Study on strategic digital technologies for the EU research and innovation funding beyond 2027: Final report
Publication date: 1 October 2026 | Report language: EN
A recently published study led by Technopolis Group, in partnership with Fraunhofer, AIT and OPIX, examines the strategic digital technologies that could shape Europe’s research and innovation priorities beyond 2027. Commissioned by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT), the study provides evidence to support the future digital strand of Horizon Europe and highlights research areas with the potential to contribute to Europe’s digital leadership.
The study assesses developments across a broad range of digital technology fields, looking at Europe’s existing capabilities, emerging opportunities and the factors that may influence future competitiveness. It finds that, while Europe has strong scientific and technological assets, challenges remain in maintaining a position at the technological frontier and translating research and innovation into successful market applications.
The research identifies significant opportunities for cross-technology innovation, with artificial intelligence emerging as a key enabling technology across areas such as robotics, cybersecurity, advanced computing, connectivity, and edge applications. Other promising areas include semiconductor-photonics integration, advanced connectivity, cybersecurity for data sharing and identity, and the integration of extended reality with IoT and cloud-edge systems. Energy-efficient digital technologies are identified as an important cross-cutting priority.
The study also considers the conditions needed to strengthen Europe’s capacity to develop and scale strategic technologies. These include continued investment in research and innovation, stronger connections with industry, improved access to research and technology infrastructures, and better links between research, scale-up and deployment.
The final report is accompanied by 12 technology-specific annexes, covering areas from advanced digital communications and connectivity to artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, microelectronics, photonics, quantum technologies and robotics. It is also accompanied by international benchmarking case studies.
