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EU Unveils €1 Billion Plan to Accelerate Artificial Intelligence Adoption

By  |  October 8, 2025

The European Commission on Wednesday unveiled a €1 billion ($1.1 billion) initiative aimed at accelerating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in critical sectors, part of a wider effort to reduce the European Union’s dependence on technology from the United States and China, according to Reuters.

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    The plan, dubbed the “Apply AI” strategy, builds on an earlier action plan introduced in April that seeks to ease compliance requirements for startups struggling with the EU’s sweeping AI Act, which took effect in August last year. Per Reuters, the initiative is also intended to help the bloc strengthen its technological independence at a time of rising trade tensions and heavy reliance on U.S. Big Tech.

    “I want the future of AI to be made in Europe,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement. She emphasized that AI adoption “needs to be widespread” and said the strategy would promote an “AI first” mindset across industries such as robotics, healthcare, energy, and automotive.

    Read more: Grassley Seeks Answers from Judges on Potential AI Use in Faulty Court Orders

    According to Reuters, the European Commission identified healthcare, pharmaceuticals, energy, mobility, manufacturing, construction, agri-food, defense, communications, and culture as priority areas for AI integration. The strategy includes measures such as creating AI-driven advanced screening centers in healthcare and advancing “agentic AI” development for manufacturing, climate, and pharmaceutical applications.

    Funding for the €1 billion plan will come from EU research programs like Horizon Europe and Digital Europe. The Commission added that it expects national governments and private investors to provide additional matching funds to amplify the initiative’s reach, per Reuters.

    Source: Reuters