13 May 2025

Max Welling: AI Must Be the Economic Engine of an Independent Europe

Europe risks falling behind in the global AI race unless it acts now. That was the message from Professor and entrepreneur Max Welling during the EW Economic Lecture 2025 in Utrecht.

He called for urgent investment in AI to secure Europe’s technological sovereignty and economic resilience. Welling, co-founder of CuspAI and a leading voice in AI research, urged Europe to develop its own data infrastructure, support a thriving startup ecosystem, and establish a pan-European AI Industry Institute. “We must stop relying on US tech giants and build AI systems aligned with our values,” he said.

AI, Welling argued, will revolutionise industries from healthcare to manufacturing and radically transform the nature of work. Businesses must prepare for this shift and be honest about job changes ahead. “Standing still is moving backwards,” he warned.

His message aligns with the goals of Zorg2040: using AI not just for innovation, but for sustainability, economic strength, and future-ready public services.

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