投中网是领先的创新经济信息服务平台，拥有立体化传播矩阵，为创新经济人群提供深入、独到的智识 和洞见，在私募股权投资行业和创新商业领域拥有权威影响力。官网：www.chinaventure.com.cn 以下文章来源于投中网 ，作者蒲凡 投中网 . 本文来自微信公众号： 投中网 （ID：China-Venture） ，作者：蒲凡，原文标题：《两家卡脖子公 司，100亿投了个超级独角兽》，题图来自：视觉中国 前段时间，欧洲创投圈出现过一波声势浩大的"学习996"热潮。这波热潮的成型过程、两方争论非常 精彩、戏剧张力拉满，我就不展开论述了，有兴趣的朋友可以跳转《 外国投资人，开始赞美996 》。这里你需要知道的是，这并不是一场普通网友们的狂欢，而是大量明星创业者、顶级投资人基于 方法论的认真讨论。 比如欧洲估值最高的独角兽公司Revolut的创始人尼克·斯托伦斯基 (Nik Storonsky) 、创投圈顶流播 客20VC主理人哈里·斯特宾斯 （Harry Stebbings） 、今年硅谷业绩最好的风投机构Index Ventures合 伙人马丁·米格诺特 (Martin Mignot) ，都是毫不掩饰地亮明立场， ...

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recent investment by ASML, a leading lithography machine manufacturer, in the AI unicorn Mistral AI, highlighting the significance of this move in the context of Europe's tech landscape and its struggle to compete with the US and China in AI investments [4][7][15]. Investment Landscape - In 2023, Europe saw a total of $8 billion in AI venture capital investments, significantly lagging behind the US's $68 billion and China's $15 billion [3]. - By 2024, the gap narrowed slightly, with Europe reaching $11 billion while the US secured $47 billion in the same period [3]. Mistral AI's Financing - Mistral AI recently completed a Series C financing round, raising €1.7 billion (approximately ¥14.2 billion), with a post-money valuation of €11.7 billion (approximately ¥97.8 billion) [4][7]. - ASML led this financing round, contributing €1.3 billion (approximately ¥10.9 billion) for an 11% equity stake [7]. Strategic Implications - The partnership between ASML and Mistral AI is seen as a significant alliance, aiming to leverage AI for industrial manufacturing solutions [9]. - Mistral AI plans to use the funds to develop customized decentralized AI solutions to address complex engineering and industrial challenges [9]. Market Position and Challenges - Despite its high valuation, Mistral AI holds only a 2% market share in the large model sector, indicating challenges in product acceptance and differentiation [10]. - The company faces difficulties in customer acquisition due to the mature state of industrial automation and high sunk costs for users [11]. Political and Economic Context - The investment is viewed by some as politically motivated, given the background of Mistral AI's co-founder, who previously served in the French government [12][13]. - ASML's investment strategy has historically focused on semiconductor-related ventures, raising questions about the alignment of this investment with its core business [12]. Future Directions - The investment may signal a shift in focus for Mistral AI towards industrial applications, moving away from consumer-facing chatbot services [15]. - European investors are increasingly interested in vertical AI applications, with healthcare being a particularly attractive sector, reflecting a strategic pivot in response to competitive pressures [17].

Group 1: European Tech Ecosystem Transformation - The second term of President Trump is inadvertently revitalizing the European tech ecosystem, driven by protectionist U.S. economic policies and unreliable support for Ukraine, leading to increased investment in European defense startups [1] - European investors and entrepreneurs are embracing "technological sovereignty," focusing on key areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and climate technology, with a shift in funding priorities towards strengthening critical technologies in Europe [1][2] Group 2: Defense Technology Investment Surge - Defense technology has become a core focus for investors globally, particularly in Europe, with European defense startups raising a record $2.4 billion last year and $2.11 billion so far this year [2] - The uncertainty surrounding the Trump administration's stance on Ukraine and NATO has prompted Europe to seek military and economic independence, inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs to engage in essential sectors like energy and defense [3] Group 3: Shift in Investment Philosophy - Historically, defense technology financing was limited due to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) restrictions, but this is changing as limited partners (LPs) are removing these constraints to allow more freedom in investing in defense-related technologies [3] - European government leaders, including President Macron and Prime Minister Starmer, are committing billions to national AI projects, emphasizing "AI sovereignty" amid rising trade tensions with the U.S. [4][5] Group 4: Climate Technology Opportunities - The reduction of funding for clean energy projects in the U.S. is driving many climate tech startups to look towards Europe as a haven for innovation and government support [6] - European entrepreneurs and venture capitalists are seizing a "historic opportunity" to establish a coherent identity and strategy in global tech competition, positioning Europe as a refuge for technology, science, and progress [6]

Core Viewpoint - The concept of "de-risking" has emerged in Western discourse, particularly regarding the selective decoupling from China, but it is now being applied to the U.S. by some European media and figures, highlighting concerns over technological dependence on the U.S. and calls for technological independence in Europe [1][2]. Group 1: Technological Dependence - Europe is increasingly viewed as a "digital colony" of the U.S., with significant reliance on American technology across various sectors, including cloud computing and artificial intelligence [2][3]. - Approximately 80% of Europe's digital infrastructure is controlled by foreign companies, with U.S. firms like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google dominating the cloud services market, holding about 72% of the market share as of Q2 2022 [4]. - The semiconductor industry in Europe is heavily reliant on U.S. designs and patents, with Europe's share of global semiconductor production dropping to around 9% [4]. Group 2: Calls for Independence - European leaders and industry experts are increasingly advocating for reducing reliance on U.S. technology, citing national security concerns and the need for technological sovereignty [5][6]. - Initiatives are underway in various European countries to establish independent technological infrastructures, such as the Netherlands' plans for a national cloud and Germany's shift towards open-source software [6][7]. - The "European Stack" initiative aims to promote the development of European technologies and reduce dependence on U.S. companies, with a proposed budget of €300 billion [8]. Group 3: Challenges and Opportunities - Experts acknowledge that achieving technological independence from the U.S. is a complex challenge, requiring significant investment and reform in Europe's technology regulation and market structure [10][11]. - Despite the challenges, Europe possesses potential in fields like microelectronics, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, supported by a strong talent pool and research capabilities [11]. - The movement towards reducing dependence on U.S. technology is gaining traction among the public, with many Europeans actively seeking local alternatives to American products [9][12].

Core Viewpoint - Huawei's HarmonyOS computer launch marks a significant step in establishing a competitive presence in the global PC market, aiming to challenge the dominance of Windows and macOS [2][4] Group 1: Product Launch and Features - The newly released HarmonyOS foldable computer is priced between 23,999 and 26,999 yuan, indicating a premium positioning in the market [2] - The core competitive advantage of the HarmonyOS computer lies in its distributed microkernel architecture, enabling seamless connectivity across devices such as smartphones, tablets, and computers [3] - The MateBook Pro, equipped with the Kirin X90 processor, offers performance comparable to the MacBook Pro, showcasing Huawei's commitment to high performance [3] Group 2: Market Strategy and Developer Engagement - Huawei aims to attract global developers through a 1 billion yuan incentive program, with over 7.2 million registered developers and 23,000 native applications currently available [3] - The company is targeting a market share of 15-20% in China's commercial market and over 5% globally by 2025, with aspirations to reach 25% and 15% by 2028 [4] Group 3: Competitive Landscape and Challenges - Microsoft is responding to the challenge by enhancing collaborations with Apple and Google, optimizing AI features, and accelerating the development of hybrid architecture chips [4] - Despite the potential for disruption, Huawei faces challenges in adapting professional software and changing user habits, which will require time and effort [4]