MSC Roundtable on Technology Brussels

Munich Security Conference | Stiftung Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz (gemeinnützige GmbH)

Geschäftsführer: Dr. Benedikt Franke, Sara-Sumie Yang

Eingetragen im Handelsregister B des Amtsgerichts München unter HRB 191372 | UST.-Id.-Nr. DE277039635

HypoVereinsbank München | IBAN: DE 48 7002 0270 0010 0321 81 | BIC: HYVEDEMMXXX

Karolinenplatz 3, 80333 München | P: +49 (0)89 3797949 0 | E: [email protected]

His Excellency

Erkki Keldo

Minister of Economy and Industry

Republic of Estonia

Riga

Benedikt Franke

Vice-Chairman

Chief Executive Officer

Munich, July 2025

MSC Roundtable on Technology Brussels 2025

Munich Security Conference | Stiftung Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz (gemeinnützige GmbH)

Geschäftsführer: Dr. Benedikt Franke, Sara-Sumie Yang

Eingetragen im Handelsregister B des Amtsgerichts München unter HRB 191372 | UST.-Id.-Nr. DE277039635

HypoVereinsbank München | IBAN: DE 48 7002 0270 0010 0321 81 | BIC: HYVEDEMMXXX

Karolinenplatz 3, 80333 München | P: +49 (0)89 3797949 0 | E: [email protected]

His Excellency

Erkki Keldo

Minister of Economy and Industry

Republic of Estonia

Riga

Benedikt Franke

Vice-Chairman

Chief Executive Officer

Munich, July 2025

MSC Roundtable on Technology Brussels 2025

1

MSC Technology Roundtable Brussels 2025 Taking Stock of the Tech Stack: Security, Independence, and Tech Competition

October 15, 2025 | Concept Note

[Strictly confidential – no distribution] 5/8/2025

Date, Time & Location

The MSC Technology Roundtable will take place at the Association de la Noblesse du Royaume de Belgique in Brussels on October

15, 2025.

Format

MSC Roundtables bring together an intimate group of some 35 high-profile participants for an interactive debate on a specific

security policy challenge. Roundtables are held under Chatham House rule or off-the-record and take place throughout the

year.

This event is part of the MSC’s Technology Program. With this program, the MSC aims to advance the debate on the

regulation, governance, and use of technology to promote inclusive security and global cooperation. To that end, various MSC

event formats, publications, and initiatives seek to bridge the worlds of technology, politics, and security by facilitating

productive exchanges between decision-makers and experts at the highest level.

After Cyber Security Roundtables in Brussels in 2023 and 2024, the MSC will return to the “capital of Europe” every year to

continue to build a strong network of technology stakeholders, facilitate regular dialogue between key actors, and encourage open

and impactful debates on the most pressing issues of technology and cyber policy.

Partners

The Technology Roundtable in Brussels will be supported by a number of partners and institutions, including the State Office

for Information Security of the Free State of Bavaria.

Background & Purpose

One year ago, the European Commission made “competitiveness” the North Star of its policies. This agenda is playing out

across various fields but nowhere more than in the area of technology. European initiatives are targeting all layers of the so-

called “tech stack” – from underground critical minerals to outer space infrastructure, or from semiconductor hardware to

cybersecurity software. Indeed, the need for Europe to compete in the race for technological leadership and resilience has only

become more pronounced. The US administration has declared a full-speed-ahead approach to the race for dominance in

future technologies, and the tug-of-war over chips and other tech resources between the US and China is heating up. While

Beijing continues to encroach on technology sectors critical to European economies, Washington, too, is not shying away

from using Europe’s dependencies for political leverage. In areas like semiconductors and space capabilities, Europe faces

tough questions about where it can find compromises or even common ground with technology partners, and where it must

double down on resilience or even independence.

Heading into year two of the competitiveness agenda, it is time to take stock of Europe’s tech stack in three priority areas: its

technology ties with the US, its access to critical semiconductors, and its position in the new “space race.” What is the state of

transatlantic tech diplomacy and cybersecurity cooperation? Which dependencies can be solved through tighter collaboration

and which through diversification? How are Europe’s efforts to promote semiconductor production playing out? Has the EU

2

Chips Act borne fruit, or is a version 2.0 needed? Is the European space sector globally competitive? How can the EU’s Space

Act and space program funding give it a boost?

With this Roundtable, the Munich Security Conference aims to address these and other key tech and cyber policy questions,

assessing the trajectory of technology competition and Europe’s position in it.

Participants

The event will bring together a group of some 35 high-ranking decision-makers, including policymakers, technology sector

representatives, civil society organizations, and other technology experts.

Agenda

Wednesday, October 15

Association de la Noblesse du Royaume de Belgique

1.30 p.m. – 2.30 p.m. Registration and Welcome Coffee

Foyer

2.30 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. Discussion Session

Unfriended? Potential and Pitfalls for Transatlantic Technology Ties

Grand Salon Jardin

• How do values and economic considerations shape US and EU positions on

regulating the digital sector? What are the key points of contention, and where is

there potential for compromise or even cooperation?

• What role did European digital regulation and its enforcement play in US-EU trade

negotiations? How does the agreement reached in July influence the EU’s agenda

regarding the digital sector? How susceptible to coercive pressure is Europe given its

stark dependency on the US in the in military and security matters?

• In light of technology dependencies highlighted by the “EuroStack” papers, the EU’s

update on the “Digital Decade” and its International Digital Strategy, how can Europe

strengthen partnerships for a more resilient technology supply? What can be done to

put European reliance on the US technology sector on a more stable and sustainable

footing?

• What does the US administration’s AI Action Plan signal regarding transatlantic

technology cooperation? How will the US’s pursuit of its AI strategy affect European

efforts on AI capabilities and safety?

• Where does transatlantic cooperation between tech practitioners in areas like

cybersecurity or technical standards stand? How, if at all, are these areas affected by

current political dynamics?

4.00 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. Coffee Break

Foyer

3

4.30 p.m. – 6.00 p.m. Discussion Session

Fishing for Chips? Next Steps to Boost Semiconductor Resilience

Grand Salon Jardin

• How can the European chip industry capitalize on its strengths and mitigate its

weaknesses? What are realistic goals for European chip capabilities, and what

strategic choices should Europe make towards that end?

• What are the implications of securing access to cutting-edge semiconductors for

Europe’s tech and cyber ambitions, such as the establishment of AI “gigafactories”?

• What is the track record of the EU Chips Act, and what should a European follow-up

initiative on semiconductors do – if anything? What is the significance of initiatives

by member states, like the Semiconductor Coalition, and how can they harmonize

with EU measures?

• How have European companies in the semiconductor industry been affected by US

tariffs and export controls? What policy support does the European semiconductor

industry need to weather tensions in global trade and security relations?

• How have US semiconductor policies, especially export controls, played out in the

technological competition with China? What will the future direction of

semiconductor competition with China be in the larger context of US-China trade

policy, and what could the effects on Europe look like?

6.30 p.m. – 8.30 p.m. Reception & Dinner Discussion

Year 2.0: One Year Into Europe’s Tech Competitiveness Agenda

Grand Salon Avenue

• What are the most substantial achievements fostering Europe’s tech competitiveness

in the first year since the new EU Commission took office?

• How has Europe fared in terms of mobilizing public and private investment for

strategic tech sectors (e.g., AI, semiconductors, cloud, quantum)? What role can the

European Competitiveness Fund, proposed as part of the upcoming multiannual

financial framework (2028-2034), play in accelerating tech innovation?

• What is the right balance for the EU between enshrining its values in legislation while

also ensuring competitiveness? How can the values-based approach of the EU be a

competitive advantage rather than a liability?

• How does the current geopolitical environment, which is increasingly focused on

national rather than common gains, impact Europe’s competitiveness in tech?

9.00 p.m. – 10.00 p.m. Night Cap Session

Starry-Eyed or Down to Earth? Assessing European Ambitions in Space

Salon des Jeunes

• Against the backdrop of the European Space Agency turning 50, what are the

greatest achievements of Europe’s space program, and what are its biggest

challenges? In the next 50 years, what will the future of space exploration look like,

and which players will lead the way?

4

• How does easier access to space outside of space agencies and aeronautics industry

groups change the space industry? How can space traffic be organized in a

sustainable and secure way, and how effective will zero debris policies be?

• How prepared is Europe for modern warfare that is heavily reliant on space

capabilities? How can space assets be secured against kinetic and non-kinetic threats

such as cyberattacks?

• How can countries mitigate risks associated with their dependence on commercial

actors for critical space capabilities? What alternatives to US-based companies are

there, and how helpful will IRIS2 be in overcoming Europe’s dependencies?

• Which steps are necessary for Europe to attract more private funding in the space

field? What role does the planned EU Space Act play in this regard?

Contacts

For more details, please contact:

Stefanie Scharmann

Project Manager & Project Coordinator

Munich Security Conference

+49 89 3797949 436

[email protected]

Isabelle von Loeben

Senior Program Manager

Munich Security Conference

+49 30 2096901 240

[email protected]

1

MSC Technology Roundtable Brussels 2025 Taking Stock of the Tech Stack: Security, Independence, and Tech Competition

October 15, 2025 | Concept Note

[Strictly confidential – no distribution] 5/8/2025

Date, Time & Location

The MSC Technology Roundtable will take place at the Association de la Noblesse du Royaume de Belgique in Brussels on October

15, 2025.

Format

MSC Roundtables bring together an intimate group of some 35 high-profile participants for an interactive debate on a specific

security policy challenge. Roundtables are held under Chatham House rule or off-the-record and take place throughout the

year.

This event is part of the MSC’s Technology Program. With this program, the MSC aims to advance the debate on the

regulation, governance, and use of technology to promote inclusive security and global cooperation. To that end, various MSC

event formats, publications, and initiatives seek to bridge the worlds of technology, politics, and security by facilitating

productive exchanges between decision-makers and experts at the highest level.

After Cyber Security Roundtables in Brussels in 2023 and 2024, the MSC will return to the “capital of Europe” every year to

continue to build a strong network of technology stakeholders, facilitate regular dialogue between key actors, and encourage open

and impactful debates on the most pressing issues of technology and cyber policy.

Partners

The Technology Roundtable in Brussels will be supported by a number of partners and institutions, including the State Office

for Information Security of the Free State of Bavaria.

Background & Purpose

One year ago, the European Commission made “competitiveness” the North Star of its policies. This agenda is playing out

across various fields but nowhere more than in the area of technology. European initiatives are targeting all layers of the so-

called “tech stack” – from underground critical minerals to outer space infrastructure, or from semiconductor hardware to

cybersecurity software. Indeed, the need for Europe to compete in the race for technological leadership and resilience has only

become more pronounced. The US administration has declared a full-speed-ahead approach to the race for dominance in

future technologies, and the tug-of-war over chips and other tech resources between the US and China is heating up. While

Beijing continues to encroach on technology sectors critical to European economies, Washington, too, is not shying away

from using Europe’s dependencies for political leverage. In areas like semiconductors and space capabilities, Europe faces

tough questions about where it can find compromises or even common ground with technology partners, and where it must

double down on resilience or even independence.

Heading into year two of the competitiveness agenda, it is time to take stock of Europe’s tech stack in three priority areas: its

technology ties with the US, its access to critical semiconductors, and its position in the new “space race.” What is the state of

transatlantic tech diplomacy and cybersecurity cooperation? Which dependencies can be solved through tighter collaboration

and which through diversification? How are Europe’s efforts to promote semiconductor production playing out? Has the EU

2

Chips Act borne fruit, or is a version 2.0 needed? Is the European space sector globally competitive? How can the EU’s Space

Act and space program funding give it a boost?

With this Roundtable, the Munich Security Conference aims to address these and other key tech and cyber policy questions,

assessing the trajectory of technology competition and Europe’s position in it.

Participants

The event will bring together a group of some 35 high-ranking decision-makers, including policymakers, technology sector

representatives, civil society organizations, and other technology experts.

Agenda

Wednesday, October 15

Association de la Noblesse du Royaume de Belgique

1.30 p.m. – 2.30 p.m. Registration and Welcome Coffee

Foyer

2.30 p.m. – 4.00 p.m. Discussion Session

Unfriended? Potential and Pitfalls for Transatlantic Technology Ties

Grand Salon Jardin

• How do values and economic considerations shape US and EU positions on

regulating the digital sector? What are the key points of contention, and where is

there potential for compromise or even cooperation?

• What role did European digital regulation and its enforcement play in US-EU trade

negotiations? How does the agreement reached in July influence the EU’s agenda

regarding the digital sector? How susceptible to coercive pressure is Europe given its

stark dependency on the US in the in military and security matters?

• In light of technology dependencies highlighted by the “EuroStack” papers, the EU’s

update on the “Digital Decade” and its International Digital Strategy, how can Europe

strengthen partnerships for a more resilient technology supply? What can be done to

put European reliance on the US technology sector on a more stable and sustainable

footing?

• What does the US administration’s AI Action Plan signal regarding transatlantic

technology cooperation? How will the US’s pursuit of its AI strategy affect European

efforts on AI capabilities and safety?

• Where does transatlantic cooperation between tech practitioners in areas like

cybersecurity or technical standards stand? How, if at all, are these areas affected by

current political dynamics?

4.00 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. Coffee Break

Foyer

3

4.30 p.m. – 6.00 p.m. Discussion Session

Fishing for Chips? Next Steps to Boost Semiconductor Resilience

Grand Salon Jardin

• How can the European chip industry capitalize on its strengths and mitigate its

weaknesses? What are realistic goals for European chip capabilities, and what

strategic choices should Europe make towards that end?

• What are the implications of securing access to cutting-edge semiconductors for

Europe’s tech and cyber ambitions, such as the establishment of AI “gigafactories”?

• What is the track record of the EU Chips Act, and what should a European follow-up

initiative on semiconductors do – if anything? What is the significance of initiatives

by member states, like the Semiconductor Coalition, and how can they harmonize

with EU measures?

• How have European companies in the semiconductor industry been affected by US

tariffs and export controls? What policy support does the European semiconductor

industry need to weather tensions in global trade and security relations?

• How have US semiconductor policies, especially export controls, played out in the

technological competition with China? What will the future direction of

semiconductor competition with China be in the larger context of US-China trade

policy, and what could the effects on Europe look like?

6.30 p.m. – 8.30 p.m. Reception & Dinner Discussion

Year 2.0: One Year Into Europe’s Tech Competitiveness Agenda

Grand Salon Avenue

• What are the most substantial achievements fostering Europe’s tech competitiveness

in the first year since the new EU Commission took office?

• How has Europe fared in terms of mobilizing public and private investment for

strategic tech sectors (e.g., AI, semiconductors, cloud, quantum)? What role can the

European Competitiveness Fund, proposed as part of the upcoming multiannual

financial framework (2028-2034), play in accelerating tech innovation?

• What is the right balance for the EU between enshrining its values in legislation while

also ensuring competitiveness? How can the values-based approach of the EU be a

competitive advantage rather than a liability?

• How does the current geopolitical environment, which is increasingly focused on

national rather than common gains, impact Europe’s competitiveness in tech?

9.00 p.m. – 10.00 p.m. Night Cap Session

Starry-Eyed or Down to Earth? Assessing European Ambitions in Space

Salon des Jeunes

• Against the backdrop of the European Space Agency turning 50, what are the

greatest achievements of Europe’s space program, and what are its biggest

challenges? In the next 50 years, what will the future of space exploration look like,

and which players will lead the way?

4

• How does easier access to space outside of space agencies and aeronautics industry

groups change the space industry? How can space traffic be organized in a

sustainable and secure way, and how effective will zero debris policies be?

• How prepared is Europe for modern warfare that is heavily reliant on space

capabilities? How can space assets be secured against kinetic and non-kinetic threats

such as cyberattacks?

• How can countries mitigate risks associated with their dependence on commercial

actors for critical space capabilities? What alternatives to US-based companies are

there, and how helpful will IRIS2 be in overcoming Europe’s dependencies?

• Which steps are necessary for Europe to attract more private funding in the space

field? What role does the planned EU Space Act play in this regard?

Contacts

For more details, please contact:

Stefanie Scharmann

Project Manager & Project Coordinator

Munich Security Conference

+49 89 3797949 436

[email protected]

Isabelle von Loeben

Senior Program Manager

Munich Security Conference

+49 30 2096901 240

[email protected]