Commission candidate Henna Virkkunen wants Europe to build on strengths in AI, quantum and space

Henna Virkkunen, the nominee to become the European Commission’s executive vice-president for technology sovereignty, security and democracy, has stressed the importance of research to her proposed role.

In a hearing with the European Parliament on 12 November about her suitability for the post, Virkkunen (pictured) said in her opening statement: “Supporting European groundbreaking technologies and fundamental research is my priority.”

Later on, in response to questions from MEPs, she said Europe must “continue to invest heavily in research and product development, and we also need to find more ways to bring these innovations to market”. She emphasised the need for investment specifically in defence R&D.

Becoming the ‘AI continent’

Virkkunen said that European research is “very strong” in fields “that will shape our future”, namely artificial intelligence, quantum, cloud computing, semiconductors and space technologies.

But she added that Europe has to do “a lot of work” to decrease its reliance on other countries for digital technologies, which she said should entail boosting investment and innovation.

Virkkunen said she wants “Europe to become an AI continent—the best place in the world for developing trustworthy and advanced AI”.

This will involve developing “an AI ecosystem in research”, including through the creation of an AI Research Council that, among other things, will aim to attract leading AI researchers to Europe.

Also on AI, Virkkunen said she will work in her first 100 days on setting up the AI Factories the EU is funding to provide computing capacity to researchers and small companies, and will develop an Apply AI strategy to boost use of the technology in key industry sectors such as automotive, pharmaceuticals and robotics.

‘Reasons for optimism’

On quantum, Virkkunen said Europe “has many reasons for optimism”, with “top researchers in this field”. But its innovation around the technology is “too fragmented”, so Europe needs “a more comprehensive common approach”, for which she intends to develop a plan and perhaps a legislative act.

Her work on quantum will “make sure that we can pool our research and resources…so we are not too fragmented, because also big investments are needed in this sector. So we have to pull the researchers together, all the science, but then also build industry around this,” she said.

Summing up in her closing statement, Virkkunen stressed that Europe must “turn research into commercial success stories”.

Virkkunen was one of six Commission executive vice-president nominees who faced Parliament hearings on 12 November. Parliament leaders have decided to take their time over discussions around whether to approve the nominees, with a complex web of political considerations being factored in.