EU invests €307m in AI and strategic tech
The European Commission is ramping up its support for artificial intelligence and advanced digital technologies with a fresh funding push worth more than €307 million. The money is being made available through two new calls under the ‘Digital, Industry and Space’ cluster of the Horizon Europe Work Programme.
For eeNews Europe readers, this matters because the calls directly target technologies shaping the future of Europe’s electronics, software and systems landscape. From AI and robotics to photonics and quantum, the funding is aimed at areas where European companies and research organisations are actively competing at a global level.
Big funding for trustworthy AI and digital autonomy
The largest share of the funding, €221.8 million, is allocated to projects focused on trustworthy artificial intelligence, innovative data services and strengthening the EU’s strategic digital autonomy. The Commission says the call will support a wide range of AI-related activities, including actions aligned with the Apply AI Strategy, as well as work in robotics, quantum technologies, photonics and virtual worlds.
A notable slice of the budget, more than €40 million, is earmarked for the Open Internet Stack Initiative. This effort is designed to develop both end-user applications and core “inside-the-stack” technologies, with the aim of building European sovereign digital commons. For developers and system architects, this signals a push toward more open, interoperable and Europe-controlled digital infrastructure.
Second call targets next-gen AI and materials
The second call makes €85.5 million available to support open strategic autonomy in digital and emerging technologies, as well as in raw materials. Here, the focus shifts to next-generation AI agents, robotics for both industrial and service applications, and the development of new materials with enhanced sensing capabilities.
These topics reflect growing demand for smarter, more autonomous systems across manufacturing, healthcare, logistics and other sectors. For companies working on embedded intelligence, advanced sensors or robotic platforms, the call could open doors to collaborative R&D projects with long-term commercial potential.
Part of a broader competitiveness push
According to the Commission, the new calls are intended to drive sustainable innovation and reinforce European leadership in key strategic technologies. The funding aligns with the EU’s Competitiveness Compass, which emphasizes human-centric, sustainable approaches to technology development.
Cluster four of Horizon Europe, ‘Digital, Industry and Space’, is designed to accelerate Europe’s competitiveness in areas such as AI, quantum computing, future digital networks and virtual worlds. The calls are open to businesses, public administrations, universities and research organisations from EU Member States and partner countries, underlining the collaborative nature of Europe’s digital ambitions.
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