EU rolls out two strategies to accelerate AI adoption

The European Commission is launching two strategies to accelerate the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across the European industry and science. The 'Apply AI Strategy' aims to drive AI adoption in key sectors, such as healthcare, energy, and manufacturing, mobilizing €1 billion in funding. The 'AI in Science Strategy' positions Europe as a hub for AI-driven research and innovation, including the new RAISE institute to pool resources for AI science. The strategies are part of the EU's plan to make Europe an 'AI Continent' and strengthen its technological sovereignty, prioritizing safety and ethics.

"I want the future of AI to be made in Europe. When AI is used, we can find smarter, faster, and more affordable solutions. AI adoption needs to be widespread, and with these strategies, we will help speed up the process. Putting AI first also means prioritizing safety. We will drive this ‘AI first’ mindset across all our key sectors, from robotics to healthcare, energy, and automotive," stated Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. 

Apply AI strategy: boosting adoption across sectors

The 'Apply AI Strategy' serves as the EU's overarching sectoral AI plan, designed to bolster the competitiveness of key industries and strengthen the EU's technological independence. It aims to promote the broad adoption of AI and foster innovation, particularly among Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). This strategy advocates for an 'AI first' approach and encourages a 'buy European' preference, especially within the public sector, highlighting open-source AI solutions.

The strategy is structured into three main components: sectoral flagships aimed at accelerating AI adoption across ten key industry sectors and the public sector, support measures to enhance the EU's technological sovereignty, and the establishment of a new governance framework comprising the Apply AI Alliance and the AI Observatory. This observatory will monitor AI trends and assess the impact of AI on specific sectors, providing policymakers and industry stakeholders with crucial insights. The 'Apply AI Strategy' seeks to help industries and the public sector understand AI's capabilities, its effectiveness, and its potential to create a competitive edge.

AI in Science strategy: fostering scientific innovation

The 'AI in Science Strategy' complements the 'Apply AI Strategy' by promoting the use of AI within the European scientific community. A key element of this strategy is the establishment of a 'Resource for AI Science in Europe' (RAISE), a virtual institute designed to pool strategic resources, including funding, computing power, data, and talent, to advance both 'Science for AI' and 'AI in Science'. RAISE will support the development of AI systems that are ethical, explainable, transparent, accountable, reliable, safe, human-centric, and aligned with human rights and societal values.

The strategy aims to construct leading European AI scientific models and leverage their innovative potential to enhance the impact, quality, and productivity of scientific research. Financing for the strategy will primarily come from Horizon Europe, which has already allocated over €8 billion to AI since 2021. The Commission will launch a pilot for RAISE to consolidate strategic resources for Science for AI and AI in Science. This pilot project, 'Responsible AI for Science in Europe', will be launched with €108 million in funding under the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-27.

Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation: "With the AI in Science Strategy, Europe is taking a decisive step to stay at the cutting edge. We will give our researchers, startups, and SMEs the tools to turn ideas into breakthroughs, driving competitiveness and moving faster from lab to market. RAISE will be the catalyst, pooling resources, mobilising investments, and attracting top talent from across Europe and beyond."