Digital Europe Introduction
The Digital Europe programme (DIGITAL) with a budget of € 7.5 billion aims to support the digital transition in the EU by fostering the uptake of digital technologies by businesses, citizens and public administration and enhancing digital skills of the workforce.
Strategic objectives
Digital Europe funds projects in five key capacity areas (strategic objectives):
- Supercomputing (€2.227 bn): deployment of world-class exascale and post-exascale supercomputing capacities;
- Artificial Intelligence (AI), data & cloud (€ 2.062 bn): setting up EU-wide sectoral data spaces based on a cloud-to-edge federated infrastructure and promotion of testing and adoption of AI-based solutions;
- Cybersecurity (€ 1.650 bn): building up advanced cybersecurity capabilities, promoting the sharing of best practices and ensuring wide deployment of cybersecurity solutions;
- Advanced digital skills (€ 0.577 bn): increasing the education offer and training in key digital technologies and digital skills for non-ICT sectors, and support collaboration between higher education institutions and the private sector;
- Accelerating best use of technologies (€ 1.072 bn): establishment of a network of European Digital Innovation Hubs supporting the digital transformation of European public and private organisations and deployment of high-impact projects such as blockchain capacities or the digital transformation of public administration and services.
With its variety of topics the programme addresses a wide range of stakeholders: SMEs, higher education institutions, research centres, public authorities, large companies etc.
The Digital Europe Programme complements other EU programmes, such as the Horizon Europe programme for research and innovation, and the Connecting Europe Facility for digital infrastructure, the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the Structural funds.
Work programmes
The overall objectives, scope, outcomes and deliverables as well as budget allocations, for each topic are described in different work programmes:
- Main Work Programme 2023-2024 - comprising Special Objectives 'AI, Data & Cloud', 'Advanced Digital Skills', and 'Deployment - Accelerating best use of digital technologies'
- Cybersecurity Work Programme 2023-2024
- European Digital Innovations Hubs (EDIH) Work Programme 2021-2023
- High-Performance Computing Work Programme 2024
- Chips Joint Undertaking Work Programme 2023-2027
All work programmes are available at this link.
Detailed descriptions of the different call topics can be found in the call documents once the calls are published on the Funding & Tenders Portal.
Legal & Financial Rules
The legal and financial rules for Digital Europe resemble in many aspects those of other funding programmes such as Horizon Europe. However, there are some important difference that need to be taken into account, such as regards e.g. international collaboration and security restrictions. Information on the legal and financial rules can be found on our L&F overview page and in our infosheets.
Latest news
Digital Europe Cybersecurity Deployment: Best use of technologies
New Amendment to Digital Europe Programme Work Programme 2023-2024
The Main Work Programme 2023-2024 for Digital Europe Programme has been amended to include new actions. The new amendment introduces support for new initiatives: Age verification application - provides means to protect under-age users from accessing content that is unsuitable/illegal to them, contributing to the implementation of the provisions... read more
Digital, Industry & Space Digital Europe AI, data & cloud
Frequently Ask Questions about the Data Act
The European Commission has published a document to respond to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the Data Act. The Data Act, which will become applicable on 12 September 2025, establishes a horizontal set of rules on data access and use that aims to protect fundamental rights and to deliver wide-ranging benefits for the European economy and soc... read more
Digital Europe HPC AI, data & cloud Cybersecurity
Consultations on Digital Europe programme
The European Commission is still collecting input on the Digital Europe programme by means of two consultations. The results of these consultations will feed into the mid-term evaluation of Digital Europe. Open Stakeholder Consultation The Open Stakeholder Consultation seeks to gain insights into the needs of stakeholders in the digital tran... read more
Horizon Europe HorizonEU L+F Digital Europe Defence
New infosheets: Ethics Appraisal Process and Ownership Contral Declaration
Ethics and security play an important role in applications for projects under Horizon Europe, Digital Europe and the EU Defence Fund. Consortia submitting proposals are expected to self-reflect on ethics issues, followed by screenings and follow-ups by the European Commission. For certain calls under the three programmes, participation can be res... read more
Upcoming events
Digital, Industry & Space Digital Europe
FIWARE Global Summit
Digital, Industry & Space Digital Europe
Big Data Value Forum 2024
Digital, Industry & Space Digital Europe Cybersecurity Defence EDF
Maritime Captains of Industry Day
Digital, Industry & Space Digital Europe
1st CEF Digital Community Event
Your NCP contact for this programme
Marie Timmermann
marie.timmermann@fwo.be
+32 2 550 15 59
Work Programme & Calls
Infosheets
Infosheets contain edited content on aspects related to this programme. They are reviewed at least yearly.
- Ethics appraisal process and the role of Ethics Advisors, Boards and Mentors
- European Digital Infrastructure Consortia (EDICs) under Digital Europe
- Expert Evaluators - Background & How to become an evaluator
- International cooperation in Digital Europe
- Lump sum actions
- Ownership Control Declaration
- Security - restricted calls in Digital Europe
- The coordinator's role in Horizon Europe or Digital Europe projects
- Unit costs for personnel costs and internally invoiced goods and services in Digital Europe
Related links
Related links are easy pointers towards external information. We curate the list, but are not liable for the destinations.
Documents
Documents contain additional information related to this programme, and are similar to related links.
Testimonial
Autoship - a new and durable way of freight transport
Autoship is, as the name suggests, an acronym for autonomous ship. Just like with self-driving cars, the possibilities of an unmanned boat seem endless. It can create more efficient freight transport, around the clock deliveries and these are just a few of the examples. The project has two societal challenges.
At first, De Vlaamse Waterweg was a bit hesitant as their experience with FP7 or Horizon 2020 projects was limited and they had not been very successful up until then. The fact that they were already doing basic research on the topic of autonomous boats, and the administrative help of NCP FLanders helped De Vlaamse waterweg to cross the line and get involved.
