EU launches new set of open calls under DIGITAL to boost innovative technologies' uptake, strengthen advanced digital skills
On 9 October 2025, the European Commission and HaDEA, the Commission’s Health and Digital Executive Agency, announced the 9th set of open calls under the Digital Europe Programme. A total of just over €204 million will go towards projects aiming to boost the deployment and uptake of key and innovative digital technologies throughout the EU Member States.
In the spotlight: funding for advanced digital skills under DIGITAL
The calls in this set opened on 4 November 2025, with a deadline set for 3 March 2026 at 17:00h CET. Two calls are explicitly focusing on fostering the development of advanced digital skills:
1. ELEVATE: European League of Advanced Digital Skills Academies (DIGITAL-2026-SKILLS-09-LEAGUE-OF-ACADEMIES): under this call, a coordinated European framework connecting initiatives in AI, cybersecurity, quantum, virtual worlds and semiconductors, will be established. By fostering synergies with other relevant EU initiatives on skills, like the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform, ELEVATE aims to streamline and boost efforts in key capacity areas and build a cohesive and collaborative ecosystem for advanced digital skills in Europe.
2. European Advanced Digital Skills Competitions (DIGITAL-2026-SKILLS-09-COMPETITIONS): focusing on the EU Advanced Digital Skills Competitions – an initiative meant to inspire and engage young Europeans when it comes to cutting-edge technologies. Through a series of 6 competitions in key topics for European technological sovereignty (AI, Virtual Worlds, Quantum, Semiconductors, Destination Earth and 1 additional area yet to be confirmed), the project aims to boost creativity, build collaboration networks between prospective students and research leaders, and address head on key societal and industrial challenges.
On 1 December 2025, join the European Commission, HaDEA and the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform for an online Info Day dedicated at the two calls. Register here.
Bolstering EU innovation: DIGITAL Europe 9th Call for Advanced Digital Skills
The nine calls under the Digital Europe Programme aim to support initiatives dedicated at unlocking AI’s potential, bolstering innovation in key sectors like health, automotive, or public services, supporting advanced digital skills development, and the roll-out of next-generation digital solutions in the public sphere. Future projects, funded under the calls, will help strengthen the advanced digital skills ecosystem in line with the 2030 Digital Decade targets and objectives of the EU Competitiveness Compass.
The new set of calls includes funding the development of the European Digital Identity Wallet and the launch of mobile driving licences in Europe, supporting the sharing of industrial data and a boost to biomedical research and tailored health care through the European Genomic Data Infrastructure. Funding will also go towards consolidating and completing the network of EU Digital Innovation Hubs, support measures for European business to digitalise operations, and boosting the deployment of AI-based solutions in medical imaging. Under the new set of calls, the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) gets an investment boost to combat disinformation; and the European Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Alliance (ECAVA)will receive funding to establish a secretariat and collaboration platform for innovation in the European automotive sector.
Further details on the calls and the application process is available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
Info Day for the 9th round of the Advanced Digital Skills Call for Proposals on 1 December: register now!
On 1 December 2025, the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform, on behalf of the European Commission, is organising the Info Day for the 9th Digital Europe Call for Advanced Digital Skills (DIGITAL-2026-SKILLS-09) under the Digital Europe Programme.
Find out more and register for the InfoDay via this link.
Make sure to also visit the Partner for Digital Skills Networking Group, where you can discuss the calls, network and find like-minded project partners.
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Our landing page on the DIGITAL Europe Programme gets updated with the latest details around open calls, information days on funding, and key developments. Bookmark it, or keep your eyes peeled for future updates!
