(*) Key achievements in the table state which period they relate to. Many come from the implementation of the predecessor programmes under the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework. This is expected and is due to the multiannual life cycle of EU programmes and the projects they finance, where results often follow only after completion of the programmes.
(1) Data spaces are digital environments where different types of data can be shared and used in a secure and controlled way. The idea is to make it easier for people to access and use data, while also protecting the privacy and security of that data. An example is health digital platforms where patients can access their own health data and also share it with doctors and researchers to improve healthcare outcomes and research, while also protecting patient privacy.
Budget for 2021-2027
(million EUR)
Financial programming | 6 637.5 |
NextGenerationEU |
|
Decommitments made available again (*) | N/A |
Contributions from other countries and entities | 61.8 |
Total budget 2021-2027 | 6 699.3 |
(*) Only Article 15(3) of the financial regulation.
Rationale and design of the programme
The digital Europe programme (DEP) is a new EU funding programme focused on bringing digital technology to businesses, citizens and public administrations. It provides strategic funding to face challenges in the area of digital technology and infrastructure, supporting projects in five key capacity areas: supercomputing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced digital skills and the wide use of digital technologies across the economy and society, including through digital innovation hubs.
Europe faces many challenges in the digital area, namely the following.
- The increasing global competition to control digital technologies will shape the world of tomorrow. Today European businesses, the public sector and researchers often have to look outside the EU to access the computing, data or artificial intelligence resources they need.
- Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of jobs in crucial digital areas go unfilled, hampering investment and innovation.
- Moreover, unless the EU improves its cybersecurity capabilities, its vital infrastructure and data are at risk.
- The uptake of digital technologies by European businesses, small and medium-sized enterprises and public administrations is very uneven. Unless the EU develops key digital capabilities, industries and skills, its open strategic autonomy and competitiveness are at stake.
Given the network effects of digitalisation (e.g. the need to promote EU interoperability and to reach critical mass in building state-of-the-art capacities), decisive action at the EU level is needed, with co-investments from Member States and the private sector.
The DEP supports the EU in the digital transformation of the economy and society and brings its benefits to all citizens and businesses. It focuses on:
- building essential capacities and advanced skills in key digital technologies, contributing to the EU’s open strategic autonomy;
- accelerating their deployment and making the best use of them in areas of public interest and the private sector.
Specific objective 1: high-performance computing
Specific objective 2: artificial intelligence
Specific objective 3: cybersecurity and trust
Specific objective 4: advanced digital skills
Specific objective 5: deployment and best use of digital capacities and interoperability
- High-performance computing. Deploy world-class exascale, post-exascale supercomputing and quantum computing capacities to ensure the widest access to and use of these capacities.
- Artificial intelligence. Deploy EU-wide common data spaces based on a cloud-to-edge federated infrastructure and promote the testing and adoption of artificial intelligence technologies with a European AI platform and world-class testing and experimentation facilities.
- Cybersecurity and trust. Build up advanced cybersecurity capabilities (equipment, tools and data infrastructures), including a quantum secure communication infrastructure for Europe. Promoting the sharing of best practices and ensuring a wide deployment of the state-of-the-art cybersecurity solutions across the European economy.
- Advanced digital skills. Boost academic excellence by increasing the education and training offer in key digital technologies, such as high-performance computing, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Training in these areas will be implemented through cooperation among tertiary education institutions, world-class research centres and innovative businesses.
- Adoption and best use of key digital technologies. Deploy a network of European digital innovation hubs supporting the digital transformation of European public and private organisations, addressing key societal challenges (e.g. environment and climate change) via high-impact deployments and reinforcing the European blockchain capacities and the digital transformation of public administrations and services through interoperability solutions while promoting an inclusive and trustworthy digital space.
The legal bases of the Regulation establishing the DEP are: Article(1) 173(3), focused on the EU’s industrial competitiveness, with regard to most of activities undertaken under this programme, and Article 172, notably with regard to the digital transformation of areas of public interest. The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the critical role of digital technologies and infrastructures. In light of the exponential development of digital technologies, the constant geopolitical shifts and the large public investments of global competitors in key digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence, supercomputing and cybersecurity, and in digital skills, no Member State acting alone can make critical investments in digital capacities at the scale required. Given the challenges ahead and the level of investments needed, the intervention at EU level is necessary in order to improve the competitiveness of Europe in the digital economy and reinforce its strategic autonomy.
The DEP’s actions are complemented by an array of regulatory measures aiming to eliminate barriers in several critical technological areas, for instance, to incentivise business-to-business and business-to-government data sharing in across the EU (Data Governance Act, Data Act), the creation of a safer and fairer online environment for users and businesses (Digital Services Act, Digital Markets Act) and the improvement of the level of security of network and information systems across the Union (NIS2 directive). Additionally, the Commission has adopted on 18/11/2022 a proposal for a Regulation (Interoperable Europe Act) (2) aiming at setting a shared governance to steer the development of interoperability between EU public administrations, and at improving the take-up of interoperable digital government solutions, by encouraging coordinated development and experimentation, and by increasing availability of and access to commonly accepted solutions.
In terms of management mode, for the specific objectives 2 –‘artificial intelligence’, 4 – ‘advanced digital skills’ and 5 – ‘deployment and best use of digital capacities and interoperability’, the Commission directly manages the programme, with the support in some of these areas from the Executive Agency for Health and Digitalisation. The specific objective 1- ‘high-performance computing’ is implemented primarily through the EuroHPC joint undertaking and the specific objective 3 ‘Cybersecurity and Trust’ will be implemented primarily through the European Cybersecurity Industrial, Technology and Research Competence Centre and the Cybersecurity Competence Network. Also through indirect management, Destination Earth is implemented by the European Space Agency, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, and the Investment Platform for Strategic Digital Technologies is implemented by the European Investment Fund and European Investment Bank.
The lead DG is DG Communications Networks, Content and Technology, with other DGs also involved.
(1) Legal service
(2) REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
laying down measures for a high level of public sector interoperability across the Union (Interoperable Europe Act), COM(2022) 720 final.
Although Digital Europe is a new programme, some of its activities target the sustainability and continuation of actions deployed under the previous multiannual financial framework.
In particular, the deployment of digital service infrastructures facilitating cross-border interoperability between public administrations, businesses and citizens was funded under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Telecom programme, while the actions in the ISA2 programme focussed on interoperability in public administration applications. Part of these solutions are now integrated within the scope of the DEP.
The programme also builds on results from successful projects funded under the Horizon 2020 programme, making it possible to move technologies such as HPC and Artificial Intelligence into large-scale deployments. The European high-performance computing strategy was implemented using funding from both Horizon 2020 and CEF programmes. Horizon 2020 supported artificial intelligence but focused on research and innovation and not on large-scale deployments. Against this background, the DEP closes the loop by building essential capacities, accelerating the deployment of key technologies and advanced digital skills.
Programme website:
Impact assessment:
- The impact assessment for the DEP was carried out in 2018.
For further information please consult: https://europa.eu/!BJ66th
Relevant regulation:
Budget
Budget programming (million EUR) (*):
2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Financial programming | 1 130.5 | 1 232.8 | 1 020.1 | 835.3 | 733.0 | 798.3 | 887.5 | 6 637.5 |
NextGenerationEU | ||||||||
Decommitments made available again (**) | N/A | N/A | ||||||
Contributions from other countries and entities | 30.5 | 31.3 | p.m. | p.m. | p.m. | p.m. | p.m. | 61.8 |
Total | 1 161.0 | 1 264.1 | 1 020.1 | 835.3 | 733.0 | 798.3 | 887.5 | 6 699.3 |
(*) The Chips act, which will be the future specific objective 6 of the DEP, is not integrated here and will be as soon as adopted.
(**) Only Article 15(3) of the financial regulation.
Financial programming (*):
- EUR 950.5 million (- 13%)
compared to the legal basis (**)
(*) The Chips act, which will be the future specific objective 6 of the DEP, is not integrated here and will be as soon as adopted.
(**) Top-ups pursuant to Art. 5 of the multiannual financial framework regulation are excluded from financial programming in this comparison.
The DEP’s original budget is EUR 7.5 billion covering five specific objectives over 2021-2027. From this budget, Digital Europe is reserving EUR 600 million of its budget for the Chips Act, (which the future specific objective 6 of the DEP will support) and in addition is transferring EUR 270 million to the secure connectivity programme.
Budget performance – implementation
Multiannual cumulative implementation rate at the end of 2022 (million EUR):
Implementation | Budget | Implementation rate | |
---|---|---|---|
Commitments | 2 423.4 | 6 699.3 | 36.2% |
Payments | 801.9 | 12.0% |
Annual voted budget implementation (million EUR) (1):
Commitments | Payments | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Voted budget implementation | Initial voted budget | Voted budget implementation | Initial voted budget | |
2021 | 1 129.1 | 1 129.6 | 23.8 | 104.8 |
2022 | 1 232.5 | 1 247.8 | 748.3 | 844.3 |
(1) Voted appropriations (C1) only.
The first set of work programmes of the DEP was adopted in November 2021. The programme consumed an important share of the available commitment appropriations. The first projects stemming from the calls for proposals covered in the first set of work programmes, is expected to start the implementation phase in early 2023, when the first payments can be performed as part of the pre-financing.
Three sets of calls for proposals were published after the adoption of the first set of work programmes. The calls covered topics in all work strands of the programme. These include:
the first steps towards the deployment of common data spaces built on innovative, secure and energy efficient cloud-to-edge capabilities, and the promotion of testing and the adoption of trustful artificial intelligence technologies with world-class testing and experimentation facilities;
- investments in the area of cybersecurity cover the deployment of a secure quantum communication infrastructure (EuroQCI), a network of national coordination centres with Member States fostering cross-border cooperation and support for cybersecurity in the health sector;
- education and training opportunities for the future experts in key capacity areas deployed by the programme;
- the establishment of the network of digital innovation hubs, the deployment of the European blockchain service infrastructure, support to the implementation of the European digital identity framework, the continuation of the investments in the previous financial framework for the safer internet network and the European digital media observatory and its network of hubs.
- The DEP is also contributing to the ‘Destination Earth’ initiative, aimed to develop a highly accurate digital model of the Earth on a global scale. This model will monitor, simulate and predict the interaction between natural phenomena and human activities. In 2022 started the deployment of the open core platform (user-friendly entry point for DestinE users, giving access to evidence-based decision-making tools, applications and services) and the first digital twins (digital replicas of the highly complex Earth systems).
- Various procurement actions have started implementation in continuity with the previous multiannual financial framework, especially in the area of e-government and interoperability. As most of the interoperability actions in 2021 and 2022 build on the work carried out under the predecessor programmes ISA2 and CEF Telecom, priority was given to the projects/actions that require business continuity, in particular interoperability tools (reference frameworks and architecture, specifications, software assets and services, eLearning) and community reach-out and building. In addition, the first call for the establishment of a GovTech Incubator ( designed to support the development of innovative digital solutions for use in government and public services) lead to the signature of a framework partnership agreement with a consortium formed by 20 partners from 14 Member States and associated countries.
The 2023-2024 work programmes aim to ensure continuity and sustainability of actions already started in 2021 and 2022. The main work programme continues to address climate and environment protection challenges through next phase in the evolution of the Destination Earth components (specific objective 1). Under specific objective 2, the support to sectorial data spaces, based on secure and energy-efficient federated cloud-to-edge infrastructure accessible across the EU, will continue. Furthermore, the work programme will support new high-impact activities, such as the establishment of an Exploitation Office for the broad dissemination of results stemming from forthcoming Important Project of Common European Interest on Next Generation Cloud and Edge Infrastructure and Services and the development of a cloud-based collaborative platform for the management of industrial programmes in the aeronautics and security sector. The work will continue to enable faster adoption of artificial intelligence technologies in Europe, in particular its wide usage by companies and small and medium-sized enterprises. Building on the smart communities data infrastructure, the work programme will develop the different layers of virtual reality / augmented reality worlds useful for communities as well as develop a platform for advanced virtual human twin models. Specific objective 4 will continue to support the specialised education programmes in key capacity areas and in particular for cybersecurity and semiconductors. The work programme will also intervene in earlier cycles of education to encourage young student and in particular girls to pursue digital studies and careers. In specific objective 5, the work programme will further invest in the uptake of blockchain and in building of efficient and interoperable digital public services, as well as in building confidence in digital transformation and developing reference framework addressing urgent needs in energy consumption.
The 2023-2024 cybersecurity work programme (specific objective 3) will continue to support joint actions in order to create an advanced threat detection and cyber incident analysis ecosystem by building capacities of national and cross-border Security Operation Centres and contribute to improving the prevention and response to large-scale cybersecurity incidents via Cybersecurity Emergency Mechanism. The incidence response part is covered under the specific objective 3 of the main work programme. The cybersecurity work programme will also support cybersecurity capacity building at national and, where relevant, regional and local levels through National Coordination Centres which will aim at fostering cross-border cooperation and at the preparation of joint actions as defined in the European Cybersecurity Industrial, Technology and Research Competence Centre and Network regulation, as well as support the industry with a strong focus on small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups complying with regulatory requirements, especially the NIS2 implementation, or requirements concerning the proposed Cyber Resilience Act.
Contribution to horizontal priorities
Green budgeting
Contribution to green budgeting priorities (million EUR):
Implementation | Estimates | Total contribution | % of the 2021–2027 budget | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | |||
Climate mainstreaming | 90.2 | 55.5 | 64.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 210.1 | 3% |
Biodiversity mainstreaming | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% |
Clean air | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% |
Several actions in the first work programmes are expected to make a contribution to climate mitigation or adaptation. This is mainly the case of the ‘Destination Earth’ initiative, which will develop a very high-precision digital model of the Earth to enable the visualisation, monitoring and forecasting of natural and human activity on the planet. This will allow us to be better prepared to respond to major natural disasters, adapt to climate change and predict its socioeconomic impact. A small number of other actions – such as the Digital Product Passport, an information system that provides data on a product's sustainability and environmental impact throughout its lifecycle, from design to disposal, currently under development and financed by the DEP – are expected to have a non-marginal positive contribution to climate mitigation or adaptation objectives. The work programme for 2024 is subject to an amendment which will establish the budget allocation for each action and which will determine the climate contribution for this year. The climate contributions after 2024 will depend on the actions to be funded in subsequent work programmes.
The programme will deliver digital solutions and contribute to closing the digital skills gap and is not expected to make a direct contribution to biodiversity or clean air. During the implementation of the programme, this ex ante assessment will be revised should specific projects make a tangible contribution to these horizontal priorities that could not be anticipated at the start of the implementation.
Gender
Contribution to gender equality (million EUR) (*):
Gender score | 2021 | 2022 | Total |
---|---|---|---|
0* | 1 129.1 | 1 232.5 | 2 361.6 |
(*) Based on the applied gender contribution methodology, the following scores are attributed at the most granular level of intervention possible:
- 2: interventions the principal objective of which is to improve gender equality;
- 1: interventions that have gender equality as an important and deliberate objective but not as the main reason for the intervention;
- 0: non-targeted interventions (interventions that are expected to have no significant bearing on gender equality);
- 0*: score to be assigned to interventions with a likely but not yet clear positive impact on gender equality.
- In line with the Commission’s methodology to track gender-equality-related expenditure, the programme has been attributed a score of 0*, which means that the programme’s impact on gender will be determined ex post once sufficient information from the programming and implementation phase is available. The contribution from Digital Europe to gender equality in the first set of work programmes may be relevant for the training initiatives to promote advanced digital skills organised under specific objective 4, in line with Article 7 of the digital Europe regulation according to which gender balance should be taken into account. The 2021-2022 work programme states that the specialised education programmes, while mainly focusing on excellence, should also address the gender gap. Should the implementation of the abovementioned actions in specific objective 4 entail a contribution, this will be reflected in the respective programme performance statement.
Digital
Contribution to digital transition (million EUR):
2021 | 2022 | Total | % of the total 2021-2027 implementation | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Digital contribution | 1 159.6 | 1 263.8 | 2 423.4 | 100% |
- The full envelope of the DEP contributes to the digital transition. The contribution is thus 100% of the budget committed in a given year.
Budget performance – outcomes
Baseline | Progress (*) | Target | Results | Assessment | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
High-performance computing infrastructures jointly procured | 7 | 0% | 12 in 2022 | 7 compared to a target of 12 | On track |
Co-investment in sites for experimentation and testing | 0 | 0% | 275 million in 2027 | 0 compared to a target of 275 million | On track |
Usage of common European libraries or interfaces to libraries of algorithms, usage of common European data spaces and usage of sites for experimentation and testing related to activities under this regulation | 0 | 0% | 700 in 2030 | 0 compared to a target of 700 | On track |
Users and communities getting access to European cybersecurity facilities | 0 | 0% | 300 in 2028 | 0 compared to target of 300 | On track |
Persons who have received training to acquire advanced digital skills | 0 | 0% | 133 600 in 2027 | 0 compared to a target of 133 600 | On track |
People reporting an improved employment situation after the end of the training supported by the programme | 0 | 0% | 66 800 in 2027 | 0 compared to a target of 66 800 | On track |
Extent of alignment of the national interoperability framework with the European interoperability framework | 3.750 | 0% | 3.775 in 2025 | 3.750 compared to a target of 3.775 | Moderate progress |
Businesses and public sector entities that have used the European digital innovation hubs' services | 0 | 0% | 57 600 in 2027 | 0 compared to a target of 57 600 | On track |
(*) % of target achieved by the end of 2021.
Link to file with complete set of EU core performance indicators
- Implementation is on track, as the procedures to achieve the milestones for the upcoming years are being implemented. In specific objective 1, for instance, the procurement of HPC infrastructures is ongoing to ensure that the supercomputers are available to stakeholders. In 2022, three calls for expression of interest were launched to further deploy the supercomputing and quantum infrastructure in the EU. In addition, the procurement of the third precursor-to-exascale supercomputer MARENOSTRUM V was finalised and the tender awarded. This EuroHPC joint undertaking system will be a top-of-the-range supercomputer, with a peak performance of 314 petaflops, or 314 million billion calculations per second. This supercomputer will be specifically tailored to strengthen European medical research through drug research, the development of vaccines, virus spread simulations and artificial intelligence and big data processing applications. In addition, one petascale system and one pre-exascale system were upgraded.
- In specific objective 2, the first calls that will enable the usage of data spaces, testing and experimentation facilities, the cloud-to-edge marketplace and an artificial-intelligence-on-demand platform have been published and evaluated, and the actual implementation of the projects started in Q4 2022 and Q1 2023. First data will be available as of 2024, when infrastructures start to be operational.
- In specific objective 3, the procedures required to launch the actions that will procure cybersecurity infrastructures and tools are on track. Most projects implemented via grants or joint procurement will start implementation in early 2024. As it takes approximately 3 years to develop such advanced infrastructures, the target can only be expected to be fully met when the projects are completed.
- The first call in 2021 that launched the implementation of training for advanced digital skills in specific objective 4 was concluded and evaluated, and the respective contracts/grant agreements were signed, with first projects to be implemented in Q1 2023. The calls launched in 2022 have been closed; the evaluation is ongoing and the indicative start of the projects is set for early 2024.
- The procedures to launch the actions to set up the initial network of European digital innovation hubs in specific objective 5 are on track, as grant procedures are currently being finalised and the majority of projects establishing the initial network of hubs have recently started implementation.
- As the DEP is a co-funding programme, the investments from the EU budget need to be matched by Member States. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and inflation have affected the national plans for public spending, which needed to reprioritise investments and support to other areas. This slightly impacted some calls, especially where the contribution needed from Member States was more considerable. Such is the case, for instance, for the joint procurement for HPC infrastructure in specific objective 1.
- Given the success of the procurement and deployment of EuroHPC supercomputers – which are now among the best in the world (e.g. Lumi, the fastest supercomputer in Europe and third fastest in the world, which is fully powered by renewable energy) – in the previous multiannual financial framework by the EuroHPC joint undertaking, this activity strand is expected to continue to deploy a world-leading data infrastructure and related services.
MFF 2014-2020 – CEF Telecom
CEF Telecom supported from 2014 to 2020 the deployment of an ecosystem of trusted cross-border digital service infrastructures (1) that are essential to triggering the digital transformation of public sector services in the Member States, all for the benefit of citizens and businesses.
(1) Europeana, e-identification, e-signature, e-delivery, e-invoicing, e-archiving, public open data, automated translation, cybersecurity, eProcurement, business registers interconnection system, eHealth, electronic exchange of social security information, the European e-Justice portal, European digital media observatory, European platform on digital skills and jobs, online dispute resolution, safer internet, EU student e-card and blockchain.
Budget implementation
- With an overall investment of almost EUR 280 million in the core service platforms, the Commission enabled the EU-wide interoperability of specific digital services such as eHealth, public open data, e identification and cybersecurity. With an EU contribution of almost EUR 365 million in generic services and an overall leveraged amount of more than EUR 528 million, the uptake of these services with CEF support reached a portfolio of 735 projects in the Member States and participating countries in the European Economic Area by the end of 2021. The last grant agreements under CEF Telecom were signed in 2021. Nearly one third of the total portfolio of projects are under implementation due to the duration of the actions funded by the programme, which go up to 4 years. CEF digital services support EU citizens, businesses and public administrations in interconnecting and adapting their systems to become interoperable across borders.
- The cumulative implementation table for CEF Telecom can be found in the CEF programme statement.
Performance assessment
- The deployment of the digital service infrastructures has been marked by a considerable expansion of the ecosystem, going from eight digital service infrastructures in the first working programme to 20 in the last one. As a matter of fact, the programme started supporting interoperability in a limited set of areas such as e-government, cybersecurity and the cultural sector. Over the years, the programme started enabling, through various solutions, interoperability in other areas such as health, justice, social security, education and skills, to name a few.
- The digital service infrastructures implemented under CEF Telecom contribute to EU preparedness to deal with cyberthreats and incidents, encompassing the need for well-resourced Member State computer security incident response teams and swift and effective operational cooperation between them. Their operational cooperation is facilitated by interacting with the core service platform co-operation mechanism of the cybersecurity digital service infrastructures, MeliCERTes, which supports information sharing, facilitates a shared understanding of artefacts, threats and incidents, provides secure communications and enhances the exchange of data between them. As from 2019, an additional cooperation mechanism to facilitate the creation of European-level information sharing and analysis centres has been set up.
- Another example is the eHealth digital service infrastructure, which facilitates the movement of health data across national borders, ensuring the continuity of care and the safety of citizens seeking healthcare outside their home country, and enabling the pooling of EU-wide medical expertise to treat rare diseases. To date, 117 projects for eHealth have been deployed in all Member States with an overall funding of EUR 29 million.
- An overview of the performance of the actions deployed with the support of the CEF Telecommunications programme is available here. This data will feed into the ex post evaluation of the programme.
Sustainable development goals
Contribution to the sustainable development goals
SDGs the programme contributes to | Example |
---|---|
SDG3 Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages |
The DEP is expected to contribute to this SDG through the support provided for the digitalisation of the health sector, in particular through the uptake of digital health solutions and services. |
SDG4 Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all |
The DEP will promote learning opportunities in advanced digital skills in key capacity areas like data and artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and HPC. The support will target training opportunities for the future experts as well as upskilling of the existing workforce through short trainings reflecting the latest developments in the abovementioned key capacity areas. An example of such investment would be the ‘Specialised educational programmes in key capacity areas’ with a total support from EU 2021 and 2022 budget of EUR 122 million. In the first call (EUR 70 million) 8 beneficiaries have been selected to design and deliver higher education programme at ISCED LEVEL 7 to promote advanced digital skills. |
SDG8 Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all |
The DEP is expected to contribute in bridging the investment gap in Europe and to generate jobs and economic growth. The programme will support the promotion of the advanced digital skills needed for the deployment of the technologies funded by the programme. An example of such investment would be the ‘Short-term training courses in key capacity areas’ with a total support from EU 2021 and 2022 budget of EUR 25 million. In the second call, 12 beneficiaries have been selected to organise short term training courses for up to 6 months. |
SDG9 Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation |
The DEP will contribute to the broader digital transformation of areas of public interest and of industry. The acquisition and deployment of advanced supercomputing capabilities aim to enhance Europe’s industrial competitiveness. Moreover, the reinforced network of European digital innovation hubs will contribute to the digitisation of industry and address issues of technological accessibility, ensuring that businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises, have access to cutting-edge technologies and finance for adapting to digital change. The deployment of cross-border interoperable digital solutions, will enhance collaboration between European Public administrations. An example of such investment would be in the setup of the network of digital innovation hubs with a total support from EU 2021-2023 budget of EUR 321 million. 150 beneficiaries receive funding in the first and second calls to establish a network of digital innovation hubs. |
SDG13 Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts |
A small number of actions under the DEP will make a contribution to climate mitigation or adaptation. For example, Destination Earth with support from EU budget 2021-2023 of EUR 150 million will contribute through the development of a very high precision digital model of the Earth to enable visualising, monitoring and forecasting natural and human activity on the planet in support of sustainable development. The Destination Earth initiative will be implemented via Contribution Agreements by the European Space Agency, the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts and the European Operational Satellite Agency for Monitoring Weather, Climate and the Environment from Space. |
SDG16 Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels |
Selected actions under the DEP as well as the legacy solutions deployed in the context of CEF Telecommunications Programmes aim to enlarge and maximise the benefits of the digital transformation for citizens and businesses. Contribution to this SDG is expected from selected topics that aim to support the digitalization and interoperability of public administrations, piloting of AI applications in law enforcement domain, as well as the digital transformation of Justice and consumer protection. The digital transformation of public administrations shall foster trust in online services, improve the service delivery and the convenience of services for European businesses and citizens, and reduce digital administrative barriers. An example of such investment would be in the work strands supporting the digitalisation of justice and consumer protection implemented via procurement under the first work programme, which sum up to a support from EU 2021 and 2022 budget of EUR 17 million. |