Who is Europe’s most influential tech person? – POLITICS

Europe has set rules for the digital world. Now it must convince the world’s most powerful tech companies to follow them.

The European Union is shaping a regulatory model to govern the rules that will underpin the new economy. Over the past year, it has rapidly introduced new sets of rules on digital competition, platform regulation, cybersecurity, data and artificial intelligence to tackle abuses in a tech sector where a small number of companies have gained immense influence.

When the ink on these rules begins to dry, they will face a crucible as authorities look for ways to enforce them and companies consider how to challenge them.

Europe’s success depends on its most creative thinkers, its most strategic rule-makers and its most disruptive minds.

POLITICO is seeking the 28 people who will decide whether Europe’s move to shake up the tech sector will work. Our team of technology reporters compiles a list of the figures who will shape European technology policy and policy over the next 12 months.

Our Tech 28 list will be announced at an online event on May 18th.

It’s not an overview of the industry’s most famous tech brothers, nor is it a popularity contest to put famous politicians on a pedestal. Instead, POLITICO’s ranking shines a spotlight on the people who exert the most influence in their respective fields, often behind the scenes, without any moral judgement.

We are looking for technology leaders who can compete with powers in Washington and Beijing. The personalities igniting the innovations that could set the region’s tech scene on fire. The people who can solve problems like a microchip shortage that has forced factories to lay down tools in recent months.

This is the second time we have compiled a list of leaders following our first Tech 28 class of 2021. Last year’s influencers included Europe’s leading voices in the tech sector like Swedish entrepreneur Daniel Ek, the CEO of music streaming platform Spotify, and politicians pushing new tech laws like Spanish Labor Minister Yolanda Díaz. We want to celebrate Europe’s deepest tech thinkers, loudest tech voices and toughest activists.

This year we introduced a Readers’ Choice category and look forward to adding your picks to our selection. Complete our survey below to submit your nominations.

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