AI and GenAI4EU Funding 2026: Complete Guide to EU Grants for Artificial Intelligence

The EU is deploying close to €700 million specifically for generative AI through its GenAI4EU initiative, while total AI investment across Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, EuroHPC, and EIC for 2026-2027 exceeds €2 billion. This guide maps every relevant programme, every open call topic, and the fastest route to funding for each type of AI project.

~€700M

GenAI4EU total

€20B

AI Gigafactories

15+

AI Factories by end 2026

€2B+

Total AI investment 2026-27

The EU AI Funding Landscape in 2026

Three strategic documents define where EU AI money goes in 2026: the AI Continent Action Plan (April 2025), the Apply AI Strategy (October 2025), and the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027. Together they create a layered funding architecture spanning basic research, industrial deployment, infrastructure, and talent.

The overall indicative budget for topics encouraging AI development in the 2026-2027 Horizon Europe work programme alone is estimated at €2,023 million. This does not count Digital Europe, EIC, or EuroHPC allocations.

Programme	AI Budget	Best for	Grant size
Horizon Europe Cluster 4	€2,023M (2026-27)	Collaborative R&I, partnerships	€3M - €20M+
RAISE (AI in Science)	~€107M (pilot)	Research institutions, universities	€15M - €30M per topic
Digital Europe (DIGITAL-2026-AI-09)	€204M+ (call 9)	Deployment, public sector, EDIHs	50% co-funding
EIC Accelerator (GenAI4EU challenge)	Part of €700M GenAI4EU	Deep tech startups, scale-ups	Up to €17.5M (grant + equity)
EIC Pathfinder 2026	€262M total	Visionary research, TRL 1-3	Up to €4M
EuroHPC AI Factories	€10B (2021-2027 total)	Compute access, model training	Free compute access
AI Gigafactories (InvestAI)	€20B (fund)	Frontier model training consortia	Call open early 2026

GenAI4EU: What It Is and Who Can Apply

GenAI4EU was launched in January 2024 as part of the EU AI innovation package, with an initial commitment of €500 million. By late 2025 the initiative had grown to close to €700 million spread across three instruments: Horizon Europe research grants under the AI, Data and Robotics Partnership; Digital Europe deployment calls; and EIC equity and grant funding.

The initiative operates through two main delivery structures:

GenAI4EU Central Hub - A coordination and support action (CSA) that connects funded projects, facilitates knowledge transfer, and provides access to EU AI infrastructure.
GenAI4EU Booster - Challenge-driven Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) that fund real-world deployment of generative AI in specific industrial sectors with measurable outcomes.

Who qualifies for GenAI4EU funding

GenAI4EU targets organisations that can deploy generative AI in production environments across the seven strategic sectors. Eligible entities include companies of any size, research organisations, and public bodies established in EU member states or Horizon Europe associated countries. Most Horizon Europe calls require consortia of at least three entities from three different eligible countries. EIC Accelerator challenges target individual companies.

The 7 GenAI4EU Target Sectors

These sectors were chosen because they account for a large share of EU GDP and face computable productivity gains from generative AI adoption. Each has dedicated call topics ensuring funding goes to deployment, not just prototype development.

Manufacturing

Generative AI for process optimisation, predictive maintenance, and quality control in industrial settings.

Robotics

Next-generation robot programming, human-robot interaction, and autonomous decision-making.

Health

Multimodal AI for biomedical research, clinical decision support, and drug discovery. Up to €17M per project.

Energy

AI-driven grid management, energy forecasting, and optimisation of renewable generation assets.

Agrifood

Precision agriculture, crop monitoring, supply chain optimisation, and food safety applications.

Transport and Mobility

Autonomous systems, traffic management, logistics optimisation, and smart infrastructure.

Aerospace

AI for satellite data processing, air traffic management, and aerospace manufacturing.

The 7 New Horizon Europe AI Call Topics for 2026

The Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027 for Cluster 4 (Digital, Industry and Space) introduces seven principal AI call topics. Industry calls opened in December 2025; digital calls opened in January 2026.

Call ID	Topic	Budget	Type	Deadline
`HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-01`	Apply AI: Pilot of the Science for AI Pillar of RAISE	~€15M	RIA	Apr 2026
`HORIZON-CL4-2026-05-DIGITAL-EMERGING-02`	Next-Generation AI Agents for Real-World Applications	~€20M	RIA	Sep 2026
`HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-19`	Challenge-Driven GenAI4EU Booster in Apply AI Sectors	~€30M	RIA	Apr 2026
`HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DATA-06`	Efficient and Compliant Access to and Use of Data for AI	~€10M	IA	Apr 2026
`HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-08`	Robotics for Manufacturing: Advancing Core Skills via Technical Challenges	~€20M	RIA	Apr 2026
`HORIZON-CL4-2026-05-DIGITAL-EMERGING-03`	Next-Generation Agile and Intelligent Robotics Platforms for Industrial and Service Applications	~€25M	RIA	Sep 2026
`HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-09`	Advanced Local Digital Twins using AI for Early Warning and Preparedness	~€15M	IA	Apr 2026

All seven topics sit under the AI, Data and Robotics Partnership, meaning they require alignment with the partnership's strategic research and innovation agenda. Projects must demonstrate a clear path to deployment in the target sector, not just research outputs.

Topic Deep Dives

1. Apply AI: Science for AI Pillar of RAISE

This topic launches the first pilot of the RAISE (Resource for AI Science in Europe) virtual institute. Projects will help scientific laboratories develop the intelligence layer enabling instrumentation to semi- or fully autonomously plan, run, and analyse experiments. The emphasis is on labs already at advanced levels of automation and digitalisation that are ready to integrate AI into their workflows. This bridges Cluster 4 and the broader RAISE horizontal call worth €107 million.

2. Next-Generation AI Agents for Real-World Applications

Targets autonomous AI agents capable of operating in the seven GenAI4EU priority sectors. The call seeks projects that move beyond controlled demonstrations to agents handling incomplete information, adversarial conditions, and legal compliance constraints in live industrial environments. Projects are expected to produce open-source components to grow the European AI developer community.

3. Challenge-Driven GenAI4EU Booster

The core delivery vehicle for GenAI4EU in Horizon Europe. Projects must address a specific industrial challenge in one of the seven sectors using generative AI, with a consortium that includes end-user organisations. The call uses a challenge-driven format: applicants define a measurable performance target and the AI approach to reach it. This is the highest-budget individual topic in the seven and draws directly from the GenAI4EU initiative envelope.

4. Efficient and Compliant Data Access for AI

Addresses a fundamental bottleneck: high-quality, legally compliant training data. Projects will develop technical and governance solutions for data access under the EU AI Act, GDPR, and the Data Act, while preserving competitive advantage for data holders. This topic complements the Common European Data Spaces initiative.

5 and 6. Robotics for Manufacturing and Agile Robotics Platforms

Two complementary robotics topics: one focused on physical manipulation and core robotic skills in manufacturing (TRL 4-6), and one targeting next-generation platforms combining perception, reasoning, and action for industrial and service settings (TRL 3-5). Both are firmly within GenAI4EU's robotics and manufacturing sectors.

7. Advanced Local Digital Twins with AI for Early Warning

An Innovation Action (IA) targeting deployment of AI-powered digital twins for civil protection, flood management, wildfire prediction, and other early-warning use cases. Projects must demonstrate integration with existing national and regional emergency management systems. Budget goes to deployment-ready solutions, not proof-of-concept work.

AI Factories and AI Gigafactories

The EU is building a two-tier AI compute infrastructure to end European dependence on non-EU cloud providers for AI training.

AI Factories (EuroHPC)

€10B total (2021-2027)

At least 15 AI-optimised supercomputing facilities operational by end of 2026, hosted across member states. Free access for research and Horizon Europe projects through rolling EuroHPC access calls.

Free computeRolling callsStartups welcome

AI Gigafactories (InvestAI)

€20B (InvestAI fund)

Four to five facilities each with 100,000+ advanced AI processors, targeting training of frontier models with 400B+ parameters. Formal call for interest opened early 2026 after 76 expressions of interest.

Frontier modelsConsortium requiredCall open 2026

For most applicants, AI Factories are the practical entry point. Access is available at no cost through EuroHPC JU Development Access calls, which have monthly cut-off dates. Eligible organisations include companies, universities, and research centres established in EU member states or associated countries. Projects funded by Horizon Europe or Digital Europe are prioritised.

EuroHPC Frontier AI Grand Challenge (Deadline: 13 April 2026)

EuroHPC and the European Commission launched the second Frontier AI Grand Challenge in February 2026. One project will be selected to receive access to 2.5% of total EuroHPC capacity for one year to train a frontier model of at least 400 billion parameters. This is the largest single compute allocation ever offered to a European AI project. Leading universities, national AI institutes, and large industry consortia are the target applicants.

Digital Europe Programme: AI Calls in 2026

The Digital Europe Programme (DEP) focuses on deployment and adoption rather than research. The 9th call round (DIGITAL-2026-AI-09) opened November 2025 with a deadline of 3 March 2026, allocating over €204 million. Key AI topics include:

DIGITAL-2026-AI-09-GENAI-PA

Generative AI for Public Administrations

Pilot deployments of trustworthy GenAI solutions in public services. EU co-funds 50% of project budget.

DIGITAL-2026-AI-09-SOLUTIONS-CANCER-STEP

Multi-modal AI for Cancer Imaging

Deployment of AI-based solutions for cancer and medical imaging diagnostics across EU health systems.

DIGITAL-2026-AI-09-DS-HEALTH-TOOL

European Health Data Space

AI tools for genomic data ingestion and health data services within the European Health Data Space.

DIGITAL-2026-EDIH-AC-09

EDIH Network Consolidation with AI Focus

Consolidation of European Digital Innovation Hubs with reinforced AI capabilities for SME support.

DEP calls typically fund single entities or small consortia at 50% of total project budget. Unlike Horizon Europe, DEP does not require research outputs - projects must deliver working deployments with measurable uptake metrics.

EIC AI-Specific Opportunities in 2026

The European Innovation Council offers three distinct routes for AI ventures, each targeting a different stage of development.

EIC Pathfinder: DeepRAP Challenge

Up to €4M per project

Reasoning, Abstraction and Planning in Cognitive AI. Funds visionary research laying the scientific basis for next-generation safe and human-centred AI. Deadline: 28 October 2026.

TRL 1-3ResearchOct 2026

EIC Pathfinder: Physical AI

Up to €4M per project

Embedded intelligence for AI-driven robotics. Targets breakthrough AI systems that perceive, act, and interact autonomously in complex real-world environments. Deadline: 28 October 2026.

TRL 1-3RoboticsOct 2026

EIC Accelerator: GenAI4EU Challenge

Up to €17.5M (grant + equity)

For AI startups and scale-ups targeting the seven GenAI4EU sectors. Blended finance: up to €2.5M grant plus up to €10M equity. Continuous rolling applications.

TRL 6-8StartupsRolling

A new 2026 instrument, the EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges (AIC), offers up to €2.5M for breakthrough deep-tech solutions through an ARPA-style staged funding model: €300,000 in Stage 1 and up to €2.5M in Stage 2. Physical AI and embedded intelligence are among the first AIC focus areas.

RAISE: Europe's CERN for AI Science

RAISE (Resource for AI Science in Europe) is a virtual institute connecting top researchers, supercomputing infrastructure, high-quality datasets, and dedicated funding. The 2026-2027 Horizon Europe work programme allocates approximately €107 million for RAISE pilot calls structured around three topic families:

RAISE Topic	Budget	Scope
Thematic Networks of Excellence for AI in Science (HORIZON-RAISE-2026-01-01)	€15M	Networks connecting AI researchers across scientific disciplines; foundational for RAISE virtual institute
Automated Scientific Discovery Pilot (HORIZON-RAISE-2027-01-01)	€30M	AI systems capable of designing and running experiments autonomously in advanced laboratory settings
RAISE MSCA Doctoral Networks	~€60M	Training researchers in AI-driven scientific tools across all scientific disciplines; joint with MSCA 2026 call

Which Programme Fits Your AI Project

The right programme depends on three variables: what you are building, how ready it is, and what kind of organisation you are.

Fundamental AI research (TRL 1-3)

EIC Pathfinder Open - up to €4M, deadline May 2026

EIC Pathfinder DeepRAP or Physical AI Challenge - deadline Oct 2026

RAISE Networks of Excellence - for academic institutions

Horizon Europe RIA (Cluster 4) - consortium projects on AI agents and data access

Industrial AI development (TRL 4-6, GenAI4EU sectors)

GenAI4EU Booster (HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-19) - primary vehicle

AI Agents call (HORIZON-CL4-2026-05-DIGITAL-EMERGING-02) - real-world deployment focus

EIC Accelerator GenAI4EU Challenge - if your company is the primary developer

EuroHPC AI Factory access - for compute-heavy model training

Deployment and adoption (TRL 7-9, public or private sector)

Digital Europe DIGITAL-2026-AI-09-GENAI-PA - GenAI in public administration

Digital Twins IA (HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-09) - civil protection use cases

EDIH network - for SMEs seeking AI technology access without applying directly

DEP Medical AI calls - cancer imaging and health data services

Key Deadlines for 2026

Deadline	Programme / Call	Budget
3 March 2026	Digital Europe AI calls (DIGITAL-2026-AI-09)	€204M+
April 2026	Horizon Europe Cluster 4 AI calls (CL4 Apr cut-off)	~€90M+
13 April 2026	EuroHPC Frontier AI Grand Challenge	2.5% EuroHPC capacity (1 year)
12 May 2026	EIC Pathfinder Open	Up to €4M
Sep 2026	Horizon Europe Cluster 4 AI calls (CL4 Sep cut-off)	~€45M+
28 Oct 2026	EIC Pathfinder Challenges (DeepRAP, Physical AI)	Up to €4M
Rolling	EIC Accelerator, EuroHPC access	Various (monthly cut-offs for EuroHPC)

How to Apply: Practical Steps

For startups and SMEs

Check EIC Accelerator GenAI4EU challenge eligibility first - solo applications are accepted and the blend of grant plus equity suits capital-intensive AI development

For compute access, apply directly to EuroHPC AI Factory access calls - monthly cut-offs, no consortium required

Contact your nearest European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) for free AI testing and coaching before applying

Use GrantsFinder to shortlist calls matching your specific technology and sector before investing in a full proposal

For research institutions and universities

Target RAISE topics if you work in AI methods for scientific discovery - the HORIZON-RAISE-2026-01-01 topic is specifically designed for academic networks

Form a consortium covering at least 3 member states - use the EU Horizon matchmaking tools or b2match events to find partners

ERC Advanced Grants fund individual high-risk AI research without consortium requirements, with up to €3.5M for established researchers

MSCA Doctoral Networks under RAISE offer funding for AI PhD programmes with strong industry co-supervision

For large companies and industry consortia

Lead a GenAI4EU Booster consortium - large companies can act as end-user partners even if an SME or university is the project coordinator

Express interest in AI Gigafactories if you have the infrastructure and compute capacity to host 100,000+ AI processors

Join Common European Data Spaces to enable compliant data sharing that will be required under HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DATA-06 calls

Co-invest through InvestAI for the largest infrastructure commitments - the €200B mobilisation target includes public-private partnerships

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GenAI4EU and how much funding does it offer?

GenAI4EU is the European Commission's flagship initiative to accelerate the development and adoption of generative AI across Europe's industrial ecosystems. Announced in January 2024 with an initial commitment of €500 million, the initiative has grown to close to €700 million spread across Horizon Europe, the Digital Europe Programme, and the European Innovation Council. Funding flows through multiple instruments including research grants, EIC equity investments, and access to AI Factory computing infrastructure.

Which sectors does GenAI4EU prioritise in 2026?

GenAI4EU targets seven strategic sectors aligned with the EU Industrial Strategy and the Draghi Competitiveness Report: manufacturing, robotics, health, energy, agrifood, transport and mobility, and aerospace. Each sector has dedicated challenge topics in Horizon Europe Cluster 4 under the AI, Data and Robotics Partnership, ensuring funded projects address real industrial deployment rather than generic AI research.

What are the 7 new AI call topics in Horizon Europe 2026?

The seven main AI call topics in Horizon Europe 2026 under Cluster 4 are: (1) Apply AI - Science for AI Pillar of RAISE, (2) Next-Generation AI Agents for Real-World Applications, (3) Challenge-Driven GenAI4EU Booster in Apply AI sectors, (4) Efficient and compliant access to data for AI, (5) Robotics for Manufacturing - Advancing Core Skills, (6) Next-Generation Agile and Intelligent Robotics Platforms, and (7) Advanced Local Digital Twins using AI for Early Warning. Additionally, the RAISE horizontal call adds €90-107 million for AI in science topics.

How do AI Factories and AI Gigafactories differ?

AI Factories are mid-scale AI-optimised supercomputing ecosystems operated under EuroHPC, designed for startups, SMEs, and research teams to train and deploy AI models. At least 15 are expected to be operational by end of 2026. AI Gigafactories are much larger facilities, each equipped with over 100,000 advanced AI processors, targeting training of frontier models with trillions of parameters. The EU has allocated €20 billion via the InvestAI initiative for four to five Gigafactories, with a formal call for interest opened in early 2026.

Can a single company or startup apply for EU AI funding?

Yes, but the route depends on your stage. Individual startups and SMEs are best suited to the EIC Accelerator (up to €2.5M grant plus up to €10M equity), EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges (up to €2.5M in Stage 2), or free access to AI Factories via EuroHPC access calls. Collaborative projects under Horizon Europe typically require a consortium of at least three entities from three EU member states or associated countries. For pure deployment and adoption, Digital Europe Programme calls often fund single entities or small consortia.

What is the EuroHPC Frontier AI Grand Challenge?

Launched in February 2026, the Frontier AI Grand Challenge funds one project to train a frontier AI model with at least 400 billion parameters. The selected winner receives access to up to 2.5% of overall EuroHPC computing capacity for one year across AI-optimised supercomputers. The deadline for applications is 13 April 2026. This is one of the most compute-intensive funding opportunities ever offered to European AI actors.

What is the RAISE initiative and how is it funded?

RAISE (Resource for AI Science in Europe) is envisioned as a virtual institute for AI in science, sometimes described as a CERN for AI. The 2026-2027 Horizon Europe work programme allocates approximately €107 million for RAISE pilot calls, including €15 million for Thematic Networks of Excellence for AI in Science, €30 million for Automated Scientific Discovery pilots, and MSCA doctoral networks training researchers in AI-driven scientific methodologies.

How do I find the right EU AI funding programme for my project?

The right programme depends on your organisation type, technology readiness level, and sector. Research-stage projects at TRL 1-3 should look at EIC Pathfinder (up to €4M) or Horizon Europe collaborative RIA grants. Projects at TRL 4-6 with market potential should consider EIC Accelerator or Horizon Europe Innovation Actions. Deployment-ready solutions targeting public administrations or specific sectors fit Digital Europe calls best. AI infrastructure and compute access goes through EuroHPC. Use GrantsFinder to describe your project and get an AI-matched shortlist of open calls.

Find Your EU AI Grant Match

The EU AI funding landscape in 2026 is genuinely complex: seven Horizon Europe call topics, four Digital Europe AI calls, two EIC Pathfinder challenges, one EIC Accelerator challenge, a Frontier AI Grand Challenge, and rolling EuroHPC access - all with different eligibility rules, deadlines, and consortium requirements.

GrantsFinder uses AI to match your project description against all open EU calls in real time. Describe your technology, sector, and organisation type, and get a ranked shortlist of the most relevant calls with relevance scores and application guidance. It takes two minutes and is free to start.

For background on earlier AI funding opportunities, read our AI and Deep Tech Funding guide for 2025. For the full 2026-2027 work programme context, see our EU Funding in 2025: What's New and What's Changing. If you are evaluating which EIC instrument fits your stage, read our EIC Accelerator vs Pathfinder vs Eurostars comparison.