The European Union has announced a €1.3 billion ($1.4 billion) investment in digital technologies deemed strategically important for the continent’s future. The funds will be allocated through the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) from 2025 to 2027, with the goal of boosting tech sovereignty and enhancing competitiveness against global powers like the United States and China. Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy, emphasized the importance of this investment, stating, “Securing European tech sovereignty starts with investing in advanced technologies and in making people improve their digital competences.
With the opportunities under the Digital Europe Programme, we are ensuring that new technologies and their potential reach European citizens, businesses, and public administrations.”
The DIGITAL programme will focus on several key priorities, including generative AI applications in health and care sectors, immersive environments, cybersecurity solutions, digital skills development, and support for European Digital Innovation Hubs. The programme will also fund an initiative to build a digital twin of the Earth to support climate adaptation and disaster risk management, as well as stimulate the development of interoperable digital public services.
eu boosts tech sovereignty funding
To accelerate innovations within these priorities, the EU has launched the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), which awards a quality label to promising projects, enhancing their access to public and private funding under the current Multiannual Financial Framework (2021-2027). As tensions between the EU and the U.S. highlight the risks of technological dependence, the EU is exploring potential partnerships with other global powers like India. A recent initiative launched from Brussels proposes a new European approach to technological infrastructures, drawing inspiration from India’s digital public infrastructure, which provides universally accessible digital services to nearly 1.4 billion people.
The Linux Foundation Europe has also launched a new initiative to support collaboration and innovation in open cloud infrastructure, aiming for European digital sovereignty. Gabriele Columbro, General Manager of Linux Foundation Europe, stated, “Linux Foundation Europe is proud to support NeoNephos, representing a significant step forward in supporting Europe’s cloud sovereignty goals through open source.”
With these comprehensive strategies and partnerships, the EU is laying the groundwork to significantly bolster its technological capabilities and sovereignty, ensuring a competitive and secure digital future for all European citizens.
Image Credits: Photo by Adi Goldstein on Unsplash
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