Commission to invest €1.3 billion in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital skills

The Commission will allocate €1.3 billion for the deployment of critical technologies that are strategically important for the future of Europe and the continent’s tech sovereignty through the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) work programme for 2025 to 2027 adopted on March 28th.

The work programme focuses on the deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its uptake by businesses and public administration, cloud and data, cyber resilience and digital skills.

More specifically, key priorities under the DIGITAL work programme include:

• Improving the availability and accessibility of generative AI applications, including in the health and care sectors. Available funding will go towards testing immersive environments, known as ‘virtual worlds’, implementing the AI Act and deploying energy efficient common data spaces. These measures are key to the implementation of the AI Factories initiative to develop generative AI models for businesses and the public sector.
• Supporting  the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs). This is a network of hubs that provides companies and the public sector with access to technical expertise and testing of technologies, as well as with advice, training and skills to adopt the latest technologies. It will promote the widespread take-up of AI in private and public organisations across Europe.
• Building-up the award-winning Destination Earth initiative that is working to build a digital model of Earth to support climate adaptation and disaster risk management. Funding will build a more powerful model that more researchers can access.
• Boosting cyber resilience. Cybersecurity solutions such as the EU Cybersecurity Reserve will improve the resilience and security of critical infrastructures including hospitals and submarine cables.
• Developing EU education and training institutions’ capacity in digital skills so they may nurture and attract talent while boosting advanced skills in the European workforce.
• Facilitating the new EU Digital Identity Wallet architecture and the European Trust Infrastructure, as well as promoting its adoption in Member States.
• Stimulating the transformation of the public sector by developing efficient, high-quality, interoperable digital public services.

Innovation will also be accelerated by the new Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) which awards the STEP Seal quality label to promising projects to improve their opportunity to access public and private funding.

Next Steps

The upcoming DIGITAL calls are expected to be released in April 2025, with additional calls published through the rest of the year. The EU Funding & Tenders Portal can be consulted for information on open calls.

Calls are open to businesses, public administrations, and other entities from EU Member States, EFTA/EEA countries, and countries associated to DIGITAL.

Background

DIGITAL is the first funding programme of the EU entirely focused on bringing digital technology to businesses and citizens. With a budget of €8.1 billion under the present Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027, it has been shaping the digital transformation of Europe’s society and economy.

Focussing specifically on deployment, DIGITAL complements investments under other EU programmes, such as Horizon Europe, EU4Health, InvestEU, the Connecting Europe Facility as well as investments under the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

More information: European Commission