⁇ The urgency of today: Building Digital Sovereignty
Thursday, June 5th my alarm went off at 2:30. After only two hours of sleep, I got up, packed my suitcase, drank a strong coffee, and left via Münster for the Nextcloud Summit in Munich. It wasn't until 1:15 the next morning that I fell asleep again. A day of 22.5 hours without rest – but with a mission that burned like never before.
Why am I sharing this? Because it wasn't just a day. It was a day that set something in motion. Not in my agenda, but in my conviction.
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What followed was no ordinary conference. It was a frontal clash with reality: Europe's digital infrastructure is up to 90% dependent on non-European technologies. The Summit's message was crystal clear:
⁇ We have to act.
⁇ We need to build.
⁇ We have to do it now.
Not tomorrow. Not if the conditions are perfect. Not if we feel a little more comfort or security first. But today.
“Digital autonomy is not a luxury. It is a necessity for our democracy.”
What did I bring from Munich? Redemption under my eyes. But also fire in my stomach. The Nextcloud Summit was not a tech event. It was a manifesto. A collective call to action.
“A lack of sleep is temporary. The awareness that you have to do something important remains.”
⁇ The urgency of now: Europe needs to build – and we're building with it
The message that echoed throughout the day: Europe is digitally dependent. 90% our infrastructure is based on non-European technology. That's not a detail. That's a weakness. And the only answer is: building. Not tomorrow. Not ever. Now.
“The future of Europe does not depend on the big ones. It rests on the shoulders of many.”
⁇ Key figures with vision and fire
I spoke to and listened to inspiring people like:
- Frank Karlitschek – Founder of Nextcloud, fighter for data ownership and open source sovereignty.
- Alexandra Geese – MEP, digital rights activist, and driving force behind the Digital Services Act.
- Christina Farrara – her speech was a mockery: “Why do we still accept this? Build. Build. Build.’
- Markus Noga – CTO of IONOS, expert in cloud and AI, and advocate for a European alternative to Big Tech.
They set course. But they alone are not going to make it.
“Inspiration is nothing without action. And action starts with you.”
⁇ Just. Do it.
Schleswig-Holstein's CTO said it so simply that it sounded almost revolutionary: “We just started.” His state migrated to open source. Not without obstacles, but with success. His message echoes to anyone who hesitates: Just start.
“You don't have to do it perfectly. All you have to do is do it.”
We are the backbone of change
What hit me the most? Not only the greatness of the speakers, but the many ordinary people like you and me. The developers. The consultants. The local officials. The entrepreneurs. The students. We are the grassroots movement that makes Europe digitally independent.
There are many of us. We are agile. We can do this.
“A movement does not occur at the top. It grows from the bottom up – from people like you and me.”
My mission is clear
After this intense day, I'm sure: I am going to contribute to a Europe that has its own digital infrastructure. A Europe that values privacy, security and autonomy over market share or convenience. No more reliance on foreign big tech.
Build it. Together. Now. It's not the big ones that are changing Europe. It's the doers.
English (UK)