignty: An emerging framework for policy strategy. Intereconomics, 56(6), 348-354. doi: 10.1007/s10272-021-1013-6.
[8] Csernatoni, R. (2022). The EU’s hegemonic imaginaries: From European strategic autonomy in defence to technological sovereignty. European Security, 31(3), 395-414. doi: 10.1080/09662839.2022.2103370.
[9] Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council No. 2016/1148 “Concerning Measures for a High Common Level of Security of Network and Information Systems Across the Union”. (2016, July). Retrieved from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.L_.2016.194.01.0001.01.ENG&toc=OJ:L:2016:194:TOC.
[10] Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council No. 2016/943 “On the Protection of Undisclosed Know-How and Business Information (Trade Secrets) Against Their Unlawful Acquisition, Use and Disclosure”. (2016). Retrieved from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32016L0943.
[11] Eckert, D. (2024). Seeking digital sovereignty. In D. Eckert (Eds.), 40 Years of European digital policies (pp. 147-168). Cham: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-61641-9_9.
[12] Edler, J., Blind, K., Kroll, H., & Schubert, T. (2023). Technology sovereignty as an emerging frame for innovation policy. Defining rationales, ends and means. Research Policy, 52(6), article number 104765. doi: 10.1016/j.respol.2023.104765.
[13] European Commission. (2020a). New EU Cybersecurity Strategy and new rules to make physical and digital critical entities more resilient. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_2391.
[14] European Commission. (2020b). European industrial strategy. Retrieved from https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fit-digital-age/european-industrial-strategy_en.
[15] European Commission. (2020c). The European Defence Fund at a glance. Retrieved from https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-defence-industry/european-defence-fund-edf-official-webpage-european-commission_en.
[16] European Commission. (2021a). Horizon Europe. Retrieved from https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en.
[17] European Commission. (2021b). New EU copyright rules that will benefit creators, businesses and consumers start to apply. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_1807.
[18] European Commission. (2022a). REPowerEU: A plan to rapidly reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels and fast forward the green transition. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_3131.
[19] European Commission. (2022b). Advancing Europe’s digital decade The EU: Pioneering the way to a safe and trusted digital world. Retrieved from https://state-of-the-union.ec.europa.eu/state-union-2022/state-union-achievements/advancing-europes-digital-decade_en.
[20] European Commission. (2022с). What is the DMA about?. Retrieved from https://digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu/about-dma_en.
[21] European Commission. (2023a). Directive on measures for a high common level of cybersecurity across the Union (NIS2 Directive). Retrieved from https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/nis2-directive.
[22] European Commission. (2023b). State of the Energy Union 2023: EU responds effectively to crisis, looks to the future, and accelerates the green transition. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_5188.
[23] European Commission. (2024). New rules to boost cybersecurity of EU’s critical entities and networks. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_5342.
[24] European Green Deal. (2019). Retrieved from https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en.
[25] European Innovation Council. (2024). Retrieved from https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-2025-work-programme_en.
[26] European Patent Convention. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.epo.org/en/legal/epc.
[27] Eurostat. (2023). Employed ICT specialists. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ISOC_SKS_ITSPT__custom_13663996/default/table?lang=en.
[28] Federal Office for Information Security of Germany. (2021). Second act on increasing the security of IT systems (German IT Security Act 2.0). Retrieved from https://www.bsi.bund.de/EN/Das-BSI/Auftrag/Gesetze-und-Verordungen/IT-SiG/2-0/it_sig-2-0_node.html.
[29] Foley, P., Moro, L., Neis, B., Stephenson, R., Mellin, R., Singh, G., Hall, P., Kelly, R., & Kulsum, U. (2024). Expanding infrastructure ontologies: Integrative and critical insights for coastal studies and governance. Coastal Studies & Society, 3(4), 203-226. doi: 10.1177/26349817241282440.
[30] General Data Protection Regulation. (2018). Retrieved from https://gdpr-info.eu/.
[31] Hackenbroich, J., Oertel, J., Sandner, P., & Zerka, P. (2020). Defending Europe’s economic sovereignty: New ways to resist economic coercion. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep26434.
[32] Helwig, N., & Sinkkonen, V. (2022). Strategic autonomy and the EU as a global actor: The evolution, debate and theory of a contested term. European Foreign Affairs Review, 27, 1-20. doi: 10.54648/eerr2022009.
[33] IT Research Ukraine. (2023). Retrieved from https://itcluster.lviv.ua/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/it-research-ukraine-2023-public-eng.pdf.
[34] IT Ukraine Association. (2024). In 2023, Ukrainian IT services export faced its first decline in years. Retrieved from https://itukraine.org.ua/en/in-2023-ukrainian-it-services-export-faced-its-first-decline-in-years/.
[35] Ivanytska, O., & Voznenko, O. (2024). Risk management of critical infrastructure. Finance of Ukraine, 6, 93-107. doi: 10.33763/finukr2024.06.093.
[36] Kılıç, S. (2024). Half-hearted or pragmatic? Explaining EU strategic autonomy and the European defence fund through institutional dynamics. Central European Journal of International and Security Studies, 18(1), 43-72. doi: 10.51870/FSLG6223.
[37] Law of Ukraine No. 1089-IX “On Electronic Communications”. (2024, December). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1089-20?lang=en#Text.
[38] Law of Ukraine No. 1116-IX “On State Support of Investment Projects with Significant Investments in Ukraine”. (2023, December). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1116-20?lang=en#Text.
[39] Law of Ukraine No. 2163-VIII “On the Basic Principles of Cybersecurity in Ukraine”. (2017, October). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2163-19?lang=en#Text.
[40] Law of Ukraine No. 2297-VI “On the Protection of Personal Data”. (2010, June). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2297-17#Text.
[41] Law of Ukraine No. 236/96-VR “On Protection Against Unfair Competition”. (2020, June). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/236/96-%D0%B2%D1%80?lang=en#Text.
[42] Law of Ukraine No. 2657-XII “On Information”. (2023, October). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2657-12?lang=en#Text.
[43] Law of Ukraine No. 3687-XII “On Protection of Rights to Inventions and Utility Models”. (2023, December). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/3687-12?lang=en#Text.
[44] Law of Ukraine No. 3792-XII “On Copyright and Related Rights”. (2023, December). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/3792-12?lang=en#Text.
[45] Lingfu, K., Bano, S., Saraih, U.N., Shah, N., & Soomro, B. (2024). Digital technology and entrepreneurship: Unveiling the bridging role of digital innovation. European Journal of Innovation Management. doi: 10.1108/EJIM-02-2024-0132.
[46] Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. (2024). The MoD has already commissioned more than 40 samples of drones and more than 20 ground robots since the start of 2024. Retrieved from https://www.mil.gov.ua/en/news/2024/06/01/the-mod-has-already-commissioned/.
[47] Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. (2023). Tallinn Mechanism: Ukraine and international partners launch new tool for cyber cooperation. Retrieved from https://www.kmu.gov.ua/en/news/tallinnskyi-mekhanizm-ukraina-ta-mizhnarodni-partnery-zapochatkuvaly-novyi-instrument-spivpratsi-u-kiberprostori.
[48] National Centre for Research and Development. (2021). European Funds for a Modern Economy programme. Retrieved from https://surl.li/gxcgfe.
[49] National Centre for Research and Development. (2023). SMART path – phased projects. Retrieved from https://www.gov.pl/web/ncbr/sciezka-smart-projekty-fazowane.
[50] Novikov, Ye. (2024). Digital sovereignty: Conceptual challenges and constitutional implications. Constitutional and Legal Academic Studies, 1, 61-69. doi: 10.24144/2663-5399.2024.1.08.
[51] Omar, O., Aldajani, I., Juwaihan, M., & Leiner, M. (2022). Cybersecurity in sovereignty reform. In I.M. AlDajani & M. Leiner (Eds.), Reconciliation, heritage and social inclusion in the Middle East and North Africa (pp. 109-128). Cham: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-08713-4_8.
[52] Order of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 605-r “On Approval of the Energy Strategy of Ukraine for the Period up to 2035 “Security, Energy Efficiency, Competitiveness’”. (2023, August). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/605-2017-%D1%80#Text.
[53] Park, B. (2024). Digital sovereignty. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.27759.24488.
[54] Prathap, M., Suresh, A., Seth, B., & Behera, S. (2024). Economic uncertainty and impact of governments’ spending on economic growth: An empirical study of emerging market economies. Global Journal of Emerging Market Economies, 17(2), 180-198. doi: 10.1177/09749101241287863.
[55] Reis, J., Cohen, Y., Melão, N., Costa, J., & Jorge, D. (2021). High-tech defense industries: Developing autonomous intelligent systems. Applied Sciences, 11(11), article number 4920. doi: 10.3390/app11114920.
[56] Roberts, H. (2024). Digital sovereignty and artificial intelligence: A normative approach. Ethics and Information Technology, 26, article number 09810. doi: 10.1007/s10676-024-09810-5.
[57] Robles-Carrillo, M. (2023). The European Union strategy for cybersecurity. In D.M. Vicente, S. de Vasconcelos Casimiro & C. Chen (Eds.), The legal challenges of the fourth industrial revolution (pp. 173-192). Cham: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-40516-7_10.
[58] Sauer, F. (2021). Stepping back from the brink: Why multilateral regulation of autonomy in weapons systems is difficult, yet imperative and feasible. International Review of the Red Cross, 102(913), 235-259. doi: 10.1017/S1816383120000466.
[59] Shoker, A. (2023). Digital sovereignty strategies for every nation. Applied Cybersecurity & Internet Governance. doi: 10.48550/arXiv.2307.01791.
[60] Statista. (2023). Value of the information and communications technology (ICT) market in Poland from 2020 to 2023. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1258937/poland-value-of-the-ict-market/.
[61] United States Agency for International Development. (2022). Cybersecurity of Ukraine. Retrieved from https://www.usaid.gov/uk/ukraine/fact-sheets/aug-05-2022-cybersecurity.
[62] World Bank. (2024a). Research and development expenditure (% of GDP) – Ukraine, European Union. Retrieved from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?locations=UA-EU.
[63] World Bank. (2024b). GDP (current US$) – Ukraine, European Union. Retrieved from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?end=2023&locations=UA-EU&start=2018.
[64] World Bank. (2024c). High-technology exports (current US$) – Ukraine, European Union. Retrieved from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/TX.VAL.TECH.CD?locations=UA-EU.
[65] Yakoviyk, I., & Novikov, Ye. (2023). European technological sovereignty. In Materials of the III international scientific conference “Innovative trends of the present in the field of natural, humanitarian and exact sciences” (pp. 62-64). Rivne: European Scientific Platform. doi: 10.36074/mcnd-29.09.2023.
[66] Yakoviyk, I.V., Shestopal, S.S., Baranov, P.P., & Blokhina, N.A. (2018). State sovereignty and sovereign rights: EU and national sovereignty. Opcion, 34(87), 376-385.
[67] Zang, L., & Xiong, F. (2020). How (when) does technological innovation improve government effectiveness? An empirical investigation with cross-national evidence. Science and Public Policy, 47(1), 103-113. doi: 10.1093/scipol/scz050.