The Digital Minister, Karsten Wildberger (CDU), has announced another “relief package” intended for businesses. Speaking to the Pro-Newsletter Technologie from the Politico news portal, Wildberger stated that the goal is to convene a second cabinet-level initiative to ease bureaucratic costs for the economy by several billion euros before the summer break. He mentioned that various measures are currently in progress toward achieving this.
One example cited is the introduction of an “E-type” building standard, which suggests simpler construction using more affordable standards. He noted that discussions regarding this are currently underway with other departments.
Additionally, Wildberger, working alongside European companies, is pushing to develop an alternative to the controversial data analysis software from the US corporation Palantir. He expressed a preference for Europe to develop its own products and companies that are competitive on the global market, stating, “We want to focus on European alternatives in the long run”. He added that suitable local providers already exist, saying, “There are European companies with the necessary capabilities that we intend to support”. However, establishing such solutions requires time, which he estimates could take two to three years.
Wildberger believes the state has a responsibility to accelerate this development process. For him, this means collaborating with companies that may not yet possess the necessary reputation or size, asserting that “We must send them the signal that we trust them with such tasks”. He intends to adopt novel approaches for this cooperation, admitting that joint development between state authorities and smaller firms is unconventional, but that “we need precisely this change in thinking”.
While Wildberger did not rule out using Palantir’s technology until a European alternative is established, he clarified that it is fundamentally possible to use the technology in a way that meets specific sovereignty requirements. He concluded by stating that in times of danger prevention, safety takes priority, especially if no comparable solution is available.