Technological sovereignty in healthcare innovation and production for defence: proposal for an evaluation index to guide European policies

This paper investigates the strategic importance of sovereignty in health innovation for defence within the European Union, addressing vulnerabilities exposed by recent pandemics and geopolitical tensions. It traces the evolution of technological sovereignty and emphasises the imperative for autonomous capabilities in military-medical technologies amid global shifts, including China's industrial policies and U.S. protectionism. The study proposes a technological sovereignty index (TSI) for evaluating sovereignty across multiple dimensions: research intensity, patent ownership, domestic production and supply chain resilience. The TSI provides decision-makers with actionable intelligence to identify capability gaps and guide targeted investments. Embedding technological sovereignty in EU health innovation governance strengthens strategic autonomy and security, establishing a structural pillar of European resilience in an increasingly contested geopolitical environment.