Launch of the Independent European Search Index "Staan"

Launch of "Staan": Leading European search engines, Qwant and Ecosia, have launched a new independent European search index called "Staan." This index aims to provide an alternative to giant search engines like Google and Bing, primarily focusing on enhancing privacy and offering lower costs. To understand the importance of this step, the Search Index acts as a massive digital library containing all the information collected by search engines about web pages, allowing them to provide fast and accurate results to users.

Project Genesis and Objectives

"EUSP" Collaboration: This launch is the culmination of the "European Search Perspective" (EUSP) project, a fruit of collaboration between the French search engine Qwant, known for its commitment to privacy, and the German search engine Ecosia, a non-profit organization renowned for dedicating its search ad profits to fund tree-planting projects worldwide. The project aspires to process approximately 50% of search queries in France and 33% in Germany by the end of this year.

Current and Future Use: Qwant has already started using the new index to support some of its services, such as AI-powered search summaries, while Ecosia plans to launch similar AI features soon. Additionally, EUSP seeks to expand the use of its index through discussions with other companies to integrate it into their applications, especially chatbots, and offer it as an effective and low-cost alternative to Google and Bing solutions.

Strategic Importance and Timing

Cost and Independence: Christian Kroll, CEO of Ecosia, stated that the new index is capable of providing advanced search features at a fraction of the cost imposed by Google and Bing. EUSP is strongly pushing for the establishment of an independent European technical infrastructure, away from the dominance of American or Chinese technology.

Timing Sensitivity and Privacy: In a joint statement, the two companies emphasized that the timing of this launch is crucial, explaining that the outcome of the 2024 US elections served as a reminder to policymakers and innovators in Europe of the continent's vulnerability in its digital infrastructure. The statement noted that most search, cloud, and AI services in Europe rely on systems of major American tech companies, which exposes vital sectors like journalism and climate technology to external political and commercial agendas. Kroll added that this index, when combined with strict European privacy laws, can provide a search experience that respects user privacy to an extent that surpasses American alternatives.