According to France 24, French startup BeeAlp is betting on European tech sovereignty through locally designed and manufactured smartphones. CEO Olivier Dufour recently outlined the company's strategy: moving beyond specs and price competition by embracing a circular economy model—hardware built for repair and longevity—coupled with a subscription business model. The initiative aligns with broader ambitions from European leaders like Emmanuel Macron and India's Narendra Modi to reduce dependence on Asian supply chains and U.S. tech dominance. The challenge is steep: assembling competitive smartphones within Europe's higher labor and manufacturing costs while facing entrenched global competitors. But if BeeAlp succeeds, it could prove that a distinctly European smartphone ecosystem—one prioritizing sustainability and local production—is viable.

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