Client: European Commission – Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT)

Kapa Research is proud to contribute to a flagship European policy study commissioned by the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT) of the European Commission.

Focusing on the rapidly evolving landscape of Cloud Computing and Artificial Intelligence (AI) across the European Union, the study is being carried out by a multidisciplinary consortium led by Technopolis Group, in collaboration with Wavestone, Timelex, STL Partners, OpenForum Europe, and Kapa Research.

Running through December 2025, this research initiative aims to deliver a comprehensive, evidence-based assessment of the EU’s current and future capabilities, infrastructure needs, and strategic priorities in Cloud and AI. Its ultimate goal is to inform forward-looking policy development that advances Europe’s digital sovereignty, technological leadership, and sustainable innovation.

 

Project Description

This strategic research effort is designed to build a robust body of evidence that will inform the development of future policy frameworks in the areas of Cloud Computing and Artificial Intelligence (AI), supporting the European Commission’s broader ambition to reinforce Europe’s digital autonomy and long-term competitiveness.

To this end, the Commission seeks to evaluate the current and future EU Cloud and AI landscape by assessing the state of play, exploring and simulating future development requirements, and formulating sound policy recommendations that will contribute to the design of potential initiatives under the next Commission mandate.

Specifically, the results are expected to enable the Commission to:

• Quantify existing and projected capacities, needs, and gaps in both general-purpose and AI-optimised cloud infrastructure, including assessments of energy and water resource demands, as well as the impact on direct and indirect job creation;
• Address key knowledge gaps regarding the challenges and opportunities surrounding cloud development across EU Member States. This includes identifying barriers to cross-border service provision, reviewing current permitting practices for data centre construction, analysing constraints related to energy consumption and grid capacity, evaluating lock-in practices across the AI compute stack, and assessing cybersecurity vulnerabilities and best practices;
• Identify relevant public and private-sector initiatives that facilitate access to finance for data centre expansion, and explore public sector efforts to promote open digital ecosystems—particularly through policies aligned with the principle that software developed with public funds should be openly accessible;
• And ultimately, develop well-grounded policy options and recommendations to be considered during the new mandate.

 

Our Involvement

As a strategic subcontractor, Kapa Research leverages its longstanding expertise in qualitative research and high-level stakeholder engagement to support the consortium in conducting structured, in-depth interviews with a diverse spectrum of stakeholders—including policymakers, industry leaders, and subject-matter experts from across the EU.

These interviews are critical to uncovering nuanced, context-rich insights into the barriers, enablers, and strategic considerations that will define the future of cloud and AI infrastructure in Europe.

Through this contribution, Kapa Research helps ensure that the study’s analytical outputs are not only empirically grounded but also reflective of the real-world perspectives necessary to inform balanced, actionable policy recommendations.

 

Transparency & Data Integrity

Kapa Research adheres strictly to data protection regulations, confidentiality standards, and ethical research practices, in full compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the contractual obligations set forth by DG CNECT.

All data collection activities are conducted exclusively within the scope of the study, and any disclosure of participant identity occurs only with prior and explicit consent.