Digital transformation is not just about infrastructure or technology — it’s about people. At the heart of the Digital Europe Programme (DEP) lies a clear mission: to equip Europe’s workforce with the skills it needs and to empower businesses and public entities to adopt digital innovation with confidence.
This second part of our guide explores how DEP supports advanced digital skills and drives innovation through the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs).
A Strategy for Digital Talent
Europe faces a growing gap between the digital skills required by the market and the skills available in the workforce. The DEP tackles this challenge head-on by supporting a range of education and training initiatives that focus on advanced and specialised digital capabilities.
Through its funding, DEP enables universities and training providers to launch new master’s-level programmes in critical areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, high-performance computing, and data science. At the same time, it invests in short-term, flexible training options — ideal for professionals looking to upskill or reskill in a fast-changing job market.
Importantly, these actions are closely aligned with the real needs of industry and public sector employers. By promoting national coalitions for digital skills and jobs, the programme encourages collaboration between government, education, and business to ensure that training meets demand. Special attention is also given to inclusiveness — from boosting women’s participation in tech careers to addressing regional gaps in access to digital learning.
EDIHs: Helping Organisations Go Digital
While building digital talent is vital, it’s equally important to ensure that businesses and public bodies can put that talent — and technology — into action. This is where the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) come in.
Operating across all EU Member States, EDIHs act as local support centres that help organisations test, adopt, and integrate digital solutions. Whether a small business wants to explore AI-based tools or a municipality is looking to modernise its services, EDIHs provide tailored guidance and hands-on support.
What makes EDIHs especially valuable is their practical, “test-before-invest” approach. They allow users to experiment with new technologies before making big financial commitments. In addition, they offer training and mentoring services, access to funding advice, and connections to the broader European innovation ecosystem.
Thanks to their EU-wide network, EDIHs not only strengthen regional innovation capacity but also foster cross-border collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Why This Matters
Together, the investment in advanced digital skills and EDIHs represents a powerful strategy to close the gap between digital potential and actual implementation.
For citizens, it means more opportunities for high-quality employment in emerging sectors. For SMEs, it means faster access to innovation without the usual risks or barriers. For public bodies, it means building smarter, more efficient services that meet the needs of today’s digital society.
Ultimately, these initiatives reinforce the EU’s digital sovereignty by ensuring that Europe can rely on its own talent and tools to drive transformation.
Who Can Participate
A broad range of actors are eligible to benefit from or participate in these actions — including universities, training providers, regional development agencies, innovation centres, SMEs, municipalities, and public administrations.
Each initiative is supported through targeted calls and funding instruments under the Digital Europe Work Programme 2025–2027.
Coming Next
In Part 3, we turn our attention to how DEP supports Europe’s digital sovereignty by investing in trusted data infrastructures, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity capacities.
Explore live DEP funding opportunities and partner search tools at: https://eucalls.net
