Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) 2025–2027

Digital Europe helps businesses, public administrations, research organisations and citizens adopt advanced digital technologies. The programme focuses on building Europe’s digital capacities and accelerating the deployment of strategic technologies across the economy and society.

Open till 2027-01-31

Deadline Second call package (2026) – AI, manufacturing data space, health data, virtual worlds, digital skills, GovTech, EDIHs, etc. Third call package (2026) – Digital Identity, EHDS deployment, digital health, skills, AI screening, etc. Fourth call package (2027) – cloud-edge, tourism and skills data spaces, GenAI testing, virtual human twins, advanced digital skills and multi-country projects
Category Artificial Intelligence | Data & Cloud | Cybersecurity | High-Performance Computing | Semiconductors | Advanced Digital Skills | Digital Public Services | Digital Innovation Hubs
Funding Competitive grants, procurement contracts, and financial instruments managed by the European Commission, HaDEA, EuroHPC JU, ECCC, Chips JU and other entrusted entities under the Digital Europe Programme
Max grant amount Varies by call and topic. No programme-wide maximum is defined. Individual topic budgets range from approximately €1 million to €170 million+, while flagship actions may receive substantially larger allocations
Company size SME | Large companies
Location EU Member States, EEA-EFTA countries (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein), and countries associated with the Digital Europe Programme. Eligibility depends on the specific call and topic
Duration Typically 24–48 months, although some infrastructure, platform, and deployment actions may last up to 60 months or longer. Duration depends on the call topic

Purpose

– Accelerate Europe’s digital transformation.
– Strengthen technological sovereignty and competitiveness.
– Support AI development and adoption.
– Develop secure cloud and data infrastructures.
– Improve cybersecurity resilience.
– Expand advanced digital skills.
– Promote interoperable digital public services and digital identity solutions.
– Support deployment of strategic digital technologies across Europe.

Potential applicants

– Companies of all sizes, including startups and SMEs.
– Public administrations and public bodies.
– Universities and higher education institutions.
– Research and technology organisations.
– Digital Innovation Hubs and competence centres.
– Industry associations, clusters and alliances.
– Non-profit organisations and NGOs.
– Single applicants or international consortia depending on the topic.

Funding

– Grants for deployment, testing, experimentation, capacity building, digital infrastructure and technology adoption.
– Procurement contracts for strategic digital services and platforms.
– Support for AI, cybersecurity, digital skills, cloud, data spaces, semiconductors and public sector digitalisation.
– Some actions are implemented through Joint Undertakings and specialised EU bodies.

Intensity

– Funding rates depend on the topic and action type. • Many deployment projects receive up to 50% funding.
– Certain SME-focused actions can reach 75–85% public support.
– Coordination and support actions may receive up to 100% funding.
– Some public-sector and non-economic activities can receive up to 100% of eligible costs.

Technologies

– Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI
– High-Performance Computing (HPC)
– Cloud and Edge Computing
– Data Spaces and Data Infrastructure
– Cybersecurity Technologies
– Semiconductors and Chips
– Digital Identity and Trust Services
– Digital Twins and Virtual Worlds
– Health Data Technologies
– Advanced Digital Skills Solutions
– Interoperable Public Sector Technologies.

Eligibility

– Applicants must be established in eligible participating countries.
– Projects must align with Digital Europe objectives and specific call requirements.
– Some topics include security restrictions under Article 12 of Regulation (EU) 2021/694.
– Consortium requirements vary by call.
– Additional eligibility conditions may apply for strategic digital infrastructures and technologies.

Additional information

– Total Digital Europe Programme budget 2021–2027: approximately €8.1 billion.
– Remaining Work Programme 2025–2027 budget: approximately €3.2 billion.
– Major investment areas include AI Factories, Data Spaces, Cybersecurity, Digital Skills, European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), Digital Identity, and Semiconductors.

– Many topics are eligible for the STEP Seal (Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform).
– The programme complements Horizon Europe, Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), InvestEU, and other EU funding instruments.

Apply here