Digital sovereignty sounds great until you try ditching your suppliers
Most organizations say tech independence is unrealistic – and one in ten can't replace a critical provider at all
Despite governments and tech firms preaching digital sovereignty, most big companies see true independence as unattainable, according to a new Capgemini study. Sixty percent of organizations view digital sovereignty through the lens of resilient interdependence, accepting reliance on external tech providers while minimizing threats to vital operations.
Capgemini polled 1,300 business and tech leaders in April 2026, finding that 86% have significant ties to foreign supplier chains. Only 14% report full visibility into these dependencies. Moving away from critical providers can take over a year, and 10% say no alternatives exist. European firms are more inclined to accept this compromise, with three-quarters of them viewing sovereignty as resilient interdependence versus half in the US.
Sixty-five percent of UK respondents link it to risk mitigation. The conversation about sovereignty remains high, with 93% discussing it at board level, and 44% ranking it among the top priorities. Artificial intelligence has become a major focus for these boards. A quarter of firms would pay extra for sovereign technology, with those willing to pay willing to shell out an average of 23% more.
A worrying 42% of organizations without recent operational disruptions lack contingency plans, with US firms more prepared than their European and Asian-Pacific counterparts. Capgemini suggests the solution isn't complete independence but focusing on critical systems, developing alternatives, and having recovery plans. For many, this may be a pragmatic acceptance of interdependence rather than a philosophical shift.
Written by urgent.news from The Register's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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