New Era for European Search: Ecosia and Qwant Unite to Challenge Tech Giants

The dominance of Google and Microsoft’s Bing is facing a new challenge from Ecosia and Qwant, two European search engines. Ecosia, known for its eco-friendly mission, and Qwant, a privacy-focused search engine, have announced their joint initiative to develop a European web index, marking a significant step toward independence from the U.S.-based tech giants.

Named the European Search Perspective (EUSP), the project promises to cater more directly to European users and prioritize ethical content and eco-friendly values.

For years, Ecosia and Qwant have relied on licensing agreements with Google and Bing, limiting their control over the content and prioritization of search results. This reliance often clashes with the core missions of both companies.

Ecosia’s CEO, Christian Kroll, envisions a platform where environmentally conscious results, such as train options for travel queries, are prioritized over environmentally detrimental choices like flights.

However, their current dependency on search results from Google and Bing restricts such customization. By developing EUSP, Kroll and Qwant aim to take control, bringing ethically aligned search results to the forefront.

A New Web Index for Europe

EUSP, based in Paris, represents a strategic pivot towards sovereignty in the search space. With OVHcloud providing the technical infrastructure, EUSP will allow Ecosia and Qwant to break free from licensing constraints.

This shift holds potential not only for these two companies but for other European tech firms seeking alternatives to U.S. tech platforms. Ecosia’s 20 million global users and Qwant’s 6 million users in France and Germany may soon benefit from a more autonomous, ethical search experience.

European policies, such as the EU’s Digital Markets Act, are fostering an environment that encourages the growth of alternatives to dominant global platforms. As new AI technologies and regulations reshape the industry, EUSP could help Ecosia and Qwant achieve parity with competitors.

By offering their index to other organizations, they could potentially expand the project’s reach, creating a decentralized, cooperative framework to enhance the European digital ecosystem.

Building a “Sovereign” Search Experience

EUSP seeks to deliver user-focused, tailored search results while emphasizing European values. With more control over indexing and ranking, EUSP allows Ecosia and Qwant to elevate results from ethical companies, giving users more choices aligned with environmental and social responsibility.

Drawing a parallel to South Korea’s Naver, which dominates its home market by prioritizing local context, Kroll envisions a similar path for EUSP in Europe.

The potential appeal of a more localized search experience, particularly in underserved markets, could be transformative. In regions where existing search engines fail to meet users’ language and cultural needs, a European-centered approach could establish EUSP as a leader.

The Road Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities

The task of creating a web index on par with Google’s refined system is monumental, but advances in AI and computing infrastructure make it feasible.

EUSP aims to achieve competitive speeds and relevancy to meet the expectations of European users. Starting with trials in France in early 2025 and expanding to Germany by the end of the year, the project has set its sights on creating a polished, competitive user experience.

In its pursuit of growth, EUSP is open to outside funding to support its mission and technological infrastructure.

By focusing on the values and needs of local users, Ecosia and Qwant’s European Search Perspective stands as a promising alternative, aiming to redefine the search experience in Europe.

Through EUSP, they are not only challenging Google and Bing but pioneering a search model that could set new standards for ethical and user-centric technology in Europe and beyond.