In an era of growing geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and rapid technological advances, self-reliance is becoming critical to long-term growth. As the EU navigates its twin transitions — the shift toward a greener, more digital economy — organizations will face opportunities to accelerate the region’s innovation, resilience, and strategic autonomy.
At the Lux Forum Cologne on March 11, 2025, we will explore how aligning the EU’s strategic foresight with innovation strategies can help organizations adapt and thrive in a volatile global landscape. Attendees will gain practical frameworks for decision-making, insights into managing risk and resource security, and opportunities to network with innovation leaders shaping the region’s transformation.
To offer a preview, we asked the Lux experts presenting at the event to share their perspectives on some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities that EU organizations face today. Here’s what they had to say.
As the EU reduces its dependence on imported fossil-based feedstocks, what are the most promising alternative sources of carbon, and what challenges do organizations face in making this transition?
“The EU’s global-leading push for decarbonization is evolving into defossilization — a rethinking of where carbon will come from. As access to fossil-based feedstocks declines, organizations have three pathways to replace them: plastic recycling, biobased sources, and captured CO2. Each of these sources comes with its own unique challenges, from limited availability and supply chain immaturity to technologies still in early development. Success will come with aligning innovation strategies across the feedstock, processing technology, and product. That’s why we developed the Lux Future of Carbon Framework to evaluate defossilization opportunities in a structured way. The reality is that there won’t be a single winning solution, and we want to inform innovation decisions by providing clear signposts for navigating the different pathways to find the one that fits best for you.”
— Matilde della Fontana, Analyst
With access to raw materials becoming more of a national security concern, how can organizations ensure reliable supply as countries start weaponizing trade and economic policies?
“We’ve already seen increasing supply chain constraints due to geopolitical tensions and trade restrictions and the hard lessons learned from overdependence. A wait-and-see approach is no longer viable. Future-proofing raw materials access will require a proactive, multipronged strategy where supply-side risk management complements innovation-driven resilience. Simply knowing how much raw materials are needed is insufficient in today’s global landscape — where it comes from, how stable the supply is, and what alternatives exist are equally important. At the Forum Cologne, we’ll unveil our latest analysis, the Lux Raw Materials Criticality Framework, outlining four innovation-driven strategies to build a robust raw materials strategy. Organizations will need to turn those hard lessons learned in recent years into strategic actions for the future.”
— Ian Rinehart, Associate Research Director
AI has been the hottest topic in tech, and the narrative around the skyrocketing energy demand that will be required to power it is top of mind for many companies. How will AI companies succeed in the context of EU’s regulatory and energy landscape?
“Data center electricity demand will increase sharply, and EU regulations are already mandating stricter reporting for data center operators on emissions. As the region moves away from imported natural gas, we’re going to see a shift toward co-located energy assets and an increasing push for low-carbon power solutions. We’ve run the numbers — several opportunities will emerge as AI infrastructure expands under these new constraints.”
— Anirudh Bhoopalam, Ph.D., Analyst
“This is where the debate begins — low-carbon power is only half the picture for powering data centers. The EU is also mandating energy efficiency, and data centers will face increasing pressure to optimize resource use. The EU has historically been at the forefront of resource efficiency, and we’re going to see more of the same for data centers. Grid developments are lagging advances in energy storage and thermal management; this makes the EU a hotbed for new solutions, especially if there is uncertainty in forecasting load demand.”
— Karthik Subramanian, Analyst
The challenges facing the EU’s twin transitions are complex, but they also present unprecedented opportunities for innovation. At Lux Forum Cologne, you’ll gain practical tools, expert analysis and insights, and valuable connections to help your organization navigate this transformation.
Secure your spot and be part of this important discussion by registering here.
