On 15–16 September 2025, Prof. (FH) Dr. Christian Reiner, Senior Lecturer & Head of Research at LBS, participated in a policy event in Brussels that gathered academics, policymakers, and practitioners. The “Progressive Industrial Policy for the Twin Transformation” conference focused on the future of European industrial strategy. Dr. Reiner contributed his expertise on Europe’s technological dependencies on China and the US and the challenges they pose for industrial resilience.
The conference explored how industrial policy—long considered a technical or sectoral issue—has moved to the heart of European political debates. Topics like competitiveness, digital sovereignty, and security increasingly dominate the agenda, sometimes at the expense of social and environmental priorities.
Dr. Reiner’s contribution addressed Europe’s vulnerabilities in digital and green technology. Together with Roman Stöllinger of TU Delft, he presented their research on EU technological dependencies, offering a comprehensive analysis of Europe’s reliance on non-European actors in key areas of digital and high-tech innovation. Their paper emphasized that the EU’s dependency is not limited to hardware and raw materials, but extends to software ecosystems, standards, and global value chains—areas where European actors often struggle to assert influence.
Dr. Reiner’s participation in Brussels illustrates his role as a bridge between academic research and policy practice. As Europe wrestles with external dependencies and seeks to chart a progressive industrial future, voices like his provide not only analytical input, but also a normative compass. By emphasizing that industrial policy must serve society as a whole, Dr. Christian Reiner contributed to shaping a debate that is likely to resonate well beyond the walls of the Austrian Permanent Representation.
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