Call: Digital Solutions in support of the New European Bauhaus Initiative

The general objectives of the Digital Europe Programme shall be to support and accelerate the digital transformation of the European economy, industry and society, to bring its benefits to citizens, public administrations and businesses across the Union, and to improve the competitiveness of Europe in the global digital economy while contributing to bridging the digital divide across the Union and reinforcing the Union’s strategic autonomy, through holistic, cross-sectoral and cross-border support and a stronger Union contribution.

The Programme shall be implemented in close coordination with other Union programmes as applicable, and shall aim:

1. to strengthen and promote Europe’s capacities in key digital technology areas through large-scale deployment;
2. in the private sector and in areas of public interest, to widen the diffusion and uptake of Europe’s key digital technologies, promoting the digital transformation and access to digital technologies.

It will reinforce EU critical digital capacities by focusing on the key areas of artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, advanced computing, data infrastructure, governance and processing, the deployment of these technologies and their best use for critical sectors like energy, climate change and environment, manufacturing, agriculture and health. Thus, the Programme shall have five interrelated specific objectives:

1. Specific Objective 1 – High Performance Computing
2. Specific Objective 2 – Artificial Intelligence
3. Specific Objective 3 – Cybersecurity and Trust
4. Specific Objective 4 – Advanced Digital Skills
5. Specific Objective 5 Deployment and Best Use of Digital Capacity and Interoperability.

The Digital Europe Programme is strategic in supporting the digital transformation of the EU industrial ecosystems targeting upskilling to provide a workforce for these advanced digital technologies. It supports industry, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and public administration in their digital transformation with a reinforced network of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH). The Programme will accelerate the economic recovery and drive the digital transformation of Europe.

Specific Objective 1- High Performance Computing

The financial contribution from the Union under Specific Objective 1 – High Performance Computing shall pursue the following operational objectives:

1. deploy, coordinate at Union level and operate an integrated demand-oriented and application-driven world-class exascale supercomputing and data infrastructure that shall be easily accessible to public and private users, in particular SMEs, irrespective of the Member State in which they are located, and easily accessible for research purposes, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1488;
2. deploy ready to use operational technology resulting from research and innovation in order to build an integrated Union HPC ecosystem, covering various aspects in the scientific and industrial value chain segments, including hardware, software, applications, services, interconnections and digital skills, with a high level of security and data protection;
3. deploy and operate post-exascale infrastructure, including integration with quantum computing technologies and research infrastructures for computing science and encourage the development within the Union of the hardware and software necessary for such deployment.

Specific Objective 2 – Artificial Intelligence

The financial contribution from the Union under Specific Objective 2 – Artificial Intelligence shall pursue the following operational objectives:

1. build up and strengthen core AI capacities and knowledge in the Union, including building up and strengthening quality data resources and corresponding exchange mechanisms, and libraries of algorithms, while guaranteeing a human-centric and inclusive approach that respects Union values;
2. make the capacities referred to in point (a) accessible to businesses, especially SMEs and start-ups, as well as civil society, not-for-profit organisations, research institutions, universities and public administrations, in order to maximise their benefit to the European society and economy;
3. reinforce and network AI testing and experimentation facilities in Member States;
4. develop and reinforce commercial application and production systems in order to facilitate the integration of technologies in value chains and the development of innovative business models and to shorten the time required to pass from innovation to commercial exploitation and foster the uptake of AI-based solutions in areas of public interest and in society.

Specific Objective 3 – Cybersecurity and Trust

The financial contribution from the Union under Specific Objective 3 – Cybersecurity and Trust shall pursue the following operational objectives:

1. support the building-up and procurement of advanced cybersecurity equipment, tools and data infrastructures, together with Member States, in order to achieve a high common level of cybersecurity at European level, in full compliance with data protection legislation and fundamental rights, while ensuring the strategic autonomy of the Union;
2. support the building-up and best use of European knowledge, capacity and skills related to cybersecurity and the sharing and mainstreaming of best practices;
3. ensure a wide deployment of effective state-of-the-art cybersecurity solutions across the European economy, paying special attention to public authorities and SMEs;
4. reinforce capabilities within Member States and private sector to help them comply with Directive (EU) 2016/1148 of the European Parliament and of the Council including through measures supporting the uptake of cybersecurity best practices;
5. improve resilience against cyberattacks, contribute towards increasing risk-awareness and knowledge of cybersecurity processes, support public and private organisations in achieving basics levels of cybersecurity, for example by deploying end-to-end encryption of data and software updates;
6. enhance cooperation between the civil and defence spheres with regard to dual-use projects, services, competences and applications in cybersecurity, in accordance with a Regulation establishing the European Cybersecurity Industrial, Technology and Research Competence Centre and the Network of National Coordination Centres (the ‘Cybersecurity Competence Centre Regulation’).

Specific Objective 4 – Advanced Digital Skills

The financial contribution from the Union under Specific Objective 4 – Advanced Digital Skills shall support the development of advanced digital skills in areas covered by the Programme in order to contribute to increasing Europe’s talent pool, bridge the digital divide and foster greater professionalism, especially with regard to high performance and cloud computing, big data analytics, cybersecurity, distributed ledger technologies (e.g. blockchain), quantum technologies, robotics, AI, while taking gender balance into account. In order to tackle skills mismatches and to encourage specialisation in digital technologies and applications, the financial contribution shall pursue the following operational objectives:

1. support the design and delivery of high-quality, long-term training and courses, including blended learning, for students and for the workforce;
2. support the design and delivery of high-quality, short-term training and courses for the workforce, in particular in SMEs and in the public sector;
3. support high-quality on-the-job training and work placements for students, including traineeships, and the workforce, in particular in SMEs and in the public sector.

Specific Objective 5 – Deployment and Best Use of Digital Capacities and Interoperability

The financial contribution from the Union under Specific Objective 5 – Deployment and Best Use of Digital Capacities and Interoperability shall pursue the following operational objectives while bridging the digital divide:

1. support the public sector and areas of public interest, such as health and care, education, judiciary, customs, transport, mobility, energy, environment, cultural and creative sectors, including relevant businesses established within the Union, to effectively deploy and access state-of-the-art digital technologies, such as HPC, AI and cybersecurity;
2. deploy, operate and maintain trans-European interoperable state-of-the-art digital service infrastructures across the Union, including related services, in complementarity with national and regional actions;
3. support the integration and use of trans-European digital service infrastructures and of agreed European digital standards in the public sector and in areas of public interest to facilitate cost-efficient implementation and interoperability;
4. facilitate the development, update and use of solutions and frameworks by public administrations, businesses and citizens, including of open-source solutions and the re-use of interoperability solutions and frameworks;
5. offer the public sector and the Union industry, in particular SMEs, easy access to testing and piloting of digital technologies and increase the use thereof, including their cross-border use;
6. support the uptake by the public sector and the Union industry, in particular SMEs and start-ups, of advanced digital and related technologies, including in particular HPC, AI, cybersecurity, other leading edge and future technologies, such as distributed ledger technologies (e.g. blockchain);
7. support the design, testing, implementation, and deployment and maintenance of interoperable digital solutions, including digital government solutions, for public services at Union level which are delivered through a data-driven reusable solutions platform aiming to foster innovation and establish common frameworks in order to unleash the full potential of the public administrations’ services for citizens and businesses;
8. ensure the continuous capacity at Union level to lead digital development, in addition to observing, analysing and adapting to fast-evolving digital trends, and share and mainstream best practices;
9. support cooperation towards achieving a European ecosystem for trusted data sharing and digital infrastructures using, inter alia, services and applications based on distributed ledger technologies (e.g. blockchain), including support for interoperability and standardisation and by fostering the deployment of Union cross-border applications based on security and privacy by design, while complying with consumer and data protection legislation;
10. build up and strengthen the European Digital Innovation Hubs and their network.

Objective:

The New European Bauhaus (NEB) aims at fostering transdisciplinary, multi-level (from local to global) and participatory initiatives, anchored in the three core values outlined in the NEB Communication:from climate goals to circularity and biodiversity; aesthetics, quality of experience and style, beyond functionality; and inclusion, including accessibility and affordability.

Digital technologies such as very high-speed internet connectivity - Wifi, 5G/6G connectivity, Artificial Intelligence, High Performance Computing, blockchain, IoT, cloud services and big data can play a role in improving sustainability and user-friendliness of services in our cities, making neighbourhoods and buildings greener, healthier and more inclusive places to live, move and work in. Digital tools and technologies offer an unprecedented opportunity for policy-makers to engage with citizens to shape and co-create their living environment. Data dashboards, virtual and augmented reality, and Local Digital Twins allow citizens to visualise impacts of policies and decisions in their locality, and therefore to shape their outcome, in order to better reflect their needs and expectations in the built environment. Digital technologies have thus an important role to play at all steps of the life cycle of NEB initiatives i.e. preparation, design, development, implementation and maintenance.

This action aims to bring together people working in the fields of urban planning, architecture and design, the cultural sector, artists, civil society, technology providers, businesses (including SMEs and startups), smart cities stakeholders, and academia, in order to identify digital solutions that could contribute to the implementation of the New European Bauhaus objectives, and to promote awareness and use of these digital solutions. This will be the case in particular for digital tools developed through EU-funded Programmes that can contribute to improving sustainability and circularity and for participative and sustainable urban development, to co-create a greener, smarter and sustainable living environment, whether in cities, towns, villages or rural areas.

Working in particular with the NEB Lab, the action should establish links with actions falling under data spaces, European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH), the AI Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEFs), notably for smart communities and health, and the Living-in.EU movement, as well as those Horizon Europe missions that work with communities and cities as key implementing partners (e.g. Mission on Climate Neutral and Smart Cities and Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change), which would provide significant opportunities to test, experiment and up-scale the use of digital tools for the NEB with local partners.

Finally, the project will seek to accelerate the deployment of digital tools contributing to implementing the New European Bauhaus objectives.

Scope:

• Engage and facilitating collaboration of transdisciplinary NEB stakeholders (architects, designers, planners, cultural community) with developers and potential users of digital solutions in support of the NEB (including startups, Venture Capitalists, European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH), working in close cooperation with existing NEB actors including in the building and urban planning sectors, smart communities networks, the Living-in.EU community, and the NEB Lab.
• dentify and map initiatives, solutions and projects, in particular those supported by EU funds, where digital tools (AI, VR/AR, local digital twins, data dashboards, cloud computing, blockchain, Wifi, 5G,6G, IoT, HPC, assisted living technologies, and other digital and data-driven innovation) can contribute to the aims and objectives of the NEB, in particular in co-creation with citizens, presenting relevant uses cases and best practice examples in an engaging manner;
• Showcasing digital technologies in support of the NEB objectives, promoting in particular the reuse of the solutions identified as part of this action which make use open source software, open standards and technical specifications in cooperation with the NEB Lab and Living-in.EU.
• Expected activities to achieve the points above include:
  • Hosting events, workshops and meetings, bridging the link between cultural, digital, and smart communities sectors in support of the NEB objectives, and contributing to relevant external events and publications. Where not already in existence, developing supporting material (user guides, training modules) to facilitate the uptake of these digital technologies across cities and communities in the EU and beyond.
  • Encouraging the expansion of the scope of existing and emerging digital tools for use by citizens in shaping their communities through co-creation and participation. Where relevant, these tools should draw on the European data spaces ecosystem.
  • Identification of possible gaps or challenges in the current digital ecosystem that could be addressed to foster further the implementation of the NEB.
  • Supporting the identification of skills and capacity needs at local level in order to make best use of the digital tools facilitating the implementation of NEB objectives, working with Living-in.EU and the European Digital Innovation Hubs to address skills gaps.

Only one project proposal will be selected for this grant.

Expected Outcome:

• Presentation of the results of the action’s outcomes and deliverables, possibly via the NEB Lab Digital Portal or Living-in.EU, designed in such a way as to facilitate their reuse and widespread dissemination;
• An active network that brings together digital practitioners and NEB actors contributing to the NEB objectives and collaborating across the EU, based on a mapping of stakeholders in the digital and NEB ecosystems;
• Mapping and showcasing of existing initiatives and projects where digital tools and solutions are used for NEB objectives, including existing Local Digital Twin implementations which improve citizen-led urban planning and zero pollution objectives. Their presentation through an interactive tool and a roadmap towards a fully-fledged NEB innovation radar;
• A list of recommendations and roadmap to address current gaps or issues that are preventing the development of digital solution in support of NEB initiatives;
• Identification of existing, and development of new, capacity building material to support the uptake of identified best practice uses of digital technologies in support of the NEB;
• A long-term sustainability plan for the continued reuse of assets produced by this action.

• be legal entities (public or private bodies)
• be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
  • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs))

• Natural persons are NOT eligible (with the exception of self-employed persons, i.e. sole traders, where the company does not have legal personality separate from that of the natural person).
• International organisations are NOT eligible, unless they are International organisations of European Interest within the meaning of Article 2 of the Digital Europe Regulation (i.e. international organisations the majority of whose members are Member States or whose headquarters are in a Member State).
• EU bodies (with the exception of the European Commission Joint Research Centre) can NOT be part of the consortium.

• a consortium of at least 3 applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) and which complies with the following conditions:
  • minimum 3 independent entities from 3 different eligible countries

• Collective and representative groups of designers, architects, urban planners, artists and cultural practitioners, industry (including the construction and assisted living sectors), SMEs;
• Members of the European digital ecosystems including EDIH, startups, S+T+ARTS community, academics, venture capital; research and development organisations, living labs, innovators in the area of healthy ageing;
• Collective and representative groups of mayors and cities, at European, regional and national level, including those Civil Society Organisations with experience in citizen engagement and upskilling, in particular in areas relating to digital and environmental transformation and inclusiveness.

• Application Form Part A — contains administrative information about the participants  and the summarised budget for the project (to be filled in directly online)
• Application Form Part B — contains the technical description of the project (to be downloaded from the Portal Submission System, completed and then assembled and re-uploaded)
• mandatory annexes and supporting documents (to be uploaded):
  • list of previous projects (key projects for the last 4 years)
  • ethics issues table
  • ecurity issues table