Europe's security increasingly depends not only on new technologies, but on the ability to deploy them quickly where they are needed. During his visit to CloudFerro, European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius discussed how European space, cloud and AI technologies can help strengthen the continent's operational readiness and resilience.

The visit of European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius to CloudFerro provided an opportunity to discuss some of the most pressing challenges shaping Europe's security and space agenda. Among them is operational readiness - the ability to rapidly deploy proven technologies where they are needed most.

During the meeting, CloudFerro presented its experience gained through the delivery of Europe's largest satellite data and sovereign cloud programmes, while discussing how European technologies can strengthen the resilience, security and preparedness of Member States.

Europe needs to accelerate the path from innovation to deployment

Europe has world-class capabilities in space technologies, artificial intelligence, data processing and cloud infrastructure. Today, however, the challenge is no longer limited to developing innovative technologies. Equally important is reducing the time between innovation and its practical deployment in strategic programmes.

In the context of Europe's evolving security environment, operational readiness means having the ability to deploy trusted, operationally proven technologies without delay.

European SMEs play a critical role in strengthening Europe's resilience

Achieving this objective requires making better use of the innovation capacity of Europe's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Many of these companies are already developing technologies that support some of Europe's most strategic programmes.

Companies such as CloudFerro demonstrate that European SMEs are capable of designing, delivering and operating technologies critical to Europe's strategic autonomy. Unlocking this potential on a broader scale requires mechanisms that enable faster testing, procurement and deployment of European technologies in future strategic initiatives. 

Europe needs to create better conditions for innovative SMEs and mid-sized companies to grow, collaborate and become strategic contributors to Europe's defence and space capabilities.

— said European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius

Sovereign digital infrastructure is becoming part of Europe's security architecture

Data, computing infrastructure and artificial intelligence have become integral components of Europe's security architecture. As a result, digital infrastructure must support secure data processing across a range of operational environments - from shared cloud platforms to dedicated, fully isolated and even mobile infrastructures designed for the most demanding security applications. One example is CloudFerro Bastion - a mobile, containerised sovereign cloud platform designed to support defence and security operations wherever secure computing capabilities are required.

Experience gained in European programmes can support future strategic initiatives

For more than a decade, CloudFerro has been developing and operating cloud infrastructure for Europe's largest Earth observation and environmental data programmes, working with organisations including the European Commission, ESA, EUMETSAT and ECMWF.

Projects such as the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem and the Destination Earth Data Lake demonstrate that Europe already possesses the technologies and expertise required to build secure, scalable and operationally proven data platforms. The next step is to apply this experience more broadly across future European initiatives supporting security, defence and the resilience of critical infrastructure.