The European Commission has unveiled its Digital Europe Programme work plan for 2025-2027, allocating €1.3 billion to support the deployment of critical digital technologies. This initiative aims to support Europe’s technological capabilities, ensuring competitiveness in key sectors such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital skills.
With a total budget of €8.1 billion under the current Multiannual Financial Framework (2021-2027), it complements other EU funding initiatives, including Horizon Europe, EU4Health, InvestEU, and the Connecting Europe Facility.
The first calls for proposals under the 2025-2027 DIGITAL work programme are expected to be launched in April 2025, with further funding opportunities becoming available later during the year.
Crucial priorities of the Digital Europe Programme
The programme focuses on advancing artificial intelligence, strengthening cybersecurity, improving digital skills, and transforming public services. The main areas of investment include:
- Advancing artificial intelligence. A significant portion of the budget will support the development and adoption of generative AI applications. Funding will be directed towards testing immersive digital environments, implementing the AI Act, and developing energy-efficient data spaces. These measures will contribute to the AI Factories initiative, which aims to create advanced AI models for businesses and public administrations.
- Strengthening European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs). The EDIHs network will continue providing businesses and public sector organisations with access to technical expertise, training, and digital tools, promoting AI adoption across industries.
- Enhancing climate adaptation with Destination Earth. The Destination Earth initiative, which builds a digital model of Earth to aid climate adaptation and disaster risk management, will receive additional funding. The investment will expand the project, making advanced simulations available to a wider range of researchers and institutions.
- Increasing cyber resilience and security. Cybersecurity remains a priority, with funding directed towards enhancing the EU’s cyber resilience. The programme will support cybersecurity solutions such as the EU Cybersecurity Reserve, which aims to protect critical infrastructure, including hospitals and submarine cables.
- Developing digital skills across Europe. To support Europe’s technological competitiveness, DIGITAL will fund initiatives to improve digital education and training. The programme will help EU institutions develop advanced digital skills, ensuring a highly skilled workforce.
- Facilitating the EU Digital Identity Wallet. The programme will drive the implementation of the EU Digital Identity Wallet and the European Trust Infrastructure, ensuring seamless digital identification and authentication across Member States.
- Transforming public services through digitalisation. The Programme will support the digital transformation of public services by promoting high-quality, efficient, and interoperable digital solutions. This investment will help governments provide more streamlined, secure, and user-friendly services to citizens and businesses.
The programme is available at this link.