On Friday 28 March, the European Commission announced funding of €1.3 billion through the ‘Digital Europe’ programme, aimed at “deploying critical technologies that are of strategic importance for Europe’s future and the continent’s technological sovereignty”.
The main focus of the new work programme for 2025-2027 is “the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) and its adoption by business and public administration, cloud and data, cyber resilience and digital skills”.
The EU has recently announced its ambition to become the “AI continent”, notably by setting up several AI factories and announcing additional funding (see EUROPE 13598/9).
The Commission is also due to announce a ‘European AI Action Plan’ next April, which should consist of five pillars: infrastructure, access to data, an AI application strategy, the skills sector and simplification.
This funding is part of the total budget for the ‘Digital Europe’ programme, which amounts to €8.1 billion. (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre)