The Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) is the first financial instrument of the EU focused on bringing digital technology to businesses and citizens.
The Programme is fine-tuned to fill the gap between the research of digital technologies and their deployment, and to bring the results of research to the market – for the benefit of Europe’s citizens and businesses, and in particular SMEs. Investments under the Digital Europe programme supports the Union’s twin objectives of a green transition and digital transformation and strengthens the Union’s resilience and strategic autonomy.
The Programme is a part of the next long-term EU budget, (the Multiannual Financial Framework), and it covers 2021 to 2027. The budget destinated to this program is for amount of Worth €7.6 billion (in current prices), It will provide funding for projects in five crucial areas:
1.supercomputing (€2.2 BILLION) to build up and strengthen the EU’s supercomputing and data processing capacities by buying world- class exascale supercomputers by 2022/2023 (capable of at least a billion or 1018 calculations per second) and post exascale facilities by 2026/2027. Increasing accessibility and broaden the use of supercomputing in areas of public interest such as health, environment and security, and in industry, including small and medium-sized enterprises.
2.artificial intelligence (€2.1 BILLION ) to:Invest in and open up the use of artificial intelligence by businesses and public administrations. Set up a true European data space and facilitate safe access to and storage of large datasets and trustworthy and energy efficient cloud infrastructure. Strengthen and support existing artificial intelligence testing and experimentation facilities in areas such as health and mobility in Member States and encourage their cooperation.
3.cybersecurity ( €1.6 BILLION) to Strengthening cybersecurity coordination between Member States tools and data infrastructures. Support the wide deployment of the cybersecurity capacities across the economy.
4.advanced digital skills (€580 MILLION ) to support the design and delivery of specialized programmes and traineeships for the future experts in key capacity areas like data and AI, cybersecurity, quantum and HPC. Support the upskilling of the existing workforce through short trainings reflecting the latest developments
5.ensuring the wide use of digital technologies across the economy and society in key capacity areas (€1.1 BILLION) to support high impact deployments in areas of public interest, such as health (complemented by EU4Health programme), Green Deal, smart communities and the cultural sector. Build up and strengthen the network of European Digital Innovation Hubs, aiming to have a Hub in every region, to help companies benefit from digital opportunities. Support the uptake of advanced digital and related technologies by the industry, notably small and medium-sized enterprises. Support European public administrations and industry to deploy and access state of-the-art digital technologies (such as blockchain) and build trust in the digital transformation.
source: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/activities/digital-programme