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European Commission - Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology
European Commission - Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology
01/15/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/15/2026 05:48
EU invests 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.
GettyImages © Worawee Meepian
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.
These calls drive sustainable innovation and European leadership in strategic digital technologies, aligning with the Commission's Competitiveness Compass. Through this investment, the Commission aims to secure leadership in strategic technologies through sustainable, human-centric innovation.
Cluster four of the Horizon Europe Work Programme, 'Digital, Industry and Space' is strategically designed to accelerate Europe 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.
The application window remains open until 15 April 2026.
More information is available on the Funding & Tenders Portal.
Related topics
Research and Innovation Robotics Photonics Advanced Digital Technologies Advanced and Cloud Computing Boosting European digital Industry Quantum Artificial intelligence Funding for Digital Horizon Europe Virtual WorldsRelated content
Info day and brokerage event: AI - Data - Robotics
Event| 28 January 2026
This info day and brokerage event is dedicated to upcoming 2026 calls in Artificial Intelligence, Data and Robotics, under Horizon Europe Cluster 4 (Digital, Industry and Space) and the Digital Europe Programme.
Horizon Europe info days - Cluster 4: Digital, Industry and Space
Event| 29 January 2026
Topics covered during the info days will include key digital technologies, quantum technologies, emerging enabling technologies, artificial intelligence and robotics, next generation internet, advanced computing and Big Data.
European Commission - Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology published this content on January 15, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on January 15, 2026 at 11:48 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]