EDITORIAL, February 28, 2025 

Artificial intelligence and technological innovations play a key role in global development, promising to transform industries and economies. The European Union and countries such as Germany, Switzerland, and Luxembourg actively support startups, research, and development in AI through various programs, hubs, and funding opportunities. This article provides a detailed overview of key initiatives at the EU level and in some German-speaking countries, highlighting their contribution to technological progress and available funding opportunities.

EU Programs for Technological Development and AI

The EU offers a wide range of programs to support research, innovation, and the implementation of technologies, particularly in AI and startups. Below is an analysis of each program with funding details and links to official resources.

• Horizon Europe: This is the EU’s flagship research and innovation program with a budget of €95.5 billion for the 2021-2027 period. It includes significant funding for AI through various calls and topics. For example, in 2024, proposal calls include a budget of over €112 million for AI and quantum technologies, including €50 million for large AI models and €15 million for AI transparency and reliability. Details available at Horizon Europe.
• Digital Europe Programme: This program focuses on implementing digital technologies for businesses, citizens, and government administrations, including AI. It has a budget of €7.5 billion for 2021-2027, allocating over €1 billion annually through Horizon Europe and Digital Europe for AI-related projects such as testing and experimental platforms. Details at Digital Europe Programme.
• European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator: Part of Horizon Europe, this program supports innovative startups and small enterprises (SMEs), including those working in AI and technology. The program offers grants of up to €2.5 million and investments of up to €15 million through blended financing. In 2025, the budget amounts to €634 million, divided into open calls and thematic calls. Details at EIC Accelerator.
• European Investment Bank (EIB) and European Investment Fund (EIF): EIB and EIF provide funding for AI companies through various instruments, including co-investment of up to €150 million to support early-stage and growth-stage companies working on breakthrough AI applications such as blockchain, the Internet of Things, and robotics. Additionally, a €100 million pilot project for AI and blockchain is mentioned. Details at EIB and EIF.
• InvestAI Initiative: Launched on February 11, 2025, at the AI Action Summit in Paris, this initiative aims to mobilize €200 billion in AI investments, including a new €20 billion European fund for constructing four AI gigafactories. These factories will be equipped with approximately 100,000 next-generation AI chips, four times more than current factories, making it the world’s largest partnership for developing reliable AI. Details at InvestAI.

National Initiatives in Germany

Germany has a well-developed ecosystem for technological development and startups, including numerous hubs, incubators, and funding programs.

• Technology Hubs and Tech Parks:

• Berlin Tech Hub: A center for startups, particularly in AI and technology, with a strong venture capital ecosystem. Details at Berlin Tech Hub.
• Technologiepark Heidelberg: Focused on biotechnology and AI, supporting startups through infrastructure and networks. Details at Technologiepark Heidelberg.

• Incubators and Accelerators:

• Startupbootcamp Berlin: An acceleration program for tech startups, particularly in AI, offering mentorship and funding. Details at Startupbootcamp Berlin.
• Techstars Berlin: A global accelerator network supporting startups with investor access. Details at Techstars Berlin.
• Support and Funding Programs:

• EXIST: A federal startup support program offering grants of up to €50,000 for technological ideas, particularly in AI. Details at EXIST.
• High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF): A venture fund investing up to €2 million in early-stage startups, including AI. Details at HTGF.
• ZIM (Central Innovation Programme for SMEs): A program for small and medium-sized enterprises providing grants for innovative projects, including technology. Details at ZIM.

National Initiatives in Switzerland

Switzerland is known for its innovative environment, supporting technology hubs and startups through government and private initiatives.

• Technology Hubs and Tech Parks:

• Swiss Innovation Park: A national hub network focused on AI, biotechnology, and digital technologies, with access to research institutions. Details at Swiss Innovation Park.
• EPFL Innovation Park: Located in Lausanne, supporting tech startups, including AI, with access to EPFL resources. Details at EPFL Innovation Park.
• Zurich Innovation Park: Focus on startups in AI and financial technology, with strong ties to ETH Zurich. More details at Zurich Innovation Park.
• Incubators and Accelerators:

• Innosuisse: A federal agency supporting innovation through grants and acceleration programs for startups, especially in AI. More details at Innosuisse.
• Fongit: A Geneva-based incubator supporting tech startups with mentorship and funding. More details at Fongit.

• Support and Funding Programs:

• Venture Kick: An early-stage startup program offering grants of up to CHF 150,000 for tech ideas, including AI. More details at Venture Kick.
• Swiss Startup Factory: An accelerator providing startups with access to investors and mentorship. More details at Swiss Startup Factory.

National Initiatives in Luxembourg

Despite its small size, Luxembourg is actively developing a startup ecosystem, particularly in financial technology and AI.

• Tech Hubs and Innovation Parks:

• Luxembourg House of Financial Technology (LHoFT): A center for fintech startups, supporting AI and digital technology through infrastructure and networking. More details at LHoFT.
• Luxembourg-City Incubator: Supports startups across various tech fields, including AI, with access to mentorship. More details at Luxembourg-City Incubator.
• Incubators and Accelerators:
• Fit 4 Start: An acceleration program for tech startups, offering grants of up to €150,000 and mentorship, particularly in AI and fintech. More details at Fit 4 Start.
• Support and Funding Programs:

• Luxembourg Future Fund: A venture fund investing up to €5 million in startups, including AI. More details at Luxembourg Future Fund.
• Digital Luxembourg Initiative: Supports digital innovation, including grants for AI projects. More details at Digital Luxembourg Initiative.

Comparison Tables

For ease of comparison, below are tables summarizing key EU programs and national initiatives.

Comparison Table of EU Programs

Program	Description	Funding	Link
Horizon Europe	Research and innovation, including AI	€95.5 billion (2021-2027)	Horizon Europe
Digital Europe Programme	Deployment of digital technologies, including AI	€7.5 billion (2021-2027)	Digital Europe Programme
EIC Accelerator	Support for startups and SMEs in AI and technology	Up to €2.5 million in grants, up to €15 million in investments	EIC Accelerator
EIB & EIF	AI company financing through investment instruments	Up to €150 million through joint investments	EIB, EIF
InvestAI	Mobilization of AI investments, including gigafactories	€200 billion, including €20 billion for factories	InvestAI
Hi-Tech Innovation	European ecosystem supporting startups in technology, green energy, AI, and education	Competitive selection, initial funding, and structured financing with fund involvement	HiTECH INNO

Comparison Table of National Initiatives and Hubs

Country	Initiative/Hub	Description	Funding	Link
Germany	Berlin Tech Hub	AI startup center with a strong ecosystem	–	Berlin Tech Hub
Germany	EXIST	Grants up to €50,000 for technology ideas	Up to €50,000	EXIST
Switzerland	Swiss Innovation Park	National network of hubs focused on AI	–	Swiss Innovation Park
Switzerland	Venture Kick	Grants up to CHF 150,000 for early-stage startups	Up to CHF 150,000	Venture Kick
Luxembourg	Luxembourg House of Financial Tech	Fintech startup center supporting AI	–	LHoFT
Luxembourg	Fit 4 Start	Grants up to €150,000 and mentorship for AI and fintech	Up to €150,000	Fit 4 Start

The analysis shows that the EU and countries such as Germany, Switzerland, and Luxembourg offer a wide range of programs and initiatives to support technological development, startups, and AI. From large-scale programs like Horizon Europe to local hubs like Berlin Tech Hub, these efforts create a favorable environment for innovation. Particularly impressive is the InvestAI initiative, aimed at establishing the world’s largest AI factories, highlighting the EU’s ambition to become a leader in trustworthy and ethical AI.

Key Sources:

• Horizon Europe funding opportunities
• Digital Europe Programme activities
• EIC Accelerator funding
• European Investment Bank homepage
• European Investment Fund homepage
• InvestAI initiative announcement
• Berlin Tech Hub Overview
• Technologiepark Heidelberg Details
• Munich Research & Innovation Hub
• Startupbootcamp Berlin Program
• Techstars Berlin Accelerator
• EXIST Startup Program
• High-Tech Gründerfonds Investment
• ZIM Innovation Program
• Swiss Innovation Park Network
• EPFL Innovation Park Support
• Zurich Innovation Park Focus
• Innosuisse Innovation Agency
• Fongit Incubator Geneva
• Venture Kick Grants
• Swiss Startup Factory Accelerator
• Luxembourg House of Financial Technology
• Luxembourg-City Incubator Support
• Fit 4 Start Acceleration Program
• Nyuko Incubator Luxembourg
• Luxembourg Future Fund Investment
• Digital Luxembourg Initiative
• Hi-Tech Innovation Platform

Additional links: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/programmes/horizon 

EDIH Network

Through the EDIH Network, the European Commission aims to create a dynamic community of hubs and other stakeholders that foster networking, collaboration, and knowledge exchange among EDIHs, SMEs, the public sector, and other relevant stakeholders and initiatives. 

The Digital Transformation Accelerator (DTA) supports this goal by managing the network’s web presence and hosting the dedicated program platform and tools, including the online EDIH catalog.

The EDIH Network web portal provides tools to assess the performance of the EDIH network, measuring the impact EDIHs have on the digital maturity of the organizations they support.

To achieve this, the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre has developed a Digital Maturity Assessment Tool, which can be used by all EDIHs to measure the digital maturity progress of their clients.

The Digital Maturity Assessment Tool is available in a restricted section of the EDIH Network web portal, accessible only to registered EDIHs.