The “Digital Horizons” event provided researchers and representatives of companies and public administration with information about upcoming funding opportunities in the digital domain offered by Horizon Europe, the EU’s framework programme for research and innovation, and Digital Europe, a new EU funding programme focused on bringing digital technology to businesses, citizens and public administrations. This was also an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, and gain insights from the experiences shared by guest speakers.
Horizon Europe funding opportunities
Horizon Europe, the EU’s framework programme for research and innovation, currently offers funding opportunities for various digital topics in Cluster 4. The deadline for submitting project proposals is 19 March 2024. The estimated budget for the projects to be funded exceeds €370 million and will support approximately 47 projects.
The calls for proposals cover a wide range of subjects, such as robotics, artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning, cloud-to-edge, quantum computing, nano technology, open source software and software engineering. During the event, participants were introduced to a selection of these topics, gaining insights into relevant policies and past initiatives.
Digital Europe: large-scale projects and digital skills
The Digital Europe Programme (DEP) offers funding for large-scale projects and the development of digital skills. The deadline for the current DEP call for proposals, which has an estimated budget of €194.5 million, is 26 September 2023. The subjects covered by the call include, for example, cloud, AI, the circular economy, digital twins and cybersecurity. During the event, participants received detailed information on selected topics, including the specific requirements and nuances relevant to those interested in participating in a DEP consortium.
The event also featured presentations from successful applicants in Luxembourg. Wei Gu, Service Innovation Leader, and Christophe Trefois, Technology Leader at the Luxembourg National Data Service (LNDS), shared their experience of securing funding for the LNDS through the DEP, while Moussa Ouedraogo, Head of Enterprise and Cybersecurity at Fujitsu Luxembourg, shared his Horizon Europe journey. These presentations provided valuable insights into establishing oneself as a key player in European funding.