Digital Europe: New calls for proposals for advanced digital skills and better use of technologies have been published.

Two new calls have been published within the Digital Europe Programme Aimed at spreading digital technologies among businesses, citizens, and public administrations. The program provides strategic funding to address the significant technological challenges and challenges related to European digital sovereignty. It thus aims to support key projects such as supercomputing, AI, cybersecurity, and advanced digital skills.

The calls in question are DIGITAL-2026-SKILLS-10 – Advanced digital skills e DIGITAL-2026-BESTUSE-10 – Accelerating the best use of technologies.

The first call, DIGITAL-2026-SKILLS-10, is divided into three calls:

DIGITAL-2026-SKILLS-10-DIGITAL-HEALTH-STEP - Advanced digital skills for AI adoption in healthcareThis theme aims to expand the provision of education and training on AI in healthcare. It will fund higher education and vocational training, research institutions, and industry to jointly design and implement training programs to increase the AI readiness of healthcare organizations and their staff and support the effective adoption of AI solutions in healthcare.

Type of action: Lump Sum Grants

Budget: EUR 7,8 million to finance 2 projects.

DIGITAL-2026-SKILLS-10-NATIONAL-COALITIONS – Platform for Digital Skills and Jobs: National coalitions for digital skills and jobsThis theme supports the creation of new national coalitions for digital skills and jobs and national platforms in Member States and DIGITAL Associated Countries that do not yet have one, as well as the expansion and continuation of existing national coalitions and national websites.

Type of action: Coordination and Support Actions

Budget: EUR 2 million to finance one (1) project.

DIGITAL-2026-SKILLS-10-EDTECH – EdTech AcceleratorThis theme supports European EdTech startups and SMEs in transforming educational solution ideas into mature and fully tested applications and solutions.

Type of action: Coordination and Support Actions

Budget: EUR 2,7 million to finance one (1) project.

Within the framework of DIGITAL-2026-BESTUSE-10, you can submit your solutions to the following calls:

DIGITAL-2026-BESTUSE-10-EHDS – Strengthening capacities for the implementation of the EEHRxF format and digital health services and systems to support citizens' rights and the reuse of health data in the context of the EHDSThis theme aims to strengthen capacity for the implementation of the European Electronic Health Record Exchange Format (EEHRxF) and digital health services and systems to support citizens' rights and the reuse of health data within the European Health Data Space (EHDS). The main objectives are: a) strengthening the capacity of public authorities and healthcare providers to implement services and systems that protect individuals' rights; b) strengthening the capacity of health data holders to improve data quality, create dataset descriptions and labels for electronic health data; and c) training service providers. This initiative will foster a more efficient and interconnected healthcare ecosystem by supporting early adopters of new technologies, including at least public authorities, healthcare providers, health data holders, and service providers, to facilitate the implementation of the primary and secondary use requirements of the EHDS.

Type of action: Grants for Financial Support

Budget: EUR 14,4 million to finance one (1) project.

DIGITAL-2026-BESTUSE-10-NETWORKSICs – Ensuring comprehensive geographic coverage of the Safer Internet Centers (SIC) networkThis theme aims to contribute to the protection and empowerment of children online, a key EU priority, through comprehensive geographical coverage of the national network of Safer Internet Centres (SICs) across the EU. The SICs will provide online safety information, educational resources, public awareness tools, and counseling and referral services (via dedicated hotlines and helplines) for young people, teachers/educators, and parents/guardians.

Type of action: Simple Grants

Budget: EUR 10 million to finance 15 projects.

The deadline for the call for proposals is set for 1 October 2026.

For more information: info@iniziativa.cc

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Success Cases

PUBLICAPP

Revolutionize and enhance citizen engagement through a unique dedicated public platform compassing in general aviation and unmanned aircraft applications equipment in the area of homeland security

Program: Horizon - SME Instrument
Project cost: €70.000
Contribution: €50.000
Date: 2016

TRACE

SMEs TRAnsition for a European Circular tourism Ecosystem

Program: SMP-COSME
Project cost: €1.251.596,12
Contribution: €1.198.436,50
Date: January 2023

NASUM

Innovative nanotech-based detection equipment in the area of homeland security

Program: Horizon - SME Instrument
Project cost: €70.000
Contribution: €50.000
Date: 2016

Tecno

Iniziativa assisted Tecno in the M&A process which saw them involved in the process of acquiring 65% of Aere. The acquisition is aimed at expanding the services offered by Tecno

Sector: Energy services
Deal: Undisclosed
Date: 2021

BO Industries Srl

New production unit for the production, processing and marketing of butter

Contract: Industrial Development Contract
Project cost: €14.927.461,83
Non-refundable contribution: €6.275.400,00
Date: 2023

CLICK

Circular models Leveraging Investments in Cultural heritage adaptive reuse

Program: Horizon
Project cost: €4.957.033,00
Contribution: €4.957.033,00
Date: October 2017

Management control and company organization

Design and implementation support for the organizational model and management control system for monitoring company performance and optimizing the organizational structure.

Sector: Polydiagnostic Center
Date: 2024

Megarideas

Contract: Campania startUp 2020
Project cost: €289.377,00
Non-refundable contribution: €202.563,90
Date: July 2022

Palitalsoft (VAR Group)

Integrated IT Services Management Project with network infrastructure for the Val Conca Union and other municipalities in the Province of Rimini

Date: 2023-2025/XNUMX/XNUMX

Sustainability Report

Support in the preparation of the corporate sustainability report and definition of the ESG strategy and indicators for monitoring sustainable variables

Sector: Production of Plastic Materials
Turnover: €69.978.904
Date: 2023

SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENTS SOLACEM

Creation of new innovative and sustainable entrepreneurial investments aimed at encouraging the completion of the technological and digital transformation of the company towards strategic areas for competitiveness and sustainable growth

Contract: Sustainable Investments 4.0
Project cost: €2.804.437,61
Non-refundable contribution: €1.402.218,80
Date: December 2022

Comesvil SpA

The private equity fund Auctus Capital Partners has acquired 65% of Comesvil, an Italian excellence in the railway sector, Iniziativa supported the sellers in the deal.

Sector: Railway Construction
Deal: Undisclosed
Date: 2023

Sustainability Report

Support in the preparation of the corporate sustainability report and definition of the ESG strategy and indicators for monitoring sustainable variables

Sector: Production of paper and cardboard
Turnover: €63.405.288
Date: 2022

Management control

Support for the implementation of industrial accounting and management control

Sector: Flexible Packaging Production
Date: 2026

Business Process Reengineering

Business Process Reengineering intervention aimed at perfecting the business model, optimizing the governance and Internal Audit structure and improving processes with a view to upgrading the company information system and controlling performance

Sector: Home care and social care
Turnover: €103.882.395,00
Date: 2022-2024/XNUMX/XNUMX

Colser Services

Consultancy and support for economic-financial and procedural aspects in all phases of the procedure relating to a PPP initiative (pursuant to paragraph 15 art. 183 Legislative Decree 50/2016) relating to an "Infrastructural enhancement intervention for the integrated management of classrooms, monitoring of structures and environments, environmental hygiene services and general services for the IUAV University of Venice"

Sector: Facility Management
Date: 2020

“NGR-25”

NEXT GREEN REVOLUTION

Contract: Innovation Agreement
Project cost: €9.140.577,74
Contribution to spending: €4.495.275,01
Date: November 2022

San Michele SRL Nursing Home

The company has acquired additional diagnostic equipment to expand the services offered.

Contract: ZES Credit - Article 16 of Legislative Decree No. 124 of September 19, 2023, and Article 1, paragraphs 485 to 491 of Law No. 207 of December 30, 2024
Project cost: €3.167.150,00
Contribution: €764.944,00

Commune of Rimini

Technical assistance for operations supporting the economic-financial feasibility analysis and instrumental and ancillary activities inherent to the tender for the awarding of the New Municipal Swimming Pool

Date: 2025

iGUESS-MED

Innovative Greenhouse Support System in the Mediterranean Region: efficient fertigation and pest management through IoT based climate control

Program: BEFORE
Project cost: €1.733.000,00
Contribution: €1.597.700,00
Date: April 2020

Medaarch

Iniziativa, as financial advisor, assisted Meedarch in the spin-off of the Mediterranea business unit and negotiated the entry of a new investor into the NewCo.

Sector: Architecture and design
Deal: Undisclosed
Date: 2024

Corporate training

Support for the organization and delivery of the training program aimed at strengthening the capacity building of local public administrations in the field of Public Private Partnership (PPP)

Sector: Public Participate - capacity building of local authorities
Date: 2021

Management control and company organization

Design and support for the implementation of the management control system, the KPI dashboard for monitoring company performance and the optimization of the organizational structure and organizational and compliance processes from an ESG perspective

Sector: Production of Plastic Materials
Date: 2023

Corporate training

Planning of the training intervention and provision of training, in support of ANCI CAMPANIA, on the issues of Public Private Partnership to the Municipalities of the Campania Region for the simplification of relations with the Public Administrations and the increase in investment opportunities and valorisation of the municipal heritage

Sector: Association of Local Authorities - capacity building
Date: 2021

Sustainability reports

Support in the preparation of the corporate sustainability report and definition of the ESG strategy and indicators for monitoring sustainable variables

Sector: Textile company
Turnover: €36.081.512
Date: 2023

RECREATE

Recovery of aeronautical waste from the perspective of industry 4.0 and sustainability

Contract: Innovation Agreement
Project cost: €5.287.587,09
Contribution to spending: €2.908.522,09
Date: July 2022

European Digital Innovation Hub

Heritage Smart Lab

Program: Digital Europe Program and MIMIT
Project cost: €5.137.101,14
Contribution: €2.568.550,58
Date: November 2022

Business organization

Intervention to modernize and optimize the company's organizational and management structure, with consequent updating of the Organization Regulations and the Organization Implementation Regulations, aimed at making management more efficient

Sector: Computer programming activities
Turnover: €16.392.207
Date: 2022

Pfe

Contract for the awarding of concessions for interventions and services aimed at containing ICA and reducing the environmental impact of the Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania.

Date: 2025

Management control

Development of the Investment Plan and the economic-financial plan for the opening of Mignon brand sales points of the company business in the main Italian cities and railway stations

Sector: Bars and other establishments
Turnover: €3.918.453
Date: 2018

€1.9 billion Production investments supported | €435 billion Investments in Research & Innovation subsidized | 200 active customers with hundreds of completed transactions | 100 Project Financing/PPP Operations Supported | €1.9 billion Production investments supported | €435 billion Investments in Research & Innovation subsidized | 200 active customers with hundreds of completed transactions | 100 Project Financing/PPP Operations Supported |