Example of a possible multi-country project

The EU could deploy a network of security operations centres, powered by artificial intelligence, to anticipate, detect and respond to cyber attacks at national and EU level. Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice President for a Digital Europe, said:

“Through the Digital Europe Programme, we are building secure and sustainable digital infrastructures. We are also enabling businesses to get better access to data or to use solutions based on artificial intelligence. The programme also invests in ensuring that Europeans can acquire the skills needed to participate in the labour market. The aim is that everyone in Europe – citizens, businesses and administrations – can benefit from technological solutions that can be announced soon.”

Thierry Breton, Internal Market Commissioner, added:

“Europe’s digital decade has begun. By 2030, data, cloud and edge computing, as well as quantum computing, will drive innovation in industry and society, creating new business models. The €2 billion of investment announced today will enable European companies of all sizes, including start-ups, to seize the opportunities offered by rapidly growing markets. It will also equip Europe’s citizens with the skills they need to succeed in a secure digital environment. This will strengthen our technological sovereignty.”

The Commission will therefore invest nearly €2 billion to strengthen technological sovereignty and the implementation of digital solutions. To do this, it has set up 3 programmes: a main one and, in parallel, a programme on cybersecurity and a third one will concern European digital innovation clusters.

The first work programme

The main work programme will have an allocation of €1.38 billion and will focus on investments in artificial intelligence, cloud and data spaces, quantum communication infrastructures, advanced digital skills and the wider use of digital technologies throughout the economy and society, until the end of 2022.

This core programme for a digital Europe will bring investments in various areas:

• the deployment of common data spaces that facilitate data sharing at European level for enterprises (including SMEs and start-ups) and for the public sector, as well as the implementation of cloud and cloud-to-edge infrastructures and federating services that will form the backbone of digital solutions ensuring the security of data flows.
• the creation of testing and experimentation facilities for AI-based solutions to boost the use of trusted AI (including by SMEs and start-ups) and to address major societal challenges, including climate change and health.
• Deploying a secure quantum communication infrastructure for the EU (EuroQCI) that is highly resilient to cyber attacks.
• the creation and organisation of Masters courses in advanced digital technologies essential for strengthening Europe’s digital skills
• the creation, operation and ongoing evolutionary maintenance of digital services promoting cross-border interoperability of solutions supporting public administrations (through the European Digital Identity).

A cyber security work programme

This programme, with a budget of €269 million by the end of 2022, provides for the development of advanced cybersecurity equipment, tools and data infrastructure.

In addition to developing and better using cybersecurity knowledge and skills, it promotes the sharing of good practice and enables large-scale deployment of advanced cybersecurity solutions across the EU.

A third programme on the European Digital Innovation Clusters network

A network of European Digital Innovation Poles is essential to achieve all these objectives: a budget of €329 million will be devoted to it. It will provide access to technology experimentation and support the digital transformation of private and public organisations in the EU.

The European Digital Innovation Poles are an important tool for EU policies, in particular industrial policy and SME and start-up policy, to support businesses and the public sector in the dual green and digital transition.