Digital technologies is changing people’s lives. The EU’s industrial and digital strategies aim to make this transformation work for people and businesses, while also helping to achieve the target of a climate-neutral Europe by 2050. The Commission is working to strengthen the single market, ensuring that industry remains resilient and competitive globally. This strategy makes SMEs and start-ups as the core focus, with the objective of creating an environment enabling European entrepreneurs to flourish.
The EU is determined to make this Europe's “Digital Decade”. Europe must strengthen its digital sovereignty and set standards now, rather than following those of others. There should be a clear focus on data, technology, and infrastructure. Industry, public authorities, social partners, and stakeholders have collaborated to draw up transition pathways for each industrial ecosystem for a swift green & digital transition of EU industry.
Transition pathways serve as a crucial tool in steering companies towards a digital and green future. Furthermore, advanced and widespread digitalisation can only take place with the involvement and participation of the public sector across the EU.
This is why since 2018, the Single Digital Gateway has been ensuring the gradual digitalisation of administrative procedures all across Europe. Strictly linked to digital technologies, the EU is also working on scaling up the advanced manufacturing industry, which is an essential sector for the green and digital transition of EU industry.
Below you can find the EU's current strategies, legal acts, funding opportunities, and supporting networks to help European businesses harness the benefits of digitalisation and bring industry to the next level.
Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030 (Path to the Digital Decade)
The EU policy programme on the concrete digital targets and objectives to be achieved by 2030.
A New Industrial Strategy for Europe
The general and broad EU vision on industry founded on the twin green and digital transitions.
Strategy to make the EU a leader in the net-zero technology sector by supporting the green transition of industry.
EU strategy on the integration between digital and real objects and environments, and enhanced interactions between humans and machines.
Strategy to make the EU a leader in data-driven society by creating a single market for data that respects EU values and rights. It aims to foster data sharing and innovation, while ensuring data protection and sovereignty.
Strategy to support a ‘gold standard’ for blockchain technology in Europe that embraces European values and ideals in its legal and regulatory framework.
EU Strategy on Standardisation
Actions to make standardisation a driver of European competitiveness and resiliences. This is to ensure that standards support our investments in the green and digital transitions and embedding democratic values in technology applications.
Managed security services (amending 2019 Cybersecurity Act)
Enables the adoption of European certification schemes for cybersecurity services that help prevent and mitigate cyberattacks. It aims to foster trust in the quality and security of those services, while preventing fragmentation of the internal market.
Cross-border interoperability of public services and public open data, especially as regards justice, home affairs, taxation and customs, transport, environment and agriculture, health, business, and industry. This will help empower digital subsidiarity (i.e. ensuring local, regional and national actions are as effective as possible).
Allows public authorities to collect data on short-term rentals from hosts and online platforms. This helps to enhances transparency and supports better policy making.
New Product Liability Directive
This covers producer’s no-fault liability for defective products. It means that effective compensation will be awarded to individuals for certain types of damages that occur from products, despite the preventive requirements of the AI Act and other safety rules.
Creating incentives for data sharing, preventing abuse of contractual imbalances, and enabling public sector bodies to access and use data held by the private sector for public interest purposes.
Boosts the EU’s competitiveness and resilience in semiconductor technologies and applications. It supports research, innovation, and the production of chips in the EU. The Chips Act has set a target of 20% of the global market share by 2030. It also introduced the Chips for Europe Initiative to support large-scale technological capacity building and innovation.
Markets in Crypto-assets Regulation (MiCA)
Establishes a uniform and comprehensive framework for crypto-assets, covering those not yet regulated. MiCA sets out rules for issuing, trading and supervising crypto-assets. It also governs the provision of crypto-asset services, such as custody, exchange, and advice.
This regulates online intermediaries and platforms such as marketplaces, social networks, content-sharing platforms, app stores, and online travel and accommodation platforms. The DSA prevents illegal and harmful activities online and the spread of disinformation.
Establishes a set of clearly defined objective criteria to identify “gatekeepers”.
Aims to make more data available and facilitate data sharing. It supports the development of common European data spaces in strategic domains.
Pilot regime for market infrastructures based on distributed ledger technology (DLT)
Creates a sandbox environment for market infrastructures to test and develop DLT-based solutions to trade and settle securities transactions. It would grant temporary exemptions from some existing financial regulations and foster innovation and competition in the DLT sector.
Imposes obligations on the providers of such services. This includes disclosing the main parameters of ranking, offering effective dispute resolution mechanisms, and prohibiting certain unfair practices.
This directive makes it easier to reuse public data free-of-charge or at a marginal cost. It also aims to limit exclusive arrangements of data reuse.
Single Digital Gateway Regulation and Your Europe
The SDG facilitates online access to information, administrative procedures, and assistance services that EU citizens and businesses may need in another EU country. You can search for information through the Your Europe portal.
This regulations aims to end unjustified geo-blocking rules, which undermine online shopping and cross-border sales in the EU.
Apply on our Funding & Tenders Portal
Apply on the Funding & tender portal
Connecting Europe Facility - CEF Digital
Recovery and Resilience Facility
Refer to your national authorities for more information on how to apply.
European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs)
These one-stop shops help companies to become more competitive by improving their business/production processes, products, or services with digital technologies.
Helps businesses innovate and grow on an international scale.
European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP)
Supports cluster organisations and their members in their efforts to develop partnerships and collaborations in the EU and beyond.
Intelligent Cities Challenge (ICC)
Aims to help 100 cities across the EU to achieve intelligent, socially responsible, and sustainable growth through using advanced technologies.
European Green Digital Coalition
An initiative of companies that aim to harness the potential of digital solutions to reduce emissions in all other sectors.
European Digital infrastructure Consortium (EDIC)
Aims to provide a secure, fully functional, and dynamic data ecosystem for the EU, so multi-country projects can be organised.
European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI)
A network of distributed nodes across the EU. It supports applications focused on selected use-cases of blockchain.
Practical financial tools to facilitate the scaling up of innovative financial firms.
Helps share IT solutions and good practices, and facilitate IT communication among public bodies, businesses, and citizens.
Digital Europe: eIDAS enablers
eID for You aims to make it possible for you to use your digital ID in other EU countries for things like tax returns, converting your driving licence or applying for a pension. The intention is to create a regulatory environment to enable secure and seamless electronic interactions between businesses, citizens, and public authorities.
A single environment which provides reliable information and services through the Once-Only Technical System (OOTS). OOTS allows public authorities to exchange official documents and data when requested by private citizens (e.g. qualifications when moving to a new country).
EU Blockchain Observatory & Forum
This initiative aims to accelerate blockchain innovation and develop a blockchain ecosystem within the EU.