Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL)
The Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) is an EU funding programme focused on bringing digital technology to businesses, citizens and public administrations.
Digital technologies and infrastructures play a key role in private lives and business environments. The pandemic highlighted not only how much we rely on technology, but also the importance of Europe not being dependent on systems and solutions from other regions of the world. Russia's war on Ukraine has further highlighted the vulnerabilities of digital supply chains and the importance of investing in cybersecurity and dramatically improving the Union's digital capabilities.
The Programme provides strategic funding to respond to these challenges, supporting projects in key capability areas such as: supercomputing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced digital capabilities and ensuring wide use of digital technologies across the economy and society. It supports industry, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and public administration in their digital transformation with a strengthened network of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs).
In September 2023, a new semiconductor capacity area was added. Under the Chips Act, DIGITAL funding was mobilised to address the semiconductor shortage by promoting capacity development through the Chips for Europe Initiative.
It aims to shape the digital transformation of European society and economy, in line with the EU objectives defined in the Communication “Digital Compass 2030: The European approach to the Digital Decade” and in the policy programme “Roadmap to the Digital Decade”.
The Digital Europe Programme does not address the challenges in isolation. It complements funding available through other EU programmes, such as Horizon Europe (for research and innovation).