The European Commission has launched two new calls under the ‘Digital, Industry and Space’ cluster of the Horizon Europe Work Programme, allocating pound 307.3 million to strengthen Europe’s digital innovation and competitiveness. The deadline for submitting applications is 15 April 2026.
According to a Commission press release issued on Thursday, a total of pound 221.8 million will be allocated to the development of trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) services, innovative data services and the safeguarding of the EU’s 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.
The calls are open to businesses, public administrations, academic institutions and other entities from EU Member States and associated countries.
At the same time, more than pound 40 million will be allocated to the Open Internet Stack Initiative, supporting applications and technologies aimed at strengthening European sovereign digital commons.
In addition, as noted by the Commission, pound 85.5 million will be allocated to the second call, which will support open strategic autonomy in the fields of digital and emerging technologies, as well as raw materials. This call will focus on areas such as next-generation artificial intelligence, robotics for industrial and service applications, and the development of new materials with enhanced sensing capabilities.
These calls promote sustainable innovation and strategic digital technologies, in line with the Commission’s Competitiveness Compass. Through this investment, the Commission aims to secure leadership in strategic technologies through sustainable, human-centric innovation.The fourth cluster of the Horizon Europe Work Programme, ‘Digital, Industry and Space’, is strategically designed to accelerate Europe’s leadership and competitiveness in key strategic digital sectors such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, future digital networks, virtual worlds and other critical technologies.