A two -speed technological Europe?

While the United States confirm the undisputed leaders in technological innovation, Europe has a more varied panorama. France and the United Kingdom are positioned at the top, with the executives of these countries that express a strong trust in the competitive skills of their companies. On the contrary, Italy and Spain show a certain distrust, perceiving a competitive gap compared to the main global actors.

100%of Executives believe that the adoption of at least a new technology genres tangible benefits for their company, as an increase in productivity (62%) and a reduction in operating costs (48%), a trend clearly reflected in their intentions of investment.

91% of companies intend to increase investments in at least one of the technologies on which it has already pointed.

It is not surprising that the IA clearly emerges as the most probable technology to generate an impact on the business of companies (65%), far overcoming cybersecurity (41%) and cloud computing (39%).

In the next 12 months, 85% of the companies interviewed plan to increase their investments in the field of artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence emerges as the technology that will have the greatest impact on business in the coming years. 65% of the Executives interviewed believe that the IA will be fundamental for the growth of their companies. However, the diffusion of the AI ​​also raises concerns related to privacy, disinformation and computer security.

The research highlights some of the main challenges that companies have to face to remain competitive in the rapidly evolving technological panorama:

Lack of talents: The lack of qualified professionals in the technological sector is a widespread problem in many countries.

Resistance to change: digital transformation requires a cultural change within companies, which can meet resistance from employees.

Regulation: Privacy and data security regulations can represent an obstacle to innovation.

The United States and the United Kingdom are the most confident in the ability of their technological sector to compete internationally, with 92% and 81% of the CEOs, respectively, which consider their country to the forefront, compared to 86 %and 77%of 2024. The CEO in France (76%), Germany (76%), Canada (74%) and Spain (70%) share a similar perception, judging theirs relatively competitive companies. On the contrary, Italian CEOs are less confident, with only 64% who judge their companies as such.

Executives were also asked to adopt technological innovations in their countries. Here too, Executives in the United States and the United Kingdom believe that their countries are leader, with 87% and 82% respectively that they consider their companies at the forefront in the adoption of technological innovations. This enters into contrast with Italy, where Executives see their country still behind (44%).

Although technological progress is seen as a competitive factor capable of consolidating a country’s leadership, the company executives remain aware of the intrinsic risks.

Among all the interviewees, three quarters (77%) declare themselves equally concerned about the invasion of privacy and for the proliferation of fake news, in addition to the difficulty of identifying them.

The theme of privacy represents a concern in all the countries analyzed, even if it is most felt in the United States (83% / +5 points compared to 2024) and in Spain (90%). Germany and Italy, on the other hand, are more relaxed on this issue (59% / -10 points compared to 2024 and 67%). In France, where privacy remains an important concern, the level of concern among the interviewees dropped from 83% to 79%.

To deal with these concerns, 9 out of 10 companies have already introduced measures to inform and reassure employees, customers and service providers. In the short term, more than half of the companies requires that data management will become even more complex in the future.

The negative impact of technology on the environment worries 70% of corporate leaders. Among the interviewees, Unicorn, Startup and Scaleup show greater sensitivity to the theme, with 47% who declare themselves very worried. On the other side of the Atlantic, the United States express a more marked concern than the previous year, exceeding average (74% in 2025 compared to 57% in 2024).

While involving uncertainties and risks, The technology is seen by over 9 out of 10 corporate leaders (90%) as a solution to the main challenges of our time. Executives are convinced that technology can enhance people by facing the challenges of the educational system (45%), facilitating access to information and helping to combat disinformation (42%).

Germany stands out for a higher conviction for the use of new technologies to deal with the challenges of the educational system (60%), while the United Kingdom and Spain are more oriented towards the need to combat disinformation (52%). France, on the other hand, poses a growing emphasis on diversity and inclusion compared to last year (32% in 2025 compared to 18% in 2024).

In addition, 81% of the CEO believe that the technological ecosystem as a whole promotes diversity and inclusion.

The report was made between December 2024 and January 2025 directly involved in the decisions relating to the development of their company and interested in technological issues; Or in startups, unicorns and scaleups that offer technological solutions or that show interest in technological issues.