The European Union (EU) supports the digital transformation of public administrations through various funding programmes. Here’s an overview of how the funding works, who funds what, and who the stakeholders are for key programmes:
- Digital Europe Programme (DEP) supports the development of digital infrastructure and skills, focusing on public administration efficiency and accessibility.
- Horizon Europe funds research and innovation projects to advance digital technologies and public services.
- Interreg promotes regional cooperation to enhance digital connectivity and innovation in public services.
- Technical Support Instrument (TSI) offers tailored technical support for designing and implementing digital reforms in public administrations.
- Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) improves digital networks and infrastructure, enhancing public administration services and connectivity.
Each programme contributes uniquely to the digital transformation of public administrations, supporting EU objectives of sustainable growth, competitiveness, and cohesion. For more detailed information, visit the European Commission's dedicated pages for these programmes.
Digital Europe Programme (DEP)
- Funding Source: The DEP is funded by the EU budget, with €7.6 billion allocated for 2021-2027.
- Stakeholders: Public administrations, industry, and research communities involved in digital transformation.
- Objectives: DEP aims to strengthen Europe’s digital capabilities by funding projects that develop digital infrastructure, enhance cybersecurity, and promote advanced digital skills. It supports public administrations in deploying AI, high-performance computing, and digital public services to improve efficiency and accessibility
Funding opportunities
- Objective: The action focuses on pilot implementations of the EU Digital Identity Wallet and its ecosystem by public and private sector service providers validating technical references, standards, components and solutions. It regards new use cases for exchanging digital attestations of attributes and identity credentials by means of a personalised digital wallet. These activities could also include innovative technical solutions based on electronic ledgers such as those developed by EBSI where the use of blockchain is assessed as adding value.
- Type of action: DIGITAL-SIMPLE DIGITAL Simple Grants
- Beneficiaries: Public or private bodies established in EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)) and listed EEA countries and countries associated to the Digital Europe Programme.
- Opening date: 14 May 2024
- Closing date: 24 September 2024 17:00:00 Brussels time
- More Information: Click here
- Objective: GovTech4All brings together 21 leading GovTech organizations from 14 European countries to establish a cohesive GovTech ecosystem and market. Through innovative approaches like startup challenges and forward-looking procurement, the initiative aims to revolutionize public sector technology. GovTech4All drives cross-border GovTech incubators and focuses on three key pilots: securing cross-border data, assisting citizens with digital benefits, and innovating public procurement.
- Type of action: Specific Grant Agreement under the Framework Partnership Agreement under the Digital Europe Work Programme 2023-2024.
- Beneficiaries: Government agencies: To benefit from such an opportunity, government agencies must be formally part of the Framework Partnership Agreement established for the incubator (Contact the Lisbon Council, coordinator of the initiative at: govtech4all@lisboncouncil.net). Start-ups: Through an innovative procurement method, startups will have the chance to tackle real-world challenges by participating in pilots.
- Opening date: It is permanently open for national digital agencies to join.
- More information: Click here
Horizon Europe
- Funding Source: Horizon Europe is the EU’s main funding programme for research and innovation, with over €95 billion for 2021-2027.
- Stakeholders: Researchers, universities, research organizations, SMEs, public authorities, and private sector entities.
- Objectives: Horizon Europe promotes scientific excellence and innovation, addressing societal challenges and fostering economic growth. It supports projects that advance digital technologies, enhance public services, and improve administrative processes.
Technical Support Instrument (TSI)
- Funding Source: TSI is funded through the EU budget under DG REFORM, with a focus on supporting structural reforms.
- Stakeholders: National and regional authorities of EU Member States, experts from Member States' administrations, international organisations, private firms, and consultants.
- Objectives: TSI provides tailored technical expertise to help Member States design and implement digital reforms. It supports projects that enhance digital governance, modernise public administration, and improve public service delivery through the adoption of digital technologies.
Funding opportunities
- Objective: Support Member States’ public administrations in capacity-building for Europe’s Digital Decade by strengthening their interoperability (in line with the Interoperable Europe Act) and make them ready to safely and trustworthily integrate AI technologies into their operations.
- Type of action: ComPAct - Pillar II - Capacity for Europe's Digital Decade
- Beneficiaries: Any authority in a Member State – national, regional or local – can submit a request for technical support.
- Opening date: 24th April 2024
- Closing date: 31 October 2024
- More information: Click here. Join the ComPAct conference on 27/06/2024 to understand how it can support Member States.
Interreg
- Funding Source: Interreg is financed through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and other EU instruments.
- Stakeholders: Regional and local authorities, public bodies, NGOs, and businesses.
- Objectives: Interreg promotes cross-border, transnational, and interregional cooperation. It funds projects that enhance digital connectivity and innovation in public administrations, facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing across regions to address common challenges and improve public service delivery.
Funding opportunities
There are no open funding opportunities at the moment - for more information visit Interregeurope.eu
Connecting Europe Facility (CEF)
- Funding Source: CEF is funded by the EU budget, with €33.7 billion for 2021-2027.
- Stakeholders: Public authorities, infrastructure operators, and private entities in the transport, energy, and digital sectors.
- Objectives: CEF aims to enhance EU connectivity and infrastructure by funding projects that develop and modernize digital networks. It supports public administrations in deploying high-speed broadband, digital public services, and secure digital infrastructures to improve administrative efficiency and citizen engagement
Funding opportunities
There are no open funding opportunities at the moment - for more information visit Interregeurope.eu
Procurements
European Innovation Procurement Awards 2024-2025
- Description: The contest is open NOW to apply for the European Innovation Procurement Awards. Are you a public or private buyer that has purchased the development or the deployment of an innovative solution? Are you a buyer or policy maker that has setup an innovation procurement initiative that triggers several innovation procurements in your organisation, city, region or country? Apply before 26 September, win one of these European prizes and go home with 75.000 Euros prize money!
- Category: Awards
- Target audience: public or private buyer
- Deadline: 26/09/2024
- More information
Research and development services and related consultancy services – Benchmarking of national innovation procurement policies and investments
- Description: This procurement aims to benchmark the national policy frameworks and investments on innovation procurement around Europe, to identify what are good practices versus remaining barriers, including regarding regulatory compliance, and how they can be overcome.
- Category: Benchmarking
- Budget: Estimated value excluding VAT: 2 000 000,00 EUR
- Buyer: European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), Brussels
- Deadline: 05/08/2024
- More information
