{
  "id": 546228,
  "title": "Unternehmen: Ifo – Unternehmen tun wenig gegen technische Abhängigkeit von den USA",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/unternehmen-ifo-unternehmen-tun-wenig-gegen-technische-abhangigkeit",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-11T08:00:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/unternehmen-ifo-unternehmen-tun-wenig-gegen-technische-abhaengigkeit-von-den-usa/100246428.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "Berlin, Germany - Despite nearly every fifth German company considering the technical dependence on US-based services as dangerous, very few are taking necessary precautions, according to a recent survey conducted by the Munich-based Ifo Institute. In total, almost 88% of German firms utilize digital products and services provided by US providers, with 31% feeling strongly dependent on them.\n\nIfo Institute director Klaus Wohlrabe explained that companies are aware of their dependence but are reluctant to take action due to the additional costs and the uncertainty about whether their suppliers or clients will also invest in digital independence. The survey was conducted in response to the temporary blocking of Anthropic's most powerful AI models for foreign users by the US Department of Commerce in mid-June, a decision that was later reversed.\n\nThe service sector is particularly affected, with 39% of firms in this sector perceiving a significant reliance on American services. In comparison, the construction sector shows a much lower dependence at 15%. Interestingly, the firms most affected by this dependence do not necessarily view the risk as the highest. In advertising and market research, 72% of companies feel strongly dependent on US services, but only 51% consider this dependency very risky.",
  "summary": "Insgesamt nutzen fast 88 Prozent der Firmen hierzulande digitale Produkte und Dienste von US-Anbietern. „Die Bereitschaft zum Wechsel ist da, das Angebot fehlt\", sagte der Ifo-Präsident.",
  "key_points": [
    "88% of German firms use US digital services.",
    "Only 31% feel strongly dependent on US services.",
    "Service sector firms most affected, 39% perceive strong reliance."
  ],
  "editors_take": "German companies' reluctance to address technical dependence on US services despite acknowledging the risks suggests that economic concerns are currently trumping digital sovereignty.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}