The European Commission has announced spending totalling €1.3 billion to further the development and deployment of critical technologies within the European digital ecosystem. AI and digital ID have become foundational new technologies forming the backbone of modern societies. The Digital Europe Programme (Digital) Work Programme focuses particularly on the immersion of artificial intelligence in society and upstarting new AI businesses to compete with growth on a global scale. As the competitiveness of AI innovation continues to ramp up, the DIGITAL work programme’s key priorities are to enhance availability and accessibility of generative AI applications, for example branching out to the health care sector.
Available funding will be funnelled into curating AI “virtual realities”, implementing the AI Act and supporting Innovation Hubs – a network of companies and the public sector with the technical expertise to advise on the adoption of AI models.
These measures are key to supporting the EU’s goals of creating more AI “factories”, meaning enabling generative AI models for businesses or a growth of AI start-ups. AI can help boost cyber resilience against attacks. The EU is eager to keep innovating AI defences to eclipse AI-powered fraud. In addition, The technical capabilities of AI will help facilitate the new EU Digital Identity Wallet architecture and the European Trust Infrastructure, as well as promoting its adoption in Member States.
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy said “Securing European tech sovereignty starts with investing in advanced technologies and in making it possible for people to improve their digital competences”. Digital skills will be taught in EU education and training institutions with additional funding and attract more talent to join workforces.
“With the opportunities under the Digital Europe Programme, we are ensuring that new technologies – and with them new potential – reach European citizens, businesses and public administrations”.
