Washington, D.C. – Today, the Paladin Global Institute (PGI), led by former acting National Cyber Director Kemba Walden, released a new report, “Navigating Digital Sovereignty in Europe.” The report comes as European governments and institutions are increasingly seeking to reduce dependencies on American technology amid access concerns. The report provides an analysis of efforts by American and European policymakers that can increase Europe’s technology control and capability, while still preserving the security, interoperability, and trusted relationships our mutual security depends on.
“Trust is often overlooked when it comes to digital sovereignty,” said Kemba Walden, President of Paladin Global Institute. “The ultimate goal is to foster technological interdependence so that the critical systems people rely on every day are resilient, balanced, sustainable, and secure. This report gives European and American regulators, policymakers, and innovators the understanding and guidance to do just that.”
The report spotlights France’s SecNumCloud qualification, the U.K.’s cloud security principles, and the requirements of the Cyber Resilience Act and NIS2 as evidence-based frameworks on which trust can be built between American and European actors. In the end, the goal is to champion systems that provide choice, without abandoning the key principles to achieving digital sovereignty: scale, interoperability, transparency, and security.
“The turn towards digital sovereignty reflects a measurable shift in how governments assess dependence, control, and risk,” said Haley Ring, Director of the Paladin Global Institute. “As AI models rapidly advance, public policy will need to keep pace to ensure there is a clear approach to security solutions and data protection. This is why continued coordination and collaboration among governments will be critical to ensure global security.”
Today’s report follows PGI’s primer released earlier this year entitled “The Governance Layer: A Primer for Tech and Cyber Policy” and the 2025 introduction of the “AI Tech Stack” framework by PGI, which proposed a new governance paradigm that acknowledges AI’s distinct risks and has a foundational structure made up of protocols, principles, policy, and law.
The Paladin Global Institute was founded by Paladin Capital Group – the multistage investor specializing in cyber and advanced technology – to protect the world’s critical infrastructure from AI, cyber, and deep tech risks.
About Paladin Capital Group
Paladin Capital Group is a multi-stage, dual-use investor that specializes in identifying, supporting and investing in innovative companies that develop promising, early-stage technologies to address the critical AI, cyber and deep tech needs of both commercial and government customers. Combining proven investment experience with deep expertise in global security, AI, cyber technology and cutting-edge research, Paladin has invested in more than 90 companies since 2008 and has been a trusted partner to investors, entrepreneurs and governments for over two decades. Founded in 2001, Paladin is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in New York City, Silicon Valley, London and Luxembourg.
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About Paladin Global Institute
The Paladin Global Institute’s mission is to protect global critical infrastructure from cyber, AI, and deep tech threats and enhance the safety of people online by investing in research and advocacy, making informed policy recommendations, and bringing together the public and private sectors to share knowledge and create and invest in innovative technologies.
