Europe

JD.com has launched its European online shopping platform, Joybuy, in six countries, including the UK and Germany. Leveraging its strong logistics and focus on product quality, Joybuy aims to compete with major players like Amazon. The platform offers same-day delivery for orders placed before 11 a.m. and a competitive subscription service for free delivery, differentiating itself from rivals through its proprietary infrastructure and first-party retail model.

Europe’s first microgrid-connected data center, located near Dublin, addresses power connection delays hindering AI growth. This pioneering facility demonstrates a shift towards privately powered digital infrastructure, mirroring trends in the US. While offering a solution to strain on national grids, challenges remain in regulatory frameworks and ensuring sustainable, reliable power sources for widespread adoption.

SpaceX’s Starlink and Deutsche Telekom are partnering to launch a satellite-based mobile service across ten European countries by 2028. This service will use Starlink’s V2 satellites to deliver broadband, voice, and messaging directly to mobile phones, even in remote or difficult terrains. This collaboration marks a significant step in direct-to-device satellite communication and highlights the increasing integration of space technology with traditional telecommunications.

Tesla Europe plans to integrate xAI’s Grok AI into its vehicles across the U.K. and eight other European markets. This move follows a significant drop in Tesla’s European sales in 2025, attributed to a lack of affordable models and brand image issues. While AI integration is becoming common in the automotive industry, concerns linger regarding Grok’s content safety, potential for driver distraction, and the need for robust regulatory oversight.

Nvidia is significantly increasing its investment in European AI startups, participating in 14 funding rounds last year compared to just one in 2022. This strategic move, including investments in Mistral AI and Nscale, aims to bolster Nvidia’s position within the AI ecosystem. Beyond capital, Nvidia offers technical and supply chain support, fostering innovation and ensuring its hardware remains central to AI development. This global strategy of reinvesting profits into startups is driving Europe’s AI sector growth.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang sees AI-powered robotics as a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity for Europe, leveraging its strong industrial base. This “physical AI” could allow Europe to lead beyond the current software era. Major European manufacturers and tech giants are investing heavily in robotics, with significant global investment flowing into the sector. However, Huang stressed that Europe’s high energy costs and the need for robust energy infrastructure are critical challenges that must be addressed to fully capitalize on this AI robotics boom.

Europe’s technology services market achieved a record high in Q4 2025, with demand for AI and cloud services driving significant growth. The combined market for managed services and as-a-service offerings reached $10.9 billion, a 27% year-over-year increase. This strong performance, particularly in cloud-based services and engineering related to AI, signals increased confidence for 2026, despite some industry and regional variations.

Organon has partnered with Daiichi Sankyo Europe to distribute Nilemdo® (bempedoic acid) in France, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Finland, and Norway. This collaboration aims to increase patient access to Nilemdo®, a novel treatment for high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease risk, especially for those intolerant to statins. Organon will handle distribution and promotion, supporting its cardiovascular portfolio and addressing unmet patient needs, particularly for women who often experience statin intolerance.

The UK and Germany are emerging as the core of Europe’s AI‑driven defence‑tech boom. Private capital has jumped to $4.3 bn since 2022, backed by NATO’s 5 % GDP defence‑spending pledge and national policies such as the UK’s £5 bn tech‑investment package and Germany’s €100 bn budget from 2026. Start‑ups like Helsing, Quantum Systems, PhysicsX, Cambridge Aerospace, Tekever and Stark have secured multi‑hundred‑million‑euro rounds and major contracts with the RAF, German army and NATO allies. Strong talent pools, manufacturing bases and AUKUS links aid scaling, but slow procurement, export‑control hurdles and a shortage of security‑cleared engineers remain key obstacles.

Pony.ai is expanding into Europe through a partnership with Stellantis to deploy robotaxis, starting with testing in Luxembourg and aiming for a phased rollout across European cities from 2026. Stellantis will provide electric vehicles while Pony.ai contributes its autonomous driving software. This follows Pony.ai’s ongoing robotaxi testing in Beijing and reflects the increasing competition among companies like Waymo to commercialize autonomous driving technology in new global markets. Chinese regulatory clearance for Pony.ai and WeRide could further fuel their global expansion and AI development.