On 29 September 2026, the European Commission published the “Study on the EU’s strategic digital technologies for the next EU research & innovation programme”. Technopolis Group carried out the study for the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT). Its findings will help set digital research and innovation priorities for the next EU research and innovation programme under the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework. In particular, they will shape the future digital strand of the programme that follows Horizon Europe.
Svitlana Tarasenko, PhD in Economics, contributed to the expert consultations. She is an Associate Professor at the Department of International Economic Relations and Deputy Director for Research at the Academic and Research Institute of Business, Economics and Management (BEM), Sumy State University. The European Commission and Technopolis Group named her in their official acknowledgement of expert contributions. Experts took part in the study through foresight workshops and Delphi surveys. Their input shaped the study’s findings and recommendations on Europe’s digital future.
Key findings of the study:
- Europe has strong science and a robust regulatory framework, but it is losing ground in research excellence and patenting. It also struggles to commercialise research at scale.
- AI is identified as a key enabling technology across robotics, cybersecurity, advanced computing, connectivity and edge applications.
- Promising areas include semiconductor–photonics integration, cybersecurity for data sharing and identity, advanced connectivity, and XR combined with IoT and cloud-edge systems.
- Energy-efficient and human-centric digital technologies are named as a strategic priority.