The report, titled "The EU's Critical Gap: Rethinking Economic Security to Put Europe Back on the Map," revealed that Europe is notably trailing in most major technological fields. Out of the eight technologies examined, Europe is behind in seven, with advanced connectivity being the only area where it holds a lead. However, even in this sector, the US dominates in terms of investment and profits.

The study underscored a substantial deficit in both public and private investment in essential technologies. Particularly concerning is the investment in AI startups, which is merely one-seventh of that in the US, highlighting the urgent need for Europe to bolster its financial commitment to AI, quantum computing, and space technology to remain competitive on the global stage.

Roman Kucera, Chief Technology Officer, Ataccama commented: "AI has become increasingly integral to business decision-making, but businesses still often struggle to get high quality data outputs from AI models. Addressing data quality with investment in AI, especially in enterprises handling vast amounts of data, can significantly improve productivity among data teams and promote a data-driven culture that is scalable."

Europe faces a critical skills gap in key areas like AI engineering and quantum computing, limiting the capacity to compete and innovate in these rapidly evolving fields.

Stuart Munton, Chief for Group Delivery at AND Digital said: "Digital skills are crucial to empowering staff and maximising the benefits of technologies, yet the skills gap remains rife. Businesses need to take an innovation AND people approach to technology development and adoption, investing not only in the technology itself, but the people that are using it."

Complex European regulations have been highlighted as a factor behind the lack of growth and scalability, often forcing engineers to seek more favourable markets.

John Kirk, Deputy CEO at Inspired Thinking Group argued that "Ensuring a well-managed governance model to support the development of AI and content operations in the creative industries can help mitigate risks and any hesitancy towards the adoption of AI in day-to-day applications."

Sridhar Iyengar, Managing Director, Zoho Europe commented: "Building digital skills to lead innovation in the workforce is essential for driving the EU's commitment to technology and innovation. The impending skills shortage calls for collaboration between government, educators, and industry to provide the necessary training and investment to create an EU-wide digitally proficient workforce."

"Organisations need access to skilled staff not only to maximise the benefits of tech, but to lead any digital transformation and develop a competitive edge. Businesses should review their skills development strategies and ensure they are promoting a culture for continuous learning and development. Culture is also important to embed a sense of curiosity and experimentation where staff can learn on the job and are not afraid to make a mistake. Sometimes mistakes lead to a new idea, or fixing a problem or solution altogether, and can be a great source of learning. This can help to drive adaptability within a business, which is critical in today's fast-moving digitally-driven world."

Libero Raspa, Director of adesso UK, commented: "Investment in technology is vital for driving progress and maintaining a competitive edge. Embracing AI, especially generative AI, can significantly enhance operational efficiencies and productivity. However, the importance of investing in quality data and robust business cases cannot be overstated. Ensuring proper governance and leveraging AI's potential responsibly will be crucial for sustained growth and innovation in the tech sector."

The study emphasises the importance for strategic collaboration to bolster the EU's position, to strengthen partnerships with global leaders as a way to limit supply chains and build competitive technology ecosystems.