In a major move to bolster independence from Big Tech, Qwant, a French privacy-centered search engine, and Ecosia, the Berlin-based, eco-focused search engine, are teaming up to create their own European search index. This partnership aims to drive innovation and reduce reliance on Microsoft’s Bing and Google for search results, especially as these tech giants increase API costs.
Both Qwant and Ecosia currently rely heavily on Bing, while Ecosia also uses Google’s search results. Rising API costs have driven them to diversify and reduce their dependency on these companies. They won’t fully abandon Bing or Google but are focused on developing their own index to support their services independently, reducing operational costs and enabling greater control over generative AI (GenAI) features.
Embracing Generative AI Without Building AI Models
Both search engines have already integrated some GenAI capabilities, such as using large language models (LLMs) for enhanced results. However, they don’t plan to develop their own AI models. Instead, they will continue to use existing AI models via API access from leading platforms, enhancing search features through GenAI innovations.
Potential Partnerships for Tech Sovereignty
The joint venture, called the European Search Perspective (EUP), is open to other European firms interested in reducing Big Tech dependence by licensing access to its search index. The goal is to create a more Europe-centered tech stack while encouraging partnerships that promote data sovereignty.
Qwant’s CEO, Olivier Abecassis, expressed a readiness to involve other European companies in EUP, describing the collaboration as an opportunity to create a “privacy-first” European search alternative.
Timeline and Expansion Plans
EUP aims to start serving Qwant and Ecosia’s French users by early next year and expand into Germany by 2025. The new index will initially cover French traffic, with plans to expand to other European languages in the future. The joint venture will be headquartered in Paris, with Qwant’s engineering team leading the development under Abecassis’s guidance.
Ecosia and Qwant: A Strong European Team
Ecosia and Qwant bring complementary strengths to EUP: Qwant’s privacy focus, Ecosia’s experience in climate-focused tech, and both engines’ combined user base of 26 million. This partnership will allow them to grow independently of U.S. tech giants, with both companies bringing data, financing, and expertise to the venture.
This initiative highlights a broader push for tech sovereignty in Europe, where concerns about data privacy and political alliances have intensified the drive for alternatives to U.S.-based platforms. In time, EUP may serve as a core technology hub for other European search engines and organizations.
Aiming for a Unique Search Experience
The combined goal of Qwant and Ecosia is to provide users with a unique and private search experience. Unlike Google or Bing, EUP’s search index will not track or personalize results, providing a “privacy-first” search engine alternative.
As European regulators push for increased tech sovereignty, this venture offers a timely solution — a European search engine, built from scratch, dedicated to privacy, and designed to work with advanced AI without dependence on U.S. tech giants.
