Digital Europe: Consolidation of the Network of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs with reinforced AI focus)

The Consolidation of the Network of European Digital Innovation Hubs aims to strengthen and expand the network of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) across EU and EEA countries, with a particular emphasis on boosting their capacity in advanced technologies, including AI.

Each EDIH selected under this call must provide the full set of core services: offering SMEs, mid-caps and public-sector organisations help to “test before invest,” deliver training and skills development, support access to finance, and offer networking and innovation-ecosystem services.

The call supports hubs that help clients assess digital maturity, design transformation paths, and adopt AI or other digital tools, effectively acting as regional gateways to European innovation infrastructures.

The Consolidation-Step is open to all existing EDIHs in the EU/EEA area, and aims to ensure broad regional coverage, foster cross-regional cooperation and support the adoption of European AI technologies while promoting green and sustainable digital transformation.

Financially, the call offers grants between approximately €1,000,000 and €3,000,000 per project. The deadline for submission is 3 March 2026, 17:00 CET

Who is eligible to apply

• Existing European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) located in EU Member States or EEA countries.
• Applicants must already be designated as EDIHs by their national authorities and included in the European EDIH network.
• Applications must be submitted by a consortium, usually composed of the organisations that form the existing EDIH (e.g., research institutes, innovation centres, chambers of commerce, industry associations).
• Only hubs that provide the full EDIH service portfolio and demonstrate operational capacity, regional relevance and long-term sustainability are eligible.
• Organisations from third countries (including Western Balkans) may participate only if specifically allowed as associated partners, but cannot coordinate or act as EDIHs in this call.

Find out more information about the call here: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/DIGITAL-2026-EDIH-EU-EEA-09-CONSOLIDATION-STEP?order=DESC&pageNumber=1&pageSize=50&sortBy=relevance&keywords=%22Artificial%20intelligence&isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094502