The European Commission has unveiled its Digital Europe Programme work plan (DIGITAL) for 2025-2027, allocating €1.3 billion to support the deployment of critical digital technologies. This initiative aims to support Europe’s technological capabilities, focusing on the deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its uptake by businesses and public administration, cloud and data, cyber resilience and digital skills.
The first calls for proposals under the 2025-2027 DIGITAL Programme are expected to be launched in April 2025, with further funding opportunities becoming available later during the year. Calls are open to businesses, public administrations, and other entities from EU Member States, EFTA/EEA countries, and countries associated with Digital.
The programme focuses on advancing artificial intelligence, strengthening cybersecurity, improving digital skills, and transforming public services. The main areas of investment include:
- Improving the availability and accessibility 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 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.
- Enhancing climate adaptation with Destination Earth: additional funding will be directed to the Destination Earth initiative, which builds a digital model of Earth to aid climate adaptation and disaster risk management. The investment will expand the project, making advanced simulations available to a wider range of researchers and institutions.
- Increasing cyber resilience and security: 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, enabling institutions to nurture and attract talent while boosting advanced skills in the European 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.
- Digital Public Services: stimulating the transformation of the public sector by developing efficient, high-quality, interoperable digital public services, which will help governments provide more streamlined, secure, and user-friendly services to citizens and businesses.
DIGITAL is the first funding programme of the EU entirely focused on bringing digital technology to businesses and citizens. 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.
DMX constantly monitors the availability of calls for proposals under national and EU funding instruments such as DIGITAL. Keep an eye on our website and LinkedIN page to stay up to date.
