Digital Europe programme (2021–2027)

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) 2021/694 establishing the digital Europe programme

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

The digital Europe programme is a European Union (EU) funding programme designed to bring digital technology to businesses, citizens and public administrations. It aims to:

improve the EU’s competitiveness in the global digital economy;
contribute to bridging the digital divide across the EU and reinforcing its strategic autonomy;
strengthen and promote Europe’s capacities in key digital technology areas through large-scale deployment.

KEY POINTS

The programme runs from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2027, i.e. the period of the multiannual financial framework. It is backed by an indicative allocation of more than €8.2 billion in current prices and is implemented mainly under direct management by the European Commission.
The regulation sets out six interrelated specific objectives aiming to widen Europe’s capacities in key digital technology areas in the private sector and in areas of public interest.

High-performance computing (HPC) (€2,019,914,000)

The operational objectives are primarily implemented through the European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking, set up under Regulation (EU) 2018/1488:

easily accessible world-class exascale* supercomputing and data infrastructure for public and private users – particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), easily accessible for research, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1488;
an EU-wide high-performance computing ecosystem, covering science and industry, including hardware, software, applications, services, interconnections and digital skills;
post-exascale infrastructure, including integration with quantum computing technologies and research infrastructures for computing science and encouraging the necessary hardware and software development.

Artificial intelligence (AI) (€1,663,956,000)

The programme supports the following operational objectives:

core AI capacities and knowledge, including better-quality data resources and exchange mechanisms, and libraries of algorithms, accessible to businesses (especially SMEs and start-ups), citizens, not-for-profit organisations, research institutions, universities and public administrations;
EU testing and experimentation facilities for commercial applications and production systems to better integrate technologies within value chains.

Cybersecurity and trust (€1,399,566,000)

The programme supports the following operational objectives:

advanced cybersecurity equipment, tools and data infrastructures, together with the EU Member States;
knowledge, capacity and skills related to cybersecurity, including best practices;
capabilities of the Member States and the private sector in support of the cybersecurity of network and information systems directive (Directive (EU) 2016/1148, to be repealed and replaced in October 2024 by Directive (EU) 2022/2555 – see summary);
resilience, risk awareness and at least basic levels of cybersecurity;
better coordination between the civilian and defence cybersecurity spheres.

Advanced digital skills (€507,347,000)

The programme supports the development of advanced digital skills to:

increase Europe’s talent pool;
bridge the digital divide and foster greater professionalism, especially in high-performance and cloud computing, big data analytics, cybersecurity, distributed ledger technologies (e.g. blockchain), quantum technologies, robotics and AI.

Operational objectives include high-quality short- and long-term courses, on-the-job training and work placements (as appropriate) for students and the workforce, in particular in SMEs and in the public sector.

Deployment and best use of digital capacity and interoperability (€1,002,217,000)

The programme supports the following objectives:

effective deployment of state-of-the-art digital technologies, such as HPC, AI and cybersecurity, by actors in the public sector and in areas of public interest, such as health and social care, education, the judiciary, customs, transport, mobility, energy, the environment and the cultural and creative sectors;
deployment and use of integrated and interoperable trans-European infrastructures and agreed digital standards in the public sector;
use of solutions and frameworks, including open-source solutions, by public administrations, businesses and citizens;
easy access to digital technology testing and piloting of digital technologies for the public sector and EU industry, particularly SMEs;
support for the uptake of advanced digital technologies, including HPC, AI, cybersecurity and blockchain, by the public sector and EU industry, particularly SMEs and start-ups;
ensuring continuous capacity at the EU level to lead digital development, along with observing, analysing and adapting to fast-evolving digital trends and sharing best practices;
building a future European ecosystem for trusted data sharing and digital infrastructures.

Semiconductors (€1,575,000,000)

The programme supports the following objectives:

building up advanced design capacities for integrated semiconductor technologies;
enhancing existing and developing new advanced pilot lines across the EU to enable the development and deployment of cutting-edge semiconductor technologies and next-generation semiconductor technologies;
building advanced technology and engineering capacities to accelerate the innovative development of cutting-edge quantum chips and associated semiconductor technologies;
establishing a network of competence centres across the EU by enhancing existing or creating new facilities;
undertaking activities, collectively known as ‘Chips Fund’ activities, to facilitate access to debt financing and equity, including by providing clear guidance, in particular for start-ups, scale-ups, SMEs and small mid-caps (companies with at least 250 but fewer than 1,500 employees) in the semiconductor value chain, through a blending facility under the InvestEU Fund and via the European Innovation Council, which was established under Horizon Europe.

A network of European digital innovation hubs will provide access to technological expertise for businesses – in particular SMEs – and public administrations. These hubs will bring together industry, businesses and administrations in need of new technological solutions and companies with market-ready solutions.

The programme involves co-financing from Member States and, when needed, from the private sector. Grants under the programme may cover up to 100% of the eligible costs.

The programme is also open to the participation of the following non-EU countries through association or partial association:

European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members who are members of the European Economic Area (EEA);
candidate countries and potential candidates;
European neighbourhood policy countries;
other non-EU countries by agreement.

Digital Europe is complementary to other programmes supporting the digital transition, such as Horizon Europe, which focuses on research and technological development, and the digital aspects of the Connecting Europe Facility.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 1 January 2021.

BACKGROUND

For further information, see:

The digital Europe programme (European Commission)
High performance computing (European Commission)
European approach to artificial intelligence (European Commission)
Cybersecurity in the digital Europe programme (European Commission)
Digital skills initiatives (European Commission).

KEY TERMS

Exascale. Next-generation computing systems capable of executing 10¹⁸ (10 to the power of 18) floating operations per second.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Regulation (EU) 2021/694 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2021 establishing the Digital Europe Programme and repealing Decision (EU) 2015/2240 (OJ L 166, 11.5.2021, pp. 1–34).

Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) 2021/694 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.