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AI compute evaluation and deployment platform for EU infrastructure

Digital Europe · Grant topic

DIGITAL-JU-CHIPS-2026-AI-GFP

Summary

A Polish company can apply here for an R&D project.

Funds AI compute evaluation platforms and pilot deployments through multinational consortia including an eligible contracting authority or entity.

Who can apply
A company can lead the project. Applicants: SMEs, large companies, startups, public bodies, other organisations.
Amount
up to €70M per projectCall budget €70M
Deadline
1 Dec 2026in 36 days
Status
Openopened 7 Jul 2026
Open on the portalSign up to save this callCan you apply? Free check

Machine-classified from the call text; check eligibility at the source.

Description

Expected Outcome:

The expected outcomes of this topic are :

• A common EU evaluation platform for AI chips and racks, with transparent KPIs, workloads and benchmark reports used for Chips JU selection and procurement decisions.

• First pilot deployments of European AI compute systems validated for EU sovereign partitions of AI infrastructure.

• Structured collaboration between buyers and suppliers, supporting deployment, integration and optimisation of European AI compute solutions.

• Stronger EU demand for European AI chips and racks, helping to create a market for deployment-ready solutions.

• Increased EU technological sovereignty across the AI compute stack for European datacentres.

Who can apply, in detail
Applicant types
SME, large company, startup, public body, other
Purpose
Deployment and investment
R&D relevance
2 of 3
Poland eligible
Yes
Country limit
EU-established consortium spanning at least three EU Member States or EEA countries.
Region
Any
Consortium
Required
Readiness level (TRL)
—
Topics
  • AI compute infrastructure
  • AI chip benchmarking
  • European datacentres
  • Pilot system deployment
  • Compute sovereignty

Machine-classified from the call text; check eligibility at the source. 23 Oct 2026

Conditions8

Facts we extracted from the source documents. Each value keeps its own conditions. Unknown means unstated, not zero or unlimited.

Applications closed
No
Consortium required
Yes
Other condition
The official Part B template asks applicants to list staff included in the project budget (budget category A) by function/profile and briefly describe their tasks. This is an application-planning prompt, not a call-specific headcount or hiring entitlement.
Other condition
The majority of public contribution is reserved for Phase 3 procurement, installation and optimisation. Up to EUR 10 million of the action budget may be reserved for procurement preparation/management and Phase 1–2 evaluation services.
Other condition
The call-specific Applicant Guide Annex 1 states a generic “Funding rate: 50%” for Grants for Procurement. The topic-specific Appendix 8 §5.2.6.10 instead lists category-specific maximum EU shares: 25% for for-profit non-SME undertakings, 35% for for-profit SMEs, and 50% for public bodies and not-for-profit entities carrying out non-economic public-interest activities. This packet preserves both source statements; applicants should confirm how the topic-specific categories apply to their case.
Other condition
The topic gives 15 as an indicative maximum participant count and says the consortium should remain focused; it is not a mandatory hard limit.
Partner requirement
The proposal should be submitted by an EU-established consortium of beneficiaries from at least three different Member States or EEA countries, including at least one eligible contracting authority/entity operating an EU AI Factory or comparable EU public AI/HPC facility and at least two EU-established Cloud Service Providers.
Expected project duration
42 months

Expected action duration; Phase 3 may be extended with justification. It is not a staff-employment duration.

Amounts and costs5
Call budget
€70,000,000

Indicative EU call budget; not an individual project award or entitlement.

Funding intensity, maximum
25

Maximum EU reimbursement share of eligible costs for for-profit non-SME undertakings; beneficiaries may request a lower contribution.

Funding intensity, maximum
50

Maximum EU reimbursement share of eligible costs for public bodies and not-for-profit entities carrying out non-economic public-interest activities; beneficiaries may request a lower contribution.

Funding intensity, maximum
35

Maximum EU reimbursement share of eligible costs for for-profit SMEs; beneficiaries may request a lower contribution.

Expected contribution per project
€70,000,000

Indicative Chips JU estimate only, not a project ceiling, entitlement or guaranteed award. Participating State co-funding is expected to complement the EU contribution.

Personnel and services1

  • Project management

    Example only

    The call-specific Guide for Applicants says personnel costs should be limited and are generally used for grant management, coordination between beneficiaries and procurement preparation. These are illustrative costed functions only; no required hire, person, headcount, FTE, qualifications, contract form, employment duration or salary is specified.

Source documents6
Call facts
Opens
7 Jul 2026
Deadline model
Single-stage
Programme
Digital Europe · 2021–2027
Call
DIGITAL-JU-CHIPS-2026-AI-GFP · DIGITAL-JU-CHIPS-2026-AI-GFP
Types of action
DIGITAL JU Grants for Procurement
Source
ec.europa.eu
Checked
25 Oct 2026
Portal updated
15 Oct 2026
Review status
Partial review
Reviewed
23 Oct 2026

This is a summary of the source page, not the official text. Eligibility, conditions and the submission system are at the source.