TomTom joins EU AI Champions Initiative to accelerate AI development in Europe

Earlier this month TomTom, along with more than 60 other Europe-based companies, joined and launched the EU AI Champions Initiative. The initiative, unveiled by French President Emmanuel Macron at the AI Action Summit in Paris on February 10, seeks to help AI tech reach its full potential in Europe, and make the continent a leader in the race towards AI supremacy.

More than 60 companies, including the likes of TomTom, Spotify, Mercedes-Benz, Lufthansa, Porsche, Volkswagen Group, SAP, Siemens, Airbus, AMSL and BNP Paribas have signed to be part of the initiative. And more than 20 international capital allocators have put aside €150 billion to invest specifically in AI-related opportunities over the next five years.

Led by investment firm General Catalyst, the goal is to make Europe the global leader in AI. In short, the initiative plans to do that by bringing together the biggest tech companies in Europe to coordinate efforts in AI innovation, foster investment in the field and lobby policymakers to ensure attractive frameworks are put in place.

Beyond the U.S. and China — Winning the AI race

Artificial intelligence technologies are being developed all over the world, with the U.S. and China leading the way. Some of the world’s most downloaded AI apps such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and DeepSeek have been produced in these nations. Indeed, according to Stanford’s Global AI Vibrancy Tool (GVT), a device developed by the Institute for Human-Centered AI at Stanford University to rank countries based on their activity and impact in the field of AI development, the U.S. and China are recognized as global leaders in this field.

Much like the nuclear arms race or the space race, those who can lead and develop the world’s best technologies will come out on top. In developing these technologies, many other discoveries can be made, along with developing economic and political strength.

Carolien Mazal, TomTom Government Affairs Manager, stresses the importance of ensuring that the EU isn’t eclipsed by the U.S. or China. “We must trust our own strengths in the EU. We have some great AI champions here that can make a real, positive difference, if we can work together.”

If you consider Europe as one entity, rather than each country individually, it has the capacity to be a significant force in AI tech. Many European nations feature in the top 25 of Stanford’s GVT, but alone, they can’t measure up to the U.S. or China. Much greater strength and impact can be achieved through collaboration, unity and capitalizing on Europe’s connections and diversity, which is exactly what the EU AI Champions Initiative seeks to achieve.

Mazal explains that to nurture innovation and an emerging technology like this, market conditions and politics need to be carefully managed, “We should follow a genuine risk-based approach, focusing on regulation only where it’s needed, where there are proven risks to human safety. We must also ensure the positive impact of AI is factored in."

Regulations need to be attractive for developers, investors and talent, while at the same time being supported by policy that protects public interest but isn’t restrictive and stifling of innovation. A framework that balances all these variables must be found.

AI is spreading across Europe, but if the continent is going to compete on the world stage it needs to coordinate its efforts.

Many dynamics affect how much a nation can develop, patent and succeed when making AI technologies. According to the EU AI Champions Initiative, there are four key areas to enabling and accelerating the development of AI technologies: technology, industry, capital and policy. In other words, to lead the world in AI you need the right people, companies, investment and political frameworks to encourage development and attract talent.

“Europe has all the essentials for a resilient and competitive AI infrastructure: talent, capital and a strong industrial backbone with proprietary distribution and data,” Jeannette zu Fürstenberg, Managing Director and Head of Europe at General Catalyst, said in a statement, speaking on behalf of the EU AI Champions Initiative.

“By seizing this moment, working with greater intention, and embracing deep collaboration, Europe can seize a generational opportunity by leading in applied AI, integrating it into our industrial base to boost productivity, resilience and economic sovereignty.”

For more information on how the EU AI Champions Initiative is going to work and the vision behind it, General Catalyst published a report titled An ambitious agenda for European AI. The report lays down a strategic blueprint for what must happen if Europe is indeed to become a leader in AI.

“It’s essential for Europe’s future and prosperity to not be entirely dependent on foreign technologies. When we become dependent on something that’s supplied by one or two nations, we subject ourselves to risk. Take energy for example, if we’re too dependent on one source, we can be greatly impacted by volatility in price, supply and other political influence,” Mazal says.