The European Union has unveiled a €1 billion initiative to strengthen its position in the global AI race and reduce reliance on U.S. and Chinese technologies. The European Commission announced two new frameworks — the Apply AI Strategy and the AI in Science Strategy — aimed at making Europe a leader in AI-driven innovation and research.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the dual focus on speed and safety: “Putting AI first also means putting safety first.” The strategy targets key sectors like healthcare, energy, mobility, manufacturing, and construction, with funding to accelerate product development, deployment, and upskilling.
The AI in Science Strategy includes the launch of a virtual institute, "Resource for AI Science," to coordinate research and boost AI use across scientific fields. The initiative seeks to combat Europe’s lag in computational power, which currently stands at under 5% globally, compared to 75% in the U.S. and 15% in China.
Despite its leadership in AI regulation, critics argue the EU’s strict laws, including the AI Act, have stifled innovation and driven talent abroad. “We started with regulating AI instead of building it,” said Roger Dassen, CFO of ASML.
Still, EU officials insist that regulation, paired with investment, will promote safety, transparency, and trust in AI systems. Mozilla’s Maximilian Gahntz noted the AI Act could bring long-overdue clarity to the opaque world of AI data training.
The EU hopes this bold investment will signal a new era of technological sovereignty and global competitiveness.
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