The European Commission announced on Wednesday 10 November the funding of three work programmes, to the tune of €1.98 billion, under the Digital Europe Programme (see EUROPE 12679/34).
In concrete terms, the Commission intends to focus with the first of these three programmes, funded with €1.38 billion, on the testing and development of artificial intelligence (AI) (see EUROPE 12829/11), cloud computing, and the deployment of common data spaces - to facilitate cross-border data sharing for businesses - quantum communication and digital skills in the EU.
The other two programmes, with €269 million and €329 million, will focus respectively on funding projects in the field of cyber security (see EUROPE 12823/11) until the end of 2022, and on the creation of networks of European digital innovation centres until the end of 2023.
“Europe’s digital decade has begun. (...) The €2 billion of investment announced today will enable European businesses of all sizes, and especially start-ups, to seize the opportunities offered by fast-growing markets”, said Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton.
The first calls for proposals under the Digital Europe programme will be published by the end of November. Others will follow in 2022, the European Commission said. (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)