Blue Ocean Labs

Blue Ocean Labs

BOL-E-0001 · Next steps

Next steps for citizens

From the editorial Europe’s AI Moment: Relevance Without Capability by Thomas Nimmo, November 9, 2026.

The issue in three sentences

Europe has the researchers, the savings and the industry to matter in AI, but it hasn't shown it can combine them at scale. Much of what Europeans save helps finance technology built elsewhere. Big announcements are not the same as money spent or results delivered.

Three facts worth remembering

  • 6% vs about 75% EU and US companies' shares of global AI venture capital in 2025 (OECD, 2026).
  • €200 billion A target to mobilize for AI, not money already spent (European Commission, 2025b).
  • 2% Share of the EIC Fund's 2021–2022 Horizon Europe budget paid out by the end of 2022 (European Court of Auditors, 2024).

Questions for your own circle

For friends, family and colleagues:

  1. Where do our savings go, and should more of them stay in Europe?
  2. If public money backs AI companies, what safeguards should come with it?
  3. What would show that an EU program is actually working?

Questions for your elected representatives

For your Member of the European Parliament, national representative or local officials:

  1. “How much of the EU's announced AI investment has actually been deployed, and what has it delivered?”
  2. “From your position, what will you do to turn Europe's AI investment into growth and jobs here?”

Three things you can do

  1. Discuss and share this brief or the editorial.
  2. Ask your elected representatives the questions above.
  3. Ask your pension fund or bank: “How much of my savings is invested in European technology companies, and how do you decide?” (A question to ask, not financial advice.)

Who else to ask