Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL)

Digital Europe Programme

Funds Europe-wide digital capability development in AI, cybersecurity, semiconductors, hardware, and IoT.

Eligibility · EU member states

The Digital Europe Programme (DEP) is the EU's deployment-focused digital funding instrument for 2021–2027, with a budget exceeding EUR 8.1 billion. It is distinct from Horizon Europe: while Horizon funds research and innovation, DEP funds deployment of proven digital capabilities and the building of advanced digital capacity across industry, public administration, and the broader economy. DEP is structured across five (now six) specific objectives: High-Performance Computing and supercomputing; Artificial Intelligence; Cybersecurity; Advanced Digital Skills; Deployment and Best Use of Digital Capacities (interoperability); and Semiconductors, added in September 2023 via the Chips Act. The programme is managed by HaDEA (the Health and Digital Executive Agency) under DG CNECT, with work programmes published periodically and calls administered via the SEDIA Funding and Tenders Portal.

Target applicants are broader than in most EU research programmes: industry, SMEs, and public administrations are all explicitly targeted, reflecting DEP's deployment mandate. The European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) network, co-funded through DEP, provides capacity-building and technology-testing support across all EU Member States and is often the first point of contact for SMEs assessing digital transformation funding. Eligible entities must be registered in EU Member States or DEP-associated countries. National Contact Points for Digital in each Member State provide free advisory support.

Call-specific award amounts, eligibility conditions, and deadlines are published in the Annual Work Programmes rather than at the programme level. DEP calls often support large-scale pilot deployments and pan-European infrastructure, so consortia spanning multiple Member States are common even when not formally required. Applicants in AI, HPC, or cybersecurity should cross-check DEP calls alongside Horizon Europe Pillar II Cluster 4 (Digital, Industry and Space) calls, as the two programmes are coordinated but serve different stages of the technology maturity spectrum.