August 30, 2022

New CNAS Report: "Lighting the Path: Framing a Transatlantic Technology Strategy"

By: Carisa Nietsche, Emily Jin, Hannah Kelley, Emily Kilcrease, Megan Lamberth, Martijn Rasser, and Alexandra Seymour

Washington, August 30, 2022—Today, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) released a new report, Lighting the Path: Framing a Transatlantic Technology Strategy from authors Carisa Nietsche, Emily Jin, Hannah Kelley, Emily Kilcrease, Megan Lamberth, Martijn Rasser, and Alexandra Seymour.

The authors contend that the world's leading powers are engaged in an unprecedented technology competition – one in which authoritarian governments are advancing their own vision for technology use. The United States and Europe must join forces and compete or risk ceding the competition to autocracies. To succeed, the United States and Europe must be guided by a strategy that matches the moment. Yet no such strategy currently exists.

Against this backdrop, this new report develops the framework of a transatlantic technology strategy. The report argues that the transatlantic partners must take a two-pronged approach.

  • First, the transatlantic partners must manage rifts in the relationship—such as digital sovereignty, antitrust and competition policy, policies regarding China, and privacy policy – to pave the way for future cooperation.
  • Second, the United States and Europe must advance a protect and promote agenda to maintain their technological edge and ensure long-term economic competitiveness.

The authors urge the United States and Europe to harness the strengths of the transatlantic partnership to foster technological innovation. Specifically, they contend that the transatlantic partners must lead in seven critical areas, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, clean energy technology, information and communications technology and services, quantum information science and technology, semiconductors, and standard-setting. This report aims to chart a blueprint for transatlantic cooperation and light the path to ensure sustained technological leadership, spur inclusive growth, and preserve our shared democratic values.

Read the full report here.

For more information or to schedule an interview with the report authors, please contact Cameron Edinburgh at cedinburgh@cnas.org


Authors

  • Carisa Nietsche

    Associate Fellow, Transatlantic Security Program

    Carisa Nietsche is an Associate Fellow for the Transatlantic Security Program at CNAS. She specializes in Europe-China relations, transatlantic technology policy, and threats ...

  • Emily Jin

    Former Research Associate, Energy, Economics, and Security Program

    Emily Jin is a former Research Associate for the Energy, Economics, and Security Program at CNAS. Her research focuses on U.S.-China competition over regional influence and gl...

  • Hannah Kelley

    Research Associate, Technology and National Security Program

    Hannah Kelley is a Research Associate with the Technology and National Security Program at CNAS. Her work focuses on U.S. national technology strategy and international cooper...

  • Emily Kilcrease

    Senior Fellow and Director, Energy, Economics and Security Program

    Emily Kilcrease is a Senior Fellow and Director of the Energy, Economics, and Security Program at CNAS. Her research focuses on the U.S.-China economic relationship; alignment...

  • Megan Lamberth

    Former Associate Fellow, Technology and National Security Program

    Megan Lamberth is a former Associate Fellow for the Technology and National Security Program at CNAS. Her research focuses on U.S. strategy for emerging technologies and the k...

  • Martijn Rasser

    Former Senior Fellow and Director, Technology and National Security Program

    Martijn Rasser is the former Senior Fellow and Director of the Technology and National Security Program at CNAS. Prior to joining CNAS, Rasser served as a senior intelligence ...

  • Alexandra Seymour

    Former Associate Fellow, Technology and National Security Program

    Alexandra Seymour was an Associate Fellow for the Technology and National Security Program at CNAS. Her work focuses on artificial intelligence, defense innovation, semiconduc...