The EU Commission has launched two new calls under the ‘Digital, Industry and Space’ cluster of the Horizon Europe Work Programme, allocating €307.3 million to bolster Europe’s digital innovation and competitiveness.
€221.8 million is dedicated to an initiative focusing on the development of trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) services, innovative data services, and securing of EU strategic autonomy.
This call will fund projects which contribute to AI development, including actions supporting the Apply AI Strategy, robotics, quantum technologies, photonics and virtual worlds. With over €40 million dedicated to the ‘Open Internet Stack Initiative’, both end-user applications and inside the stack technologies will be developed to support European sovereign digital commons.
For the second call, an additional €85.5 million is available which will support open strategic autonomy in digital and emerging technologies and raw materials. This will focus on topics like next-gen AI agents, robotics for industrial and service applications, and the development of new materials with enhanced sensing functionalities.
These calls are aimed at driving sustainable innovation and European leadership in strategic digital technologies, and align with the Commission’s Competitiveness Compass. Through this investment, the goal for the EU is to secure leadership in strategic technologies through sustainable, human-centric innovation.
Cluster four of the Horizon Europe Work Programme, ‘Digital, Industry and Space’ is strategically designed to accelerate Europe leadership and competitiveness in key strategic digital sectors such as AI, quantum, future digital networks, virtual worlds and other key technologies.
These calls are open to businesses, public administrations, academia, and other entities from EU Member States and partner countries.
The application window remains open until 15 April 2026.
For further information go to the EU’s Funding & Tenders portal
