Staan: Qwant & Ecosia Launch European Search to Rival Big Tech
▼ Summary
– Qwant and Ecosia launched Staan, a joint European search index designed as a cheaper, privacy-focused alternative to Google and Bing.
– The joint venture, European Search Perspective (EUSP), aims to handle 50% of French and 33% of German search queries by year-end.
– Both Qwant and Ecosia plan to integrate AI features into their platforms using the new index, with Ecosia’s rollout coming soon.
– EUSP is negotiating with companies to adopt its index for in-app search, targeting chatbots as a cost-effective alternative to U.S. tech giants.
– The initiative aligns with broader European efforts to reduce reliance on U.S. and Chinese tech, emphasizing privacy and digital sovereignty.
European search engines Qwant and Ecosia have unveiled a collaborative project called Staan, marking a significant step toward reducing reliance on U.S. tech giants. The new search index, developed through their joint venture European Search Perspective (EUSP), promises enhanced privacy and lower costs compared to dominant players like Google and Bing.
By the end of this year, Staan aims to handle roughly half of all search queries in France and a third in Germany, demonstrating its ambition to carve out a substantial share of the European market. Both Qwant and Ecosia are already integrating the index into their platforms, with Qwant leveraging it for AI-powered summaries and Ecosia planning to introduce similar AI enhancements soon.
Beyond traditional search, EUSP is actively engaging with companies to integrate its technology into chatbots and in-app search functions, positioning Staan as a budget-friendly alternative for AI-driven research. Christian Kroll, CEO of Ecosia, emphasized the cost advantage, noting that their solution delivers comparable capabilities at just a fraction of the price charged by Google and Bing.
The initiative aligns with broader European efforts to build an independent digital infrastructure. Recent geopolitical shifts, including the 2024 U.S. election, have underscored the risks of over-reliance on foreign tech stacks. EUSP’s push for a homegrown search index reflects growing concerns over data sovereignty and the influence of American Big Tech on critical sectors like journalism and climate technology.
Kroll highlighted another key benefit: Staan’s compliance with stringent European privacy laws ensures a more secure and transparent search experience, setting it apart from U.S.-based competitors. As Europe strengthens its digital autonomy, projects like Staan could play a pivotal role in reshaping the continent’s tech landscape.
(Source: TechCrunch)
