Geopolitics Matters : Insights for Updating the EU's Approach to International Research and Innovation Cooperation

The fields of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) in the European Union have been largely based on international cooperation among member countries but also extended to third countries. Geopolitical trends are currently reinforcing the role of technological sovereignty as a key driver of strategic autonomy in the EU, and this is also a matter of concern for the Union’s common STI policy. This paper addresses certain key dimensions of the concept of technological sovereignty within an open innovation approach. We provide a framework for combined interpretation of the macro strategy of technological sovereignty and the micro perspective of open innovation, discussing the main insights as well as limits and the potential implications for European STI policy. It is argued that when facing a new era of disruptive technologies, global innovation networks, and digitalization challenges, technological sovereignty can coexist with open innovation modes through sound strategy supported by smart regulation