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External Publication 4. July 2022 Jan Büchel / Barbara Engels in European Liberal Forum The Importance of the Data Economy for Europe’s Digital Strategic Autonomy

European companies need to have the ability to store, process, use, and share data securely and autonomously, for example by using cloud services based on agreed quality standards, values, and legislation.

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External Publication
The Importance of the Data Economy for Europe’s Digital Strategic Autonomy
External Publication 4. July 2022 Jan Büchel / Barbara Engels in European Liberal Forum

The Importance of the Data Economy for Europe’s Digital Strategic Autonomy

Jan Büchel / Barbara Engels in European Liberal Forum German Economic Institute (IW) German Economic Institute (IW)

European companies need to have the ability to store, process, use, and share data securely and autonomously, for example by using cloud services based on agreed quality standards, values, and legislation.

A survey conducted in autumn 2021 of 1,002 German companies from the industrial and industry-related services sectors shows that 71 per cent of companies in Germany are not data economy ready, while for 73 per cent data sharing does not play any role. The survey results show that the potential of the European data economy has not been well exploited, weakening Europe’s digital strategic autonomy.

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External Publication
The Importance of the Data Economy for Europe’s Digital Strategic Autonomy
External Publication 4. July 2022 Jan Büchel / Barbara Engels in European Liberal Forum

The Importance of the Data Economy for Europe’s Digital Strategic Autonomy

Jan Büchel / Barbara Engels in European Liberal Forum German Economic Institute (IW) German Economic Institute (IW)

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AI skills demand in the EU
Expertise 8. September 2026 Jan Büchel / Jan Engler / Armin Mertens

AI skills demand in the EU

More and more companies in Europe are using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. In 2025, one in five companies in the EU with 10 employees or more used at least one major AI technology, up from 8% in 2023 (Eurostat, 2026a).

Jan Büchel / Jan Engler / Armin Mertens IW

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IW-Trends No. 2 15. July 2026 Jan Büchel / Jan Felix Engler / Nicolai Krüger*

AI Specialists in Public Administration – Needs and Options for Action

The use of AI in Germany’s public sector not only offers potential for efficiency gains but, in view of the sector’s shortage of skilled staff, is also urgently needed.

Jan Büchel / Jan Felix Engler / Nicolai Krüger* IW

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