European Search Giants Join Forces Against Big Tech Dominance
In a landmark move for European digital sovereignty, French search engine Qwant and German eco-friendly search provider Ecosia have announced a strategic partnership to develop a joint European search index. The collaboration, established through a 50/50 joint venture called European Search Perspective (EUSP), aims to reduce dependency on American tech giants Microsoft and Google.
Breaking the Big Tech Dependency
The partnership comes as European search engines face increasing costs and limitations from relying on APIs from Microsoft Bing and Google. "This collaboration allows us to develop a truly European alternative that respects user privacy and promotes technological sovereignty," stated Qwant CEO Olivier Abecassis.
Currently, both Qwant and Ecosia rely heavily on Microsoft's Bing search API, with Qwant's dependency estimated at around 60% of its search results. The new European index will integrate generative AI tools and large language models (LLMs) while maintaining a privacy-focused approach that avoids personalized results and user data collection.
Market Impact and Expansion Plans
The combined user base of approximately 26 million monthly users (20 million from Ecosia and 6 million from Qwant) provides significant scale for the new venture. According to TechCrunch reports, the joint venture is open to other European players joining and would license access to the search index via API.
The European Search Perspective index is scheduled to launch in France in early 2025, with expansion to Germany planned for late 2025. This development represents a significant step toward creating a competitive European digital ecosystem that can challenge the dominance of American tech companies in the search market.