Welcome to ICYMI – a weekly snapshot of European news stories that have given me pause for thought. ICYMI is a chance for you to go beyond the front-page headlines and find out what other stories may be worthy of your attention. This week:
- Why are European tech leaders pushing back on US tech dominance?
- Why is America’s work culture clashing with European workplace values?
- Where is Europe’s next wave of innovation coming from and which sectors are leading the charge?
Almost four months into Donald Trump’s second presidency, the geopolitical shockwaves from a sharp shift to the right are continuing to reverberate through Europe’s digital landscape.
With “America First” policies and tariffs now in full force, Le Monde reports that calls for organisations to reduce their reliance on US tech are growing louder.
Earlier this month, more than 200 European companies, including Airbus, signed an open letter urging the European Commission to take action to prevent Europe becoming a “digital colony” dependent on foreign technology.
The Eurostack Collective, which coordinated the letter, pointed out that 80% of software and cloud spending in Europe – amounting to €265 billion each year – currently goes to American firms.
In response, the group is calling for a “Buy European Tech Act” that would make open-source technology the default for public sector procurement and set a target for 50% of digital public contracts to go to European companies by the end of the decade.
However, changed could potentially come sooner than that. According to AG Connect, the Dutch city of Utrecht has approved a proposal to reduce its dependence on US cloud providers. The plan includes a full risk assessment of its existing infrastructure, exploring new partnerships within Europe, and, if necessary, pursuing an independent course should suitable alternatives not be available. Utrecht follows in the footsteps of Amsterdam, which has already announced plans to seek greater digital autonomy.
Big Tech’s efficiency drive clashes with European workplace values
In the wake of Washington’s controversial efficiency drive led by Elon Musk – which is cutting “non-essential” public sector roles and services – several of America’s biggest technology companies appear to be adopting a similar approach.
Heise reports that Microsoft, Meta, and SAP are introducing much stricter performance management systems. Microsoft is placing underperforming employees on formal improvement plans or offering exit packages, while Meta is regularly reviewing and dismissing the bottom 5% of least-productive staff.
Although this has been framed as a push for efficiency, critics warn that these measures risk eroding morale, fuelling disengagement, and fostering a workplace culture where short-term performance is prioritised over long-term innovation.
Across the Atlantic, a survey published by IT Pro shows that tech workers in Europe are resisting this shift. According to the poll, one in three IT professionals would consider quitting if asked to return to the office full-time or subjected to productivity monitoring.
The findings reflect a broader sentiment, with European employees rejecting America’s “always-on” culture in favour of a greater – and healthier – work-life balance.
AI, HealthTech and ClimateTech dominate Europe’s Top 100 Startups
Something you might have missed last week was Viva Technology’s “Top 100 Rising European Start-ups” list of fast-growing companies. It shows where European innovation is heading, and where investors, governments, and customers are placing bets.
The strongest momentum is in sectors tackling real-world problems, with start-ups building tools to solve practical challenges in business and society.
For example, start-ups are using AI in creative industries to help designers, marketers and content teams work faster and more imaginatively. While routine, manual tasks in logistics and procurement are getting smarter and becoming more automated.
Another area that is seeing traction is ClimateTech, with companies focused on clean energy, emissions tracking and sustainable manufacturing. Health Tech is also gaining ground with digital platforms offering faster diagnosis, better prevention and more accessible health care.
And finally… it turns out the podcast economy is twice as big as we thought
Podcasting isn’t just growing – it’s exploding. A new report shared by LinkedIn News suggests the global podcasting industry is now generating over $7 billion in sales – nearly double previous estimates.
One major factor behind the jump is the inclusion of YouTube in the analysis. The video platform alone is believed to be generating more than $1 billion annually from podcasts.
Another key driver is the rapid rise of non-English content. Previous estimates largely overlooked revenue from podcasts produced outside English-speaking markets, but the research highlights just how significant global contributions to the industry really are.
It’s important to remember that this isn’t just a consumer trend. As I wrote recently, B2B podcasting is also seeing strong growth, creating real opportunities for tech companies to embrace the format to reach and influence potential customers.
