I am not so pessimistic about the prospects for Europe’s technology sector as your opinion columnist (“Why Europe is a laggard in tech”, Opinion, February 27). While by no means perfect, Europe has got many strengths. For example, Europe’s workforce consists of a rich diversity of cultures and understandings which give it the rounded skillsets needed to be able to embrace change and reskill where necessary to enable businesses to reinvent themselves using new technologies such as generative AI.
We have world-leading capabilities in areas like sustainability and the responsible use of technology to drive the adoption and long-term value creation that technology can bring.
Europe must, though, have the confidence to embrace these strengths and focus on areas it can realistically change in order to be at the forefront of tech and other sectors. This confidence starts at the top — and comes from leaders understanding what is possible and being bold enough to act.
Jean-Marc Ollagnier
Chief Executive, Emea, Accenture, Paris, France