CPU and GPU there are pattents so you can't just create an x86cpu so you could what create alternative CPUs, there are like ARM who is in Europe. For GPU I imagine you will step on AMD and NVIDIA pattents as well.

Search Engines, I don't think there is money to be made from this respecting the user privacy, we will see if DDG proves me wrong.

Nokia was destroyed by Microsoft, they forced Nokia to sell only Windows Phones and then MS bought them. But there are many electronics companies in EU for other domains, not sure if there is a need to compete with cheaper Chinese firms on phones.

I think it could be the culture, people may not be into get rich quick schemes and may want to work on more mingfull stuff then created a FB alternative.

I had a ringside seat on the Nokia “turnaround” towards oblivion.

The consumer side did suffer from Elop’s strategy (he also somewhat neglected the carrier network products), but the larger issue was that some carriers were so dependent on Nokia for mid-to-high-end handsets that when cheaper alternatives emerged they switched wholesale (I was at Vodafone at the time, and work at Microsoft now).

As to the rest, I don’t see Europe being a contender in chip manufacturing (even though ARM originated in our side of the Atlantic), and I don’t think patents would hold us back.

What does hold us back is the lack of significant manufacturing capabilities in those domains. There are a few electronics manufacturers and small fabs, but they cater to niches.