Matthew Kilcoyne
Policy Analyst
Center for Data Innovation
Matthew Kilcoyne is a policy analyst at the Center for Data Innovation, focusing on data, AI, and digital policy in the UK and EU. Prior to joining the Center he was a senior policy adviser for the Open Data Institute and led strategy and communications at leading think tanks, including the Institute for Free Trade and the Adam Smith Institute. He holds degrees in PPE from the University of York and financial services management from the University of South Wales.
Research Areas
Recent Publications
Why the Airbus Model Won’t Work for European Digital Policy
Europe’s pursuit of digital sovereignty rests on a flawed premise: that competing with the United States, rather than China, should be the central priority. To advance this goal, Brussels has embraced the so-called “Airbus model”—the belief that the government-led coordination that created an aerospace champion can be replicated to achieve dominance in semiconductors, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence (AI). The idea is seductive and gaining traction, but the analogy is unproven and misguided.
Brussels Risks Prioritising Symbolism Over Substance in Cloud Procurement
In its push for digital sovereignty, the European Commission is reportedly planning to replace Microsoft Azure with the French cloud provider OVHcloud or another European alternative. But this move, while politically symbolic, would be costly. Far from enhancing security, this migration would sacrifice sound procurement and EU legal obligations in service of a hollow vision of digital nationalism.
German State Prioritizes Politics Over Practical Technology Solutions
Schleswig-Holstein’s move to drop Microsoft for open-source tools reflects costly digital protectionism driven by politics, not practicality. EU governments should focus on evidence-based tech procurement over nationalist agendas.
