Merantix Momentum advises European firms on AI sovereignty

Thomas Wollmann, Managing Director of Berlin-based AI consultancy Merantix Momentum, reports that the firm has completed over 200 projects in pharma, finance, manufacturing, and the public sector. The consultancy’s current focus has shifted from building proof-of-concepts to advising on core business strategy, driven by client fears that AI will render their business models unviable within 10 years. Wollmann emphasizes that AI strategy is now inseparable from business strategy, requiring organizations to evaluate threats and opportunities rather than just implementing tools. A key service area is 'sovereign AI,' where the firm helps clients navigate trade-offs between independence and dependency. Merantix is building its own foundation model within the Zofi Consortium to offer European-aligned alternatives. The firm also assists in implementing local inference systems to protect proprietary data and advises on using platforms like Vertex or Azure Foundry. Wollmann notes that while 100% sovereignty is impossible without building chips, organizations must define reasonable dependencies and secure inference for their most defensible data assets. Wollmann argues that AI transformation must start with business strategy and long-term viability, not just technical implementation, and that sovereign AI is about making informed trade-offs on dependencies rather than achieving total independence.