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The European Union has announced a substantial funding of € 85 million to drive research in data and computing technologies, catalysing innovation in artificial intelligence (AI). One topic funds innovation in artificial intelligence (AI)-powered data operations resulting in bias-free AI systems and services. It will also invest in large-scale pilot projects that will support industrial Internet of Things (IoT) platforms as well as next generation edge computing technologies that can be used in key applications and industries.
A further € 206 million will fund research projects into technologies that will fuel Europe’s digital and technological competitiveness, and that contribute to the objectives of the European Green Deal.
€ 60 million of this will invest in research in AI and data solutions to support the objectives of the European Green Deal, for example with research projects that use robotics data and AI solutions to optimise energy and resources in production value chains.
€ 76 million of this will be invested in research in areas such as AI, data, and robotics, with research projects that will allow robots perform non-repetitive tasks in everyday settings and see the wider integration of robots in industry and society. Other research projects will use AI and data to make software development faster and easier and make the resulting software secure and be able to work well on different devices. Funding will also be available for research in projects looking into using photonics technologies to improve the quality of communication networks, as well as the establishment of a “photonics innovation factory” to help speed up the use of photonics technologies within European industry.
The remaining € 70 million will invest in projects such as the development of cloud to edge servers which will help to bring about a full European open cloud and edge computing architecture. Another project dedicated to the integration of two-dimensional (2D) materials within semi-conductor technologies as well as maturing progress in quantum sensing technologies to prepare them for market. This funding will also see the creation of annual European awards for open-source software and hardware contributors.
More information as regards the areas of activity for these calls (HORIZON-CL4-2024-DIGITAL-EMERGING-01-CNECT, HORIZON-CL4-2024-DIGITAL-EMERGING-01, and HORIZON-CL4-2024-DATA-01) is available in the 2023-2024 Horizon Europe Digital, Industry, and Space work programme.
More information as regards applying for grants for these calls for proposals