Specific Objective 2

AI Continent

About this programme

About the programme

 

To support its ambition to make Europe an AI continent the EU, together with the EU Member States and stakeholders will develop an Apply AI Strategy. It will support the development of world class AI models in the EU and foster the integration of AI technologies into the EU’s most strategic sectors.

Artificial Intelligence is therefore a cross-cutting priority in the Digital Europe Programme.

 

Under the main work programme 2025-2027, Specific Objective 2 – AI Continent focuses on the following areas:

  • Continuation of activities in the area of cloud-to-edge infrastructure and services, among which the continuation and further development of Simpl as the prioritised platform to connect AI factories with HPC resources and help accelerate public sector transition to the cloud.
  • Deployment of sectorial data spaces as a key data resource for the AI community to train and improve their models
  • Activities aimed at accelerating the uptake of generative AI in its key strategic sectors and application areas. Dedicated actions will support the integration of generative AI in the testing and experimentation facilities and the uptake of generative AI applications in the public sector. Actions targeting AI in health will also be continued.
  • The continuation of the network of European Digital Innovation Hubs with a particular focus on AI, to support public and private organisations in their digital transition with services in four main clusters: 1) Test before invest, 2) Access to finance, 3) Training, and 4) Networking.
  • Completion of Destination Earth’s main components’ development, heading for the fulfilment of its main objective (full digital twin of the Earth) in 2030.
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Marie Timmermann

marie.timmermann@fwo.be

+32 2 550 15 59

Your PC contact for this programme

Find the contact info on the site of WEWIS

The National Contact Points (NCPs) provide support, guidance, and practical information to potential applicants, helping them navigate funding opportunities and application processes.

The Programme Committee (PC) members represent their country in decision-making about the work programmes, evaluate implementation, and provide strategic input on priorities and calls.

Latest news

Health Digital, Industry & Space Climate, Energy, Mobility AI Continent

AI Challenge Competition

The Horizon Europe project AI-BOOST has launched 4 specific Generative AI challenges to drive significant research progress in different areas: Challenge 1: GenAI-Based Natural Language Mission Generator for Autonomous Robots in Agriculture (deadline: 25 August 2026) Challenge 2: Agentic AI for Automated CAD Generation and Autonomous Simulation... read more 

Health AI Continent

Generative AI challenge for healthcare

AI-BOOST and EUCAIM have opened a joint challenge on 'Generative AI for Enhancement of Clinical Datasets'. The challenge opened on 9 July 2026 and closes on 8 September 2026. It is open to teams from academia and industry. The challenge looks at how generative AI can help improve clinical datasets used in healthcare AI, to address the fact th... read more 

Health EIT AI Continent Deployment: Best use of technologies

EIT Health has opened their Innovation Uptake Call

EIT Health’s Innovation Uptake Call focuses on mature digital, data-driven and AI-powered solutions and seeks to support the last steps towards commercialisation. Applicants must apply as a consortium of at least two independent legal entities from different countries. The consortium must include partners from at least two sides of the Knowl... read more 

ERC MSCA Research Infrastructures Health

Kind reminder: NCP Flanders is looking for your input

NCP Flanders is conducting a short satisfaction survey to gather valuable feedback and suggestions to further improve its services. The survey is organised into three sections: NCP Flanders assistance, info sessions, and NCP Flanders website & LinkedIn. If you are not familiar with one of these sections, the survey will automa... read more 

Upcoming events

Civil Security Digital, Industry & Space AI Continent Deployment: Best use of technologies

Biometrics Under Pressure: Reliable Identity in Complex Operational Environments

SEP
Tue
15
This event addresses research and innovation for biometrics and digital identity in complex operational environments. It is designed to bring together innovators, users and policy makers working on civil security use cases such as law enforcement, border management and disaster response. Organised by the European Association for Biometrics in coop... read more 

Digital, Industry & Space AI Continent

European Big Data Value Forum (EBDVF) 2026

SEP
Wed
30
OCT
Thu
01
The European Big Data Value Forum brings together industry professionals, business developers, researchers and policy-makers from across Europe and beyond to to advance policy actions and industrial and research activities in the areas of Data and AI. The 2026 edition focuses on building Europe’s AI and data backbone, with attention to strat... read more 

Digital, Industry & Space AI Continent

AI, Data and Robotics Forum (ADRF26)

OCT
Tue
13
OCT
Wed
14
The fourth edition of the AI, Data and Robotics Forum (ADRF26) brings together stakeholders to shape Europe’s digital future. This event includes keynotes, panels, and sessions aimed at advancing the European agenda in these fields. This annual event is organised by the AI, Data and Robotics Association (Adra) in cooperation w... read more 

Civil Security AI Continent Cybersecurity Defence EDF

SAVE THE DATE - Defence Innovation in Flanders Day (DIF-Day)

OCT
Tue
27
This first edition of the DIF-event is organised by the Department of Work, Economy, Science, Innovation and Social Economy in cooperation with VLAIO and Flanders Technology & Innovation (FTI) under the umbrella of the Flemish Innovation and Industry Strategy for Security and Defence (VISD). It is designed to look at recent developments and fu... read more 

Health Digital, Industry & Space Climate, Energy, Mobility AI Continent

SAVE THE DATE - Apply AI Summit

NOV
Tue
17
The Apply AI Summit will bring together industrial representatives, policymakers, startups, AI innovators, and stakeholders from different sectors to showcase how trustworthy, human-centric and innovative AI can boost the competitiveness of sectors such as healthcare, mobility and the public sector. Concrete Europ... read more 

Work Programme & Calls

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Testimonial

ERC grants for UGent professor Lieven Eeckhout

Professor Lieven Eeckhout’s main research interests include computer architecture and the hardware/software interface with a specific emphasis on performance evaluation and modeling, and dynamic resource management.

Professor Eeckhout is the recipient of a European Research Council (ERC) Starting grant, Advanced grant and three Proof of Concept grants. Two of his former PhD students founded in 2013 CoScale, a spin-off in data center monitoring, which was acquired by New Relic.

Read the full article Check out the other testimonials 
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