Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL)
The Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) is an EU funding program focused on bringing digital technologies to businesses, citizens and governments. This program provides strategic funding to address digital technology and infrastructure challenges, supporting projects in six key capability areas: supercomputing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced digital skills and the broad use of digital technologies in the economy and society, including through digital innovation hubs. The Chips Act added a new specific objective, promoting Europe's leadership in semiconductor technologies and applications.
Why is DIGITAL so important?
Europe faces many challenges in the digital field:
- Increasing global competition to master digital technologies will shape tomorrow's world. European companies, the public sector and researchers often have to look outside the EU for the computing power, data or AI resources they need.
- Hundreds of thousands of jobs in crucial digital sectors remain unfilled, hampering investment and innovation.
- Without improving cybersecurity capabilities, vital infrastructures and data are at risk.
- The adoption of digital technologies by European companies, SMEs and public authorities is very uneven. If the EU does not develop key capabilities, industries and skills, its open strategic autonomy and competitiveness are at stake.
- Given the network effects of digitization (e.g. the need to promote EU interoperability and achieve critical mass in building advanced capabilities), decisive action is needed at EU level, with co-investment from Member States and the private sector.
Mission of the Digital Europe Program:
The DIGITAL program supports the EU in the digital transformation of the economy and society, bringing the benefits to all citizens and businesses. It focuses on:
- Building essential capabilities and advanced skills in key digital technologies, contributing to the EU's open strategic autonomy.
- Accelerating the deployment and best use of these technologies in both public and private sectors.
Specific Objectives:
- Supercomputing: Implementing world-class exascale and post-exascale supercomputing and quantum computing capabilities.
- Artificial intelligence: leveraging EU-wide common data spaces and promoting the adoption of AI technologies.
- Cybersecurity and Trust: Building advanced cybersecurity capabilities and developing a quantum-secure communications architecture for Europe.
- Advanced digital skills: Strengthen academic excellence by increasing the supply of education and training in key technologies.
- Adoption and optimal use of digital capabilities and interoperability: Deploying a network of European digital innovation hubs to support digital transformation.
- Semiconductors: develop advanced design capabilities and pilot lines for semiconductor technologies, and establish a network of competence centers.
What about EDIH North Netherlands?
The European Digital Innovation Hub North Netherlands (EDIH NN) is part of a strengthened network of European Digital Innovation Hubs, supported by the DIGITAL program. These hubs help industries, SMEs and governments in their digital transformation. By offering digital technologies and expertise, EDIH NN plays a crucial role in stimulating innovation and strengthening digital resilience in the Northern Netherlands.
Concrete examples of achievements:
- Supercomputers: 3 supercomputers acquired and fully operational by 2023, and among the top 10 most powerful and energy-efficient supercomputers in the world.
- Digital Innovation Hubs: 151 hubs were set up in all EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. By the end of 2023, hub services were available in 90% of European regions.
- AI Testing Facilities: 4 specialized testing and experimentation facilities for AI established by 2023 in the sectors of agrifood, healthcare, manufacturing and smart cities/communities.
For more information on the Digital Europe Program visit the official EU page on the program.