[European Commission](https://commission.europa.eu/index_en)

March 3, 2026

Up to €3 million per project; total budget €9 million; up to 3 projects funded.

Supports creation and expansion of secure, interoperable data spaces for AI innovation in EU manufacturing.

--- ## Description This funding opportunity, under the Digital Europe Programme, aims to advance the development and expansion of a manufacturing-focused data space within the European Union. The initiative targets legal, technical, and business solutions for pooling large, high-quality datasets from industrial environments, with the goal of enabling authorized AI developers to train generative AI models tailored to manufacturing needs. Key focus areas include predictive maintenance, process automation, supply chain management, product design, and sustainability. Projects are expected to establish frameworks for interoperability and governance, foster collaboration with AI Factories, ensure secure data management, and support long-term financial sustainability. The ultimate aim is to increase productivity and innovation across EU manufacturing sectors by facilitating access to robust and diverse industrial data. --- ## Due Dates - March 3, 2026: Full application submission deadline (by 17:00 Brussels time) --- ## Funding Amount - Total available budget: €9,000,000 - Expected number of projects funded: up to 3 - Typical co-funding per project: approximately €3,000,000 --- ## Eligibility - Proposals must align with the objectives of the Digital Europe Programme. - Eligible applicants include consortia from EU Member States and associated countries (see Section 6 of the [call document](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/digital/wp-call/2026/call-fiche_digital-2026-dsm-ai-09_en.pdf)). - Projects should involve relevant stakeholders from the manufacturing sector, including data holders, AI developers, and ideally, AI Factories. - Proposals must demonstrate preliminary agreements regarding data exchange and identify target sectors and stakeholders. - Use of data intermediaries, as per the Data Governance Act, or other secure data management mechanisms is encouraged. --- ## Application Process - Single-stage submission process. - Proposals must follow the page limits and layout described in the application form (Part B). - Applications are submitted electronically via the [EU Funding & Tenders Portal](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/DIGITAL-2026-DSM-AI-09-DS-MANUFACTUR-STEP?isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094502&order=DESC&pageNumber=14&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate). - Refer to the [call document](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/digital/wp-call/2026/call-fiche_digital-2026-dsm-ai-09_en.pdf) for detailed requirements and evaluation criteria. - Support resources: [Online Manual](https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/funding-tenders-opportunities/display/OM/Online+Manual), [FAQ](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/support/faq), [IT Helpdesk](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/support/helpdesks/contact-form). --- ## Additional Information - Projects should establish clear use cases aligned with real-world manufacturing challenges and identify AI developers interested in using the data. - Inclusion of AI Factories in the consortium is considered advantageous. - Financial sustainability and alignment with the broader European data space ecosystem are critical evaluation factors. --- ## External Links - [Call Details & Submission Portal](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/DIGITAL-2026-DSM-AI-09-DS-MANUFACTUR-STEP?isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094502&order=DESC&pageNumber=14&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate) - [Call Document (PDF)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/digital/wp-call/2026/call-fiche_digital-2026-dsm-ai-09_en.pdf) - [Application Form Template](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/digital/temp-form/af/af_dep_en.pdf) - [Online Manual](https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/funding-tenders-opportunities/display/OM/Online+Manual) --- ## Contact Information | Purpose | Contact Link/Details | |------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | General EC Contact | [Contact the European Commission](https://commission.europa.eu/about-european-commission/contact_en) | | IT Helpdesk | [IT Helpdesk Contact Form](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/support/helpdesks/contact-form) | | Write to the EU | [Write to Us](https://european-union.europa.eu/contact-eu/write-us_en) | | Phone (EC switchboard) | +32 2 299 11 11 |

Data Space for Manufacturing - European Commission

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