European High-Tech Industry at the Crossroads

摘要

Microsoft's recent acquisition of Nokia's handset business may have been, as Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer described it, a "bold step into the future" for the tech giant, but some see it as a harbinger for Europe's innovation future. Europe is losing ground in key high-tech markets, particularly in the information and communication technology (ICT) segment, which is viewed as a key enabler for just about every other sector. And with the sale of Nokia, the continent has lost its last gem in the consumer electronics business, also an area of high-tech innovation.