BRUSSELS – The European Commission launched two strategies on Wednesday to speed up artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in industry and science, aiming to position Europe as a global leader in trustworthy AI amid competition from the United States and China.
The Apply AI Strategy focuses on driving AI uptake in key sectors like healthcare, energy, and manufacturing, while the AI in Science Strategy seeks to harness AI for scientific breakthroughs, including data curation and advanced research tools.
The initiatives, announced by Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, build on the April 2025 AI Continent Action Plan and complement the AI Act, the world’s first comprehensive AI regulation, which entered into force in August 2025.
The strategies address Europe’s lag in AI deployment, where only 8% of firms use AI compared to 25% in the U.S., according to Commission data.
Initiative Details
The Apply AI Strategy outlines measures to integrate AI across strategic industries and the public sector, including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, energy, mobility, manufacturing, construction, agri-food, defence, communications, and culture.
Key actions include:
- Accelerating time-to-market for AI solutions by linking infrastructure, data, and testing facilities.
- Strengthening the EU workforce through AI training programs.
- Launching a Frontier AI Initiative to unite leading industrial and academic actors in advanced AI development.
- Upgrading European Digital Innovation Hubs into AI Experience Centres, providing SMEs with access to tools, data, and infrastructure.
To coordinate efforts, the Commission is establishing the Apply AI Alliance, a forum involving industry, public sector, academia, social partners, and civil society.
An AI Observatory will monitor trends and assess sectoral impacts.
In parallel, the Commission launched the AI Act Service Desk to support compliance with the AI Act, offering guidance on its risk-based rules.
The AI in Science Strategy aims to position Europe at the forefront of AI-driven research by:
- Supporting scientists to identify data gaps and curate datasets for AI applications.
- Enhancing access to high-performance computing and AI tools for research.
- Promoting ethical and sustainable AI use in scientific activities, ensuring privacy, data integrity, and security.
The strategy emphasizes collaborative science, leveraging Europe’s research infrastructure and talent ecosystem.
Company Response
“This is a pivotal moment for Europe to harness AI’s transformative power while ensuring it remains human-centric and trustworthy,” Virkkunen said in a statement.
The strategies will explore stronger demand for European AI solutions, including open-source models, and coordinate with Member States on procurement policies. The Commission’s Joint Research Centre will provide studies and assessments on AI’s role in science and industry to guide implementation.
Broader Context
The initiatives follow the AI Continent Action Plan, which set a roadmap for Europe to become an AI superpower, focusing on infrastructure, talent, and regulation.
Europe’s AI ecosystem includes world-class supercomputing, vibrant startups, and high-quality data, but uptake remains low due to regulatory caution and skills gaps.
The AI Act classifies systems by risk, banning unacceptable uses like social scoring while mandating transparency for high-risk AI.
The strategies link to upcoming initiatives, including a Data Union Strategy later this month to improve data access for AI. They also align with the EU’s 2021 Coordinated Plan on AI, updated in 2025 to emphasize excellence and trust.
Market Reaction
European tech stocks rose modestly on Wednesday, with the STOXX Europe 600 Technology Index up 0.5%, buoyed by optimism over AI investments.
Shares in AI firms like ASML Holding and Siemens rose 1.2% and 0.8%, respectively, in Amsterdam and Frankfurt trading.
Analysts at Barclays said the strategies could unlock 1.5% annual GDP growth by 2030 through AI adoption, per a 2024 study.
The European Commission estimates AI could add 13.5% to EU GDP by 2030 if uptake accelerates.
Challenges
Barriers include fragmented data markets, skills shortages, and ethical concerns over AI biases and privacy. The strategies must navigate varying Member State readiness, with northern countries like Finland leading in AI research while southern states lag in infrastructure.
Funding is key: The EU’s Horizon Europe program allocates 1.7 billion euros for AI from 2021-2027, but critics say more is needed to match U.S. investments exceeding $100 billion annually. Implementation of the AI Act, with full enforcement by 2027, could slow adoption if compliance burdens SMEs.
Quotes
Virkkunen said: “These strategies will drive AI adoption across Europe’s economy and science, ensuring we lead with innovation that is safe, sustainable, and inclusive.”
A Commission official added: “Europe has the talent and infrastructure—we now need the bold actions to put AI to work for our industries and researchers.”
Broader Industry Trends
Global AI investment hit $200 billion in 2025, per McKinsey, with Europe capturing 15%, behind the U.S. (50%) and China (20%). The EU’s focus on trustworthy AI differentiates it, with the AI Act influencing global standards, as seen in U.S. states adopting similar risk-based rules.
Initiatives like GenAI4EU, launched in 2024, fund generative AI uptake in strategic sectors, complementing the new strategies.
The Apply AI Alliance will foster public-private partnerships, similar to the U.S. CHIPS Act’s collaborative model.
In science, AI tools like AlphaFold have accelerated protein folding research, and the EU strategy aims to replicate such successes across fields. The Data Union Strategy, expected soon, will address data silos, a key enabler for AI training.
Outlook
The strategies are expected to roll out over 2025-2030, with initial actions like the AI Act Service Desk operational immediately. The Commission will report progress annually, with Member States required to align national plans by mid-2026.
Analysts at Deloitte forecast that full implementation could create 1 million AI-related jobs in Europe by 2028. As the U.S. and China race ahead in AI scale, Europe’s emphasis on ethics and uptake could carve a niche in regulated sectors like healthcare and finance.
The initiatives position the EU to capture 20% of global AI market share by 2030, up from 10% today, per Commission projections.
