Tech Diplomacy Now: Europe’s New Economic Security Initiatives
Following in the footsteps of Japan and the United States, the European Union unveiled its latest set of initiatives around strengthening the economic security of its members.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Top News of the Week
Latest News
Technology Strategy and Policy
Artificial Intelligence
Telecommunications Networks and Infrastructure
Critical Minerals
Synthetic Biology
Quantum
Advanced Aerospace Technology
Semiconductors and Microelectronics
Energy and Climate
Opinion and Commentary
Top News of the Week – Europe’s New Economic Security Initiatives
Following in the footsteps of Japan and the United States, the European Union unveiled its latest set of initiatives around strengthening the economic security of its members. The reemergence of geopolitical rivalry persuaded Brussels to push its member states to make revisions to the following areas:
Improving the methods of screening foreign investment into the European Union;
Improving the ways that member states enforce dual-use export controls;
Considering the creation of an outbound investment screening regime;
Supporting research and development involving dual-use technologies; and
Proposing measures to enhance research security
The challenge for the Commission will be gaining consensus among the EU member states and resolving the bureaucratic turf wars between Brussels and what member states do with their own authorities at the national level.
Both Moscow and Beijing have exploited the seams between the European Union and individual member states when applying economic coercion and gaining access to advanced technology. It remains to be seen whether European countries can unify around these challenges or whether their vulnerabilities will invite even further exploitation. The dumping of Chinese manufactured electric vehicles will likely be one of the first major tests of whether Brussels can pull together its members.
More Background:
The European Union’s Economic Security Strategy Update – CSIS, January 26, 2024
EU scales back China investment screening plans to avoid ‘turf war’ – Financial Times, January 26, 2024
Missing money: Why Europe’s economic security requires a critical technology investment plan – ECFR, January 24, 2024
Commission proposes new initiatives to strengthen economic security – European Commission, January 24, 2024
New tools to reinforce the EU’s economic security – European Commission, January 24, 2024
EU’s economic security plans take aim at China – Politico, January 23, 2024
An EU approach to enhance economic security – European Commission, June 20, 2023
Latest News
The Story of the Decade: New documents strengthen—perhaps conclusively—the lab-leak hypothesis of Covid-19’s origins – City Journal, January 25, 2024
Intelligence Reveals Details of U.N. Agency Staff’s Links to Oct. 7 Attack – WSJ, January 29, 2024
Most of Russia’s War Chips Are Made by US and European Companies – Bloomberg, January 25, 2024
China says US military makes region more dangerous after Navy ship sails through Taiwan Strait – CNN, January 25, 2024
Technology Strategy and Policy
Eager for Economic Wins, Biden to Announce Billions for Advanced Chips – WSJ, January 27, 2024
Are Russia and North Korea forming a new arsenal of autocracy? – Atlantic Council, January 26, 2024
ASML’s China Sales Surged Despite Secret Dutch Deal With US – Bloomberg, January 25, 2024
Is the world economy deglobalizing? – JP Morgan Private Bank, January 24, 2024
Artificial Intelligence
Elon Musk’s AI start-up seeks to raise $6bn from investors to challenge OpenAI – FT, January 26, 2024
OpenAI and Other Tech Giants Will Have to Warn the US Government When They Start New AI Projects – Wired, January 26, 2024
Taiwan Builds Own AI Language Model to Counter China’s Influence – Bloomberg, January 25, 2024
White House science chief signals US-China co-operation on AI safety – FT, January 25, 2024
Made-in-Asia generative AI race heats up amid U.S. dominance – Nikkei Asia, January 24, 2024
What’s next for robotaxis in 2024 – MIT Technology Review, January 23, 2024
Telecommunications Networks and Infrastructure
US disabled Chinese hacking network targeting critical infrastructure – Reuters, January 30, 2024
China smartphone maker Oppo ends protracted legal battle with Nokia, agrees to pay 5G royalties – SCMP, January 24, 2024
Critical Minerals
Pentagon plans AI-based program to estimate prices for critical minerals – Reuters, January 29, 2024
Lithium price plunges on slowing Chinese demand for electric vehicles – Financial Times, January 27, 2024
Tin shackled by surplus, but green industry demand poised to mop up supplies – Reuters, January 24, 2024
Morocco, an Unexpected Winner of China’s Strategy to Circumvent the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act – CSIS, January 23, 2024
Synthetic Biology
Bipartisan Group of Select Committee Members Lead Coalition Introducing House and Senate Bills to Ban Foreign Adversary Biotech Companies, including BGI Group – House Select Committee on the CCP, January 25, 2024
US pharmacy benefit lobby group ramps up spending as lawmakers close in – Reuters, January 25, 2024
Breaking the Mold: Embracing Uncertainty for Enhanced Bio-Innovation – SynBioBeta, January 22, 2024
Quantum
Taiwan's quantum leap: President Tsai champions cutting-edge quantum computing – Taiwan News, January 29, 2024
The search for quantum algorithms – Axios, January 27, 2024
What is the quantum threat and what has simple maths got to do with protecting global security? – EuroNews, January 26, 2024
New Protocol Kills Dead Air for Quantum Communication: The technique can boost transmission rates and improve security – IEEE Spectrum, January 26, 2024
Advanced Aerospace Technology
Japan and U.S. agree on AI research for drones to assist new fighter jet – Japan Times, January 28, 2024
China rocket startup Orienspace raises nearly $84 mln – Reuters, January 24, 2024
Ukraine Is Losing the Drone War – Foreign Affairs, January 22, 2024
Semiconductors and Microelectronics
The Japanese semiconductor deal spooking rivals and investors – Financial Times, January 29, 2024
Teradyne pulled $1 billion worth of manufacturing from China amid US export controls – Reuters, January 29, 2024
ASML expects US, Dutch export rules to hit China sales by 10-15% - Reuters, January 24, 2024
Energy and Climate
Elon Musk says Chinese EV makers will ‘pretty much demolish’ most competitors without trade barriers – CNBC, January 25, 2024
Green Tech: China is becoming a shooting star – and is pressuring Germany – Handelsblatt, January 20, 2024
Opinion and Commentary
Should 4 People Be Able to Control the Equivalent of a Nuke? – Will Hurd, Politico, January 30, 2024
Western nations need a plan for when China floods the chip market – Chris Miller, Financial Times, January 28, 2024
U.S. Technologies and the Emboldening of China – Steve Coonen, The Wire China, January 28, 2024
Security recall: The risk of Chinese electric vehicles in Europe – Janka Oertel, ECFR, January 25, 2024
The US is failing to quickly field hypersonic missile defense – Mark Montgomery and Bradley Bowman, Defense News, January 19, 2024
About: Tech Diplomacy Now
The Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue is the world’s preeminent trusted technology accelerator. As the leader of the new category of Tech Diplomacy, the Institute integrates technology expertise, Silicon Valley strategies, and foreign policy tools to build the Global Trusted Tech Network of governments, companies, organizations and individuals to accelerate the innovation and adoption of trusted technology and ensure technology advances freedom.