Adyta, a Portuguese cybersecurity and AI security company based in Lisbon, has reinforced calls for European strategic independence in artificial intelligence during a panel discussion at the eRadar Conference. The company’s CEO, Carlos Carvalho, participated in discussions addressing the cybersecurity challenges posed by rapidly advancing AI technologies and Europe’s capacity to develop autonomous responses to emerging threats.
Carvalho’s remarks centered on the risks inherent in European reliance on external AI infrastructure and models developed by non-European companies. He emphasized that while access to advanced AI solutions offers tangible benefits, this advantage comes with significant strategic vulnerabilities for the continent.
The Case for European Technological Sovereignty
“Providing European organizations with access to restricted models, whether from OpenAI or Anthropic, can certainly be valuable, but it remains a benefit with considerable strategic fragility, because we continue to depend on mechanisms and solutions based, structured and rooted outside of Europe,” Carvalho stated during the panel discussion.
The Adyta CEO’s intervention reflects growing concerns within European technology circles regarding the continent’s dependency on American artificial intelligence companies. His argument centered on the need for Europe to develop its own AI capabilities and digital infrastructure rather than remaining reliant on foreign technological solutions.
Carvalho advocated for accelerating business development initiatives within Europe that would strengthen the continent’s technological capacity. He proposed strengthening partnerships between national technology companies and larger enterprises as a mechanism for building indigenous European capabilities in AI and cybersecurity.
Expanding Beyond Commercial Applications
The eRadar Conference panel discussions extended beyond commercial cybersecurity challenges to address threats to critical infrastructure, particularly in the space sector. Participants discussed how cybersecurity vulnerabilities in space technologies could undermine broader European security interests. The emphasis on spatial sovereignty aligned with ongoing discussions about digital sovereignty, underlining the interconnected nature of European security dependencies across multiple technological domains.
The conference provided a platform for examining how European institutions and private sector organizations can collaborate more effectively to reduce technological dependencies while building resilience against emerging cyber threats. The discussion highlighted that strategic autonomy in AI requires coordinated efforts across multiple sectors and stakeholder groups.
Broader Context for European Startups
Carvalho’s intervention at eRadar reflects broader patterns within the European startup and technology sector, where companies increasingly emphasize the importance of developing homegrown solutions to reduce technological dependency on non-European actors. As European policymakers continue debating digital sovereignty and strategic autonomy, cybersecurity and AI security firms are positioning themselves as critical components of Europe’s technological independence strategy. The conversation underscores the competitive pressure European technology companies face in differentiating themselves through investments in sovereign technological capabilities rather than competing solely on cost or feature parity with established international alternatives.