Horizon Europe: EU to invest over €307 million into artificial intelligence and related technologies

The European Commission has launched two new calls under the ‘Digital, Industry and Space’ cluster of the Horizon Europe Work Programme, allocating €307.3 million to bolster Europe’s digital innovation and competitiveness.

A total of €221.8 million is dedicated to an initiative focusing on the development of trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) services, innovative data services, and securing of EU strategic autonomy. The call will fund projects contributing to AI development, including actions supporting the Apply AI Strategy, robotics, quantum technologies, photonics and virtual worlds. With over €40 million dedicated to the ’Open Internet Stack Initiative’, both end-user applications and inside the stack technologies will be developed to support European sovereign digital commons. 

An additional €85.5 million is available for the second call, which will support open strategic autonomy in digital and emerging technologies and raw materials. It will focus on topics like next-gen AI agents, robotics for industrial and service applications, and the development of new materials with enhanced sensing functionalities. 

Cluster four of the Horizon Europe Work Programme, ‘Digital, Industry and Space’ is strategically designed to accelerate European leadership and competitiveness in key strategic digital sectors such as AI, quantum, future digital networks, virtual worlds and other key technologies. These calls are open to businesses, public administrations, academia, and other entities from EU Member States and partner countries, including from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.  

The deadline for applications is 15 April 2026.  

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Press release