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EU programme guide

Digital Europe Programme

Open-call snapshot checked 2026-04-18

The Digital Europe Programme is the EU's funding programme for deploying digital technology, with a budget of around €7.5 billion for 2021-2027. Unlike Horizon Europe, it funds capacity-building and deployment rather than research.

Budget period 2021-2027
Total budget ~€7.5 billion
Focus Deployment, not research
Typical co-funding Often around 50%

What the Digital Europe Programme funds

The programme concentrates on five areas: high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced digital skills, and the wide deployment and best use of digital capacities across the economy and public sector.

It funds putting proven technology to work — testing and experimentation facilities, European Digital Innovation Hubs, reference data spaces, and large-scale deployment projects — rather than early-stage research.

Who is eligible

Companies, public administrations, and other organisations established in eligible countries can take part. Some calls are restricted on security grounds, particularly in cybersecurity, and call documents state any ownership-control conditions.

Co-funding rates are commonly around 50% for many actions, with higher rates for some coordination and procurement actions. Each call topic sets its own rate.

How it compares with Horizon Europe

A useful rule of thumb: if the work is about discovering or proving something new, it points to Horizon Europe; if it is about deploying or scaling something that already works, it points to Digital Europe. Many digital companies are eligible for both, for different parts of their roadmap.

Open Digital Europe Programme calls

These Digital Europe Programme calls are open in the current index snapshot, soonest deadline first. fundingme.eu tracks the EU Funding & Tenders Portal continuously — run a free match to see everything open today and how your company fits.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Digital Europe Programme for research?

No. Digital Europe funds deployment and capacity-building — putting mature digital technology into wide use. Research and technology development are funded by Horizon Europe instead.

Can a company apply to the Digital Europe Programme?

Yes. Companies of all sizes can participate, often alongside public bodies and other organisations. Some cybersecurity-related calls apply additional security and ownership conditions set out in the call text.

What co-funding rate does Digital Europe offer?

Many actions are co-funded at around 50% of eligible costs, though some coordination, support, and procurement actions use higher rates. The applicable rate is always stated in the specific call.

Digital Europe Programme by sector

EU grants for AI companies AI companies in Europe can access EU grant funding mainly through Horizon Europe (for research and innovation), the Digital Europe Programme (for AI deployment and testing facilities), and the EIC Accelerator (for breakthrough single-company innovation). EU grants for deeptech companies Deeptech companies can access EU grant funding mainly through the EIC Accelerator (for single-company breakthrough innovation), Horizon Europe (for collaborative research and innovation), and Eurostars (for SME-led international R&D projects). EU grants for dual-use & defence companies Dual-use and defence-technology companies can access EU funding through the European Defence Fund (for collaborative defence research and capability development) and, for civil applications of the same technology, through Horizon Europe and the Digital Europe Programme.

Other EU funding programmes

Horizon Europe Horizon Europe is the European Union's main research and innovation funding programme for 2021-2027, with a budget of around €93.5 billion. EIC Accelerator The EIC Accelerator is the European Innovation Council's flagship scheme for single startups and small companies. Eurostars Eurostars is a funding programme for research-and-development-performing SMEs that lead international collaborative innovation projects. LIFE Programme The LIFE Programme is the European Union's dedicated funding instrument for environment and climate action, with a budget of around €5.4 billion for 2021-2027. Innovation Fund The Innovation Fund is one of the world's largest funding programmes for the demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies. European Defence Fund The European Defence Fund supports collaborative defence research and capability development across the EU, with a budget of around €8 billion for 2021-2027. EU4Health EU4Health is the European Union's funding programme for health, with a budget of around €5.3 billion for 2021-2027.