On November 12, 2024, German startup Ecosia and French company Qwant announced the establishment of a joint venture named European Search Perspective (EUSP) in Paris. The initiative aims to create an independent search engine infrastructure in Europe, reducing reliance on major American technology firms like Google and Microsoft.
EUSP seeks to enhance the digital sovereignty of Europe by providing a robust alternative to existing search technologies. Ecosia positions itself as an eco-friendly search engine, pledging to use its profits for climate change initiatives and tree planting. In contrast, Qwant promotes itself as a privacy-focused search engine that does not track users.
Despite their intentions, both companies have experienced limited commercial success, with their combined market share remaining below ten percent. The new venture will operate outside Ecosia's non-profit model, allowing it to attract external investment for long-term growth. The index developed by EUSP may be licensed to other search engines, potentially serving as a central resource for the European data industry, including a transparent and secure data pool for emerging artificial intelligence technologies.
Christian Kroll, founder and CEO of Ecosia, expressed optimism that this initiative will make the search engine market more competitive in the long run, as leading European alternatives develop their own search technologies. The launch of the European search technology is anticipated in 2025, starting in France and later expanding to Germany.