Consolidation of the Network of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs with reinforced AI focus)

Supports

The Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) is an EU funding programme focused on bringing digital technology to businesses, citizens and public administrations. Digital technology and infrastructure have a critical role in our private lives and business environments. We rely on them to communicate, work, advance science and answer current environmental problems. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted not only how much we rely on our technology to be available to us, but also how important it is for Europe not to be dependent on systems and solutions coming from other regions of the world. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has further exposed the vulnerabilities in our digital supply chains and the importance of investing in cybersecurity and drastically improving EU’s digital capacities. The Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) provides strategic funding to answer these challenges, supporting projects in key capacity areas such as: supercomputing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced digital skills, and ensuring a wide use of digital technologies across the economy and society. It supports industry, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and public administration in their digital transformation with a reinforced network of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH). With an overall budget of over €8.1 billion, DIGITAL aims to shape the digital transformation of Europe’s society and economy, in line with EU’s goals defined in the Communication - 2030 Digital Compass: The European way for the Digital Decade and in the Policy Programme - Path to the Digital Decade. The Digital Europe Programme is a part of the long-term EU budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027. The DIGITAL does not address challenges in isolation. It complements the funding available through other EU programmes, such as the Horizon Europe (for research and innovation) and the Connecting Europe Facility (for digital infrastructure), the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the Structural funds, to name a few. Along with other programmes DIGITAL is also a part of the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) initiative that is designed to enhance the EU's industrial competitiveness and reinforce European sovereignty by focusing on the development and manufacturing of critical technologies. A number of projects funded by DIGITAL are recipients of the STEP Seal, a quality label that facilitates access to other EU funding. Call for proposals - Consolidation of the Network of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs with reinforced AI focus) (DIGITAL-2026-EDIH-EU-EEA-09-CONSOLIDATION-STEP) 04-11-2025 - 03-03-2026 The programme sets up a monitoring and cooperation mechanism to achieve the common objectives and targets for Europe's digital transformation set out in the 2030 Digital Compass. The Commission welcomes the political agreement reached by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on the 2030 Policy Programme: Path to the Digital Decade. The programme sets up a monitoring and cooperation mechanism to achieve the common objectives and targets for Europe's digital transformation set out in the 2030 Digital Compass. This concerns the area of skills and infrastructure, including connectivity, the digitalisation of businesses and online public services as well as the respect of the EU's Digital rights and principles in achieving the general objectives. “The Digital Decade is about making digital technology work for people and businesses. It is about enabling everyone to have the skills to participate in the digital society. To be empowered. It is about empowering businesses. It is about the infrastructure that keeps us connected. It is about bringing government services closer to citizens. Europe's digital transformation will give opportunities for everyone.” “The Digital Decade policy programme is the way towards a more innovative, inclusive and sustainable future for Europe. Unlocking the potentials of the digital transformation, specifically by setting up and implementing multi-country projects, will pave the way for a competitive and sovereign Europe. We have to swiftly embark on the Path to the Digital Decade to make sure Europe is ready for the challenges in an evolving and inter-connected world.” The European Commission has made the first amendment to the Digital Europe (DIGITAL) Work Programme 2025-2027 ensuring EU resources continue to support the Commission’s ambitions on developing and deploying critical technologies in Europe. Among the main changes, DIGITAL will now contribute to the landmark AI Gigafactories initiative, set to accelerate the development of cutting edge European AI models and core to the AI Continent Action Plan. In addition, the amendment includes : More funds for the Network of European Digital Innovation Hubs in associated countries