Overview

• The European Commission launched the Apply AI strategy alongside a new AI in Science plan to accelerate deployment in industry and research.
• €1 billion will be mobilised from Horizon Europe and the Digital Europe programme, with potential matching by member states and private investors.
• A parallel €600 million package will expand compute access for researchers and startups through RAISE and planned AI Gigafactories.
• Measures target healthcare, pharmaceuticals, energy, mobility, manufacturing, construction, agri-food, defence, communications and culture, with pilots such as advanced screening centres, agentic AI for factories, autonomous-car testbeds and a farmer app store.
• The Commission set a goal for 75% of businesses to use AI by 2030 after reporting roughly 13–14% adoption last year, while stakeholders welcomed the focus but warned that execution details and monitoring structures remain unclear.