The DIGITAL Europe Programme

The DIGITAL Europe Programme improves European competitiveness in the digital economy and promotes technological independence through investment and innovation. Within the framework of "Digital Europe", capacities for new technologies are being expanded, thus accelerating the digital transformation. The EU's digital progress will also help to tackle other challenges such as the climate crisis.

The budget for the DIGITAL Europe Programme is 7.5 billion euros until 2027.

The following areas will be funded under the DIGITAL Europe Programme:

• Supercomputers (2.2 billion euros)
  • Purchase of the best supercomputers by 2022/2023
  • Expanding the use of supercomputers in the areas of health, environment, security and industry (SMEs)
• Artificial intelligence (AI) (2.1 billion euros)
  • Increasing the use of AI in business and public administration
  • Establish a European Data Space
  • Promoting the development of AI applications in the fields of health and mobility
• Cybersecurity (1.7 billion euros)
  • Coordination between EU member states
  • Promotion and training of digital skills in all member states
  • Promoting infrastructure for quantum communications
  • Strengthening European cyber security capabilities
• Advanced digital skills (580 million euros)
  • New programmes and trainings to develop future experts in AI, cybersecurity, quantum technologies and high-performance computing (HPC)
  • Short training courses to develop the workforce
• Extensive use of digital technologies in the economy and society (1.1 billion euros)
  • Focus of applications on areas such as health, climate and culture
  • Digital Innovation Hubs
  • Greater use of digital technologies such as blockchain in SMEs and public administration

The DIGITAL Europe Programme aims to expand access and use of supercomputers and other advanced technologies for SMEs. SMEs can also benefit from new EU-wide databases, e.g. with business data. Through the promotion of the European Digital Innovation Hub, SMEs in particular can gain access to services that support them in their digitalisation, such as advice on financing or cybersecurity or even technology trials.

The next deadline is 26 September 2023. For more information, please visit the Funding & Tenders Opportunities Portal.

Synergies with other funding programmes

The DIGITAL Europe programme will not address these challenges in isolation, but rather complement funding available through other EU programmes, such as the Horizon Euroea programme for research and innovation, the Connecting Europe Facility for digital infrastructure, the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the Structural Funds, to name but a few. It is part of the EU's long-term budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027.

Further information on DIGITAL Europe can be found here and here.

Do you have an idea for a funding application in the DIGITAL Europe Programme and need support? Contact the Unit Information & Communication Technologies | Natural Sciences & Engineering of the Bavarian Research Alliance, we will be happy to help you: