Staan: New European Search Engine Challenging Big Tech

New European Search Index: Staan Launched

Qwant and Ecosia, two European search engines, announced on Wednesday the commencement of utilizing a jointly developed search index, named Staan. This initiative presents a more affordable and privacy-conscious alternative to established players like Google and Bing.

Joint Venture and Development

A collaborative effort initiated last year saw French, privacy-focused Qwant partner with German non-profit Ecosia to create a European search index. The resulting joint venture, known as European Search Perspective (EUSP), is currently aiming to handle approximately 50% of search queries originating from France.

Current and Future Implementations

Qwant is already integrating the new index to enhance functionalities such as AI-powered search summaries. Ecosia also has plans to incorporate AI features into its platform in the near future.

Expanding Beyond Traditional Search

EUSP is actively engaging with various companies to encourage the adoption of its index for in-app search capabilities. A key target is the chatbot market, where Staan is positioned as a cost-effective solution compared to Google and Bing.

Cost-Effectiveness for AI Applications

“For applications like ChatGPT and other AI chatbots, web search is crucial for knowledge grounding,” explained Christian Kroll, CEO of Ecosia, in an interview with TechCrunch. “Our index can facilitate in-depth research and AI summarization at roughly one-tenth the cost of Google and Bing’s offerings.”

A European Tech Stack

Similar to Proton, EUSP is dedicated to fostering a European technology infrastructure independent of U.S. or Chinese technologies.

Geopolitical Considerations

The companies emphasized the urgency of this development, citing the 2024 U.S. election as a reminder of Europe’s vulnerability regarding core digital infrastructure. A significant portion of Europe’s search, cloud, and AI systems currently rely on American Big Tech, potentially exposing critical sectors to external influences.

Privacy Advantages

Kroll highlighted that the combination of this new index and European privacy regulations allows EUSP to deliver a more privacy-respecting search experience than its American competitors.

Key Benefits of Staan

• Cost-effective: Offers search capabilities at a significantly lower price point.
• Privacy-focused: Built with European privacy laws in mind.
• Independent: Reduces reliance on U.S. and Chinese technology.
• AI-ready: Supports knowledge grounding and AI summarization features.