Technological sovereignty of an economy: mastery and availability of key enabling technologies

Uwe Cantner, Helge Dauchert, Lukas Dreier, Patrick Figge and Carolin Häussler

Chapter 22 in The New Role of the State for Transformative Innovation, 2026, pp 360-377 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: In times of geopolitical tensions, where the ideal of a level playing field is coming under pressure, fueled by geopolitical antagonism, safeguarding technological sovereignty has become essential for sustaining long-term competitiveness. This chapter focuses on the strategic importance of technological sovereignty, particularly in key enabling technologies, which are critical for innovation and value creation. The authors conceptualize sovereignty through the two dimensions of mastery and availability of technology, and justify its importance using industrial and trade policy frameworks, including technology gap models and dynamic comparative advantages. They propose a policy approach that includes foresight, portfolio thinking, and strategic alliances, emphasizing a portfolio strategy to ensure access to key enabling technologies. This allows for strategic considerations, such as weighing alternative positioning, assuring access to one set of key enabling technologies via trade through a strong position in another. In this sense the role of the state is that of a strategic actor.

Keywords: Technological Sovereignty; Key Enabling Technologies; Technology Gap Models; Dynamic Comparative Advantages (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781839100253
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