€240 million available in new Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Digital calls

The second set of calls under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Digital Programme is open for submission of proposals.

The aim is to support projects for secure, fast and high-capacity networks, backbone infrastructures, including quantum communication, cloud federation and submarine cables, strengthen the networks that connect rural, remote and overseas areas, as well as increasingly digitalise transport and energy networks.

Calls, topics and available budget

5G Coverage along Transport Corridors

• € 28 million for works and studies
• € 2 million for Coordination & Support Action (5G-cloud-edge integration)

5G for Smart Communities

• € 50 million for works

Backbone networks for pan-European Cloud federations

• €3 million for studies addressing specific domains (for example health cloud) at EU regional or national level

Backbone connectivity for Digital Global Gateways

• €153 million for works (which can include study components)

European Quantum Communication Infrastructures (EuroQCI) *Cancelled and to be relaunched in the future*

Operational Digital Platforms for transport and energy infrastructures across the EU

• €4 million for Coordination & Support Action

Find out more about the calls and apply on the dedicated page on our website.

Who can apply?

The CEF Digital calls are open to legal entities, public or private bodies (including joint ventures) established in EU countries, including overseas countries or territories. Participation is subject to certain security restrictions, which are defined in each call text.

Useful information

The application deadline has been extended to 21 March 2023 - 17:00 CET (Brussels).

The Info Day will take place virtually on 25 October. Interested applicants can learn more about applying, drafting successful proposals, call topics and the evaluation and award process.

For additional information regarding the adoption of the digital work programme, check out the official press release.

For any questions related to the calls you can contact HADEA-CEF-DIGITAL-CALLSec [dot] europa [dot] eu (HADEA-CEF-DIGITAL-CALLS[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu).

Please note that the Call for European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI) has been cancelled and is to be relaunched in the future. The budget of the Digital Global Gateways Call has consequently been increased from €100 million to €153 million and the overall budget of Call 2 has decreased from €277 million to €240 million.