The economic value of a European Open Web Index could amount to billions | Media Release

A comprehensive market feasibility study reveals: huge socio-economic potential of OpenWebSearch.EU within first 4 years and beyond

Starnberg, August 24 – Innovation and economic growth in Europe increasingly depend on digital sovereignty and direct access to open data. The Open Web Search project OWS.EU was set up between 14 consortium partners from IT, research and education with the aim of creating a European Open Web Index (OWI) as a foundation for independent web search in Europe. The purpose of the project is to establish a web index that benefits society not only by being transparent and open, but also by minimising commercial bias as currently often seen in conventional search results. The OWI should also serve as a foundation for digital sovereignty, which could drive rapid economic growth across many fields. 

As part of the OWS.EU Community Programme the Munich based consulting firm Mücke Roth & Company (MRC) has been appointed with a market-potential study to forecast the quantifiable economic and societal impact of the OWI within its first years of operation.

Key study findings

The study results underpin a large range of potential economic growth opportunities that could emerge for the first time through being independent of non-European tech giants. This applies to the IT and AI sector as well as to traditional industry, the start-up scene and SMEs. The cost-benefit evaluation has specifically shown that an open search infrastructure is expected to amortise in the fourth year. The report forecasts a considerable economic benefit of 4 to 5 billion euros in the first decade. 
The non-commercial, social benefits of an open web index were also analysed in detail across six relevant categories and were classified as very positive.

On 30 September 2024 the study results will be presented to the public for the first time. The presentation will be hosted by OWS.EU consortium partner Open Search Foundation alongside Mücke Roth & Company and with the support of the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt in Munich.

About OpenWebSearch.EU

OpenWebSearch.EU is the first project the EU has funded (Horizon research and innovation programme, grant agreement No 101070014) to get tomorrow’s web search up and running. Since September 2022 the researchers are developing the core of an European Open Web Index as a basis for a new Internet Search in Europe. In addition, the project sets the foundation for an open and extensible European open Web Search and Analysis Infrastructure (OWSAI), based on Europe’s values, principles, legislation and standards.