Episode #07: Welcome to the New Europe: Sovereignty, Security & Supply Chains

“Supply chains have become a bargaining chip in political negotiations.”As Europe ramps up defence spending in response to geopolitical instability, supply chains have become a central pillar of economic security. But that creates a challenge.From rare earth dependencies to semiconductor chokepoints, the pressure to understand and control supply networks is growing rapidly across both industry and government.In this episode of Supply Chain Superintelligence – the first of season 2 – new host Thomas George speaks with Lisa Smith, co-founder of Prewave and Chair of the Board. Together, they explore how Europe is shifting from a focus on efficiency and sustainability toward resilience, sovereignty, and strategic autonomy in supply chains.Lisa explains why supply chain transparency is becoming essential at a national and EU level, how defense and public sector demand are reshaping supply chain priorities, and why Europe must rethink its approach to raw materials, diversification, and industrial coordination. The conversation also dives into the idea of a European “supply chain control tower” and what it would take to build true visibility across borders.Key insights:Supply chain transparency is emerging as a core capability at an EU government levelOne of Europe’s biggest structural challenges lies in its deep-tier dependencies on critical raw materialsAchieving sovereignty requires diversification, stockpiling, recycling, and redesign: not full decouplingProactive risk management and scenario planning are essential in an increasingly volatile worldAbout Lisa Smith: Lisa Smith is co-founder of Prewave and Chair of the Board. Since founding the company in 2017, she has helped advance the implementation of AI in supply chain risk management, with a focus on sustainability, transparency, and resilience. Today, she focuses on advancing supply chain transparency at a government level, supporting Europe’s efforts to strengthen resilience, competitiveness, and strategic autonomy.About Thomas George: Thomas George, host of the Supply Chain Superintelligence Podcast, is Prewave’s Lead Risk Editor. As co-author of The Taiwan Complex and many more, his focus on the intersection of geopolitics, supply chains, and strategic risk brings niche supply chain topics to the public eye.Resources & Links: Visit Prewave: https://www.prewave.com/Don’t Miss Out: Follow the Supply Chain Superintelligence Podcast for more expert conversations on geopolitics, resilience, and the forces shaping the future of global supply chains.