The European Commission has introduced two new strategies aimed at accelerating the deployment of artificial intelligence across industry and scientific research, in a broader effort to enhance the European Union’s competitiveness and technological capacity.
The first, the Apply AI strategy, is intended to promote the adoption of AI across critical sectors of the EU economy. It will prioritize the integration of AI technologies into healthcare, mobility, manufacturing, and public services. Specific measures include the creation of an AI-powered screening network in healthcare, support for robotics in adaptive manufacturing, and the formation of a city coalition to facilitate testing environments for autonomous vehicles. Public administrations will also be supported through a set of open-source tools aimed at easing AI integration.
The Commission has earmarked €1 billion in EU funding for the Apply AI strategy, with additional financial support expected from national governments and the private sector. The initiative places a particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises, which will be supported through Experience Centres for AI, an extension of the Digital Innovation Hubs created under the Digital Europe programme. These centres are designed to help SMEs access AI infrastructure and testing capabilities.
Currently, 13.5% of European businesses are reported to use AI, with the Commission targeting a 75% adoption rate by 2030. A compliance checker and service desk will also be set up to assist companies in understanding and implementing requirements under the forthcoming AI Act.
The second initiative, the AI in Science strategy, aims to structure and coordinate investment in AI research within the scientific domain. Central to this strategy is the development of the Resource for AI Science in Europe (Raise), envisioned as a pan-European infrastructure for AI research, comparable in ambition to CERN. According to the Commission, this approach fills a gap not addressed by other global powers, which they say invest in AI for science without a coordinated framework.
