The European Commission launched this Tuesday, February 22 the second round of calls for proposals of the program "For a digital Europe" after having adopted three work programs on November 10, 2021 and launched the first calls at the end of the same month. The calls are open to companies, organizations and public administrations from EU Member States, EFTA/EEA countries, as well as entities from other countries associated with the program. 292 million euros will be invested in digital technologies and cyber security. The Council of the EU approved on March 16, 2021 the new program "For a digital Europe". This program aims to stimulate digital transformation by providing funding for the deployment of cutting-edge technologies in crucial areas such as artificial intelligence, high-performance computing and cybersecurity. The first EU funding program focused on bringing digital technology to businesses and citizens, it has a budget of €7.5 billion over 7 years (2021-2027) and aims to accelerate economic recovery through the digital transformation of European society and economy, benefiting in particular small and medium-sized enterprises. The Digital Europe program is implemented through multi-annual work programs. Margrethe Vestager, executive vice president for a digital Europe, said:
"With the Digital Europe program, we are building secure and sustainable digital infrastructures. We are also enabling businesses to have better access to data or to use artificial intelligence-based solutions. The program also invests in ensuring that Europeans can acquire the right skills to actively participate in the labor market. The goal is that everyone in Europe - citizens, businesses and administrations - can benefit from market-ready technology solutions."

The 3 work programs

  • The main work program, worth €1.38 billion, brings investments in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI), cloud and data spaces, quantum communication infrastructure, advanced digital skills and the broad use of digital technologies in the economy and society, until the end of 2022.
  • The second focuses on funding in the field of cybersecurity , with a budget of 269 million euros until the end of 2022 ;
  • The third is for the establishment and operation of the network of European Digital Innovation Hubs and has a budget of 329 million euros, until the end of 2023.

The first series of calls

The first round of calls invested 415 million euros in cloud infrastructure at the edge, data spaces, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum communication infrastructure. This funding was also intended to participate in improving people's digital skills and implementing projects securing the Internet, fighting against child abuse and misinformation, until the end of 2022. The first call for proposals also aimed to set up and deploy the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) network to support private companies, including SMEs and start-ups, and the public sector in their digital transformation.

292 million in funding for the second round of calls

More than €249 million will be invested in several areas: data spaces, European blockchain infrastructures, training courses for advanced digital skills, digital solutions for better public services, pilot projects for using artificial intelligence (AI) to fight crime, and AI test facilities. This will allow AI to be tested for manufacturing, food, health and smart communities. In addition, a €43 million grant investment will support cybersecurity in the health sector and the deployment of a network of centers to help member states implement relevant EU cybersecurity legislation. The deadline to respond to this second round of calls for proposals is May 17, 2022. More information on the grant applications is available online. Further calls under the Digital Europe program are planned for the summer of 2022. Translated from La Commission Européenne lance les seconds appels à propositions du programme « Pour une Europe numérique »

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