IMC Newsdesk

Europe: Security & Public Policy Archive

  • January 20, 2026
  • William Payne

EU Frontier AI Grand Challenge Winner Selection

June 19, 2026

The European Commission selected the Italian-led EUROPA consortium to develop a sovereign, open-source frontier AI model. The project aims to build a robust model capable of operating fluently across all 24 official EU languages.

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EU State of the Digital Decade Report

June 17, 2026

The European Commission released its 2026 progress report on regional connectivity, digital public services, and business adoption of advanced technologies. The report warns of structural dependency risks and calls for sustained public investments as regional recovery funds begin to phase out by late 2026.

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EU

EU High-Risk AI Draft Guidelines

The European Commission has released draft guidelines designed to help providers and deployers classify whether their AI systems fall into “high-risk” categories under the EU AI Act.

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EU Smart Cities Public Transport support for Leuven and De Lijn

The European Commission’s Smart Cities Marketplace is supporting the city of Leuven and transport operator De Lijn advance automated public transport solutions. By bridging the gap between local project designs and potential private investors, the assistance seeks to accelerate the deployment of climate-neutral transit infrastructure.

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EU Smart Cities Marketplace Clean Energy support for Kortrijk

The city of Kortrijk has received technical assistance from the EU’s Smart Cities Marketplace to support its local clean energy transition goals. This structured support is aimed at identifying barriers to large-scale renewable projects and designing effective governance models to mobilise clean energy investments.

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EU Open Call for Local Digital Twins

EU-funded project “Local Digital Twins for Smart and Sustainable Communities” (LDT4SSC) has launched its third open call to finance pilots under Work Strand 2. The call, which features a total budget of over €3.2 million, targets consortia looking to construct interoperable digital twins that resolve shared urban and environmental challenges.

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EU Funding for Health Sector AI and Online Safety

The European Commission has announced the release of €63.2 million to support AI innovation in healthcare systems and improve online safety under the Digital Europe Programme. This funding targets the development of trustworthy AI models, piloting medical image screening, and establishing secure, interoperable health data infrastructures.

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EU Horizon Europe Digital Twins Initiative

The EU-funded BUILDSPACE project, coordinated by SingularLogic in Greece, has announced the successful use of Copernicus Earth Observation data and Galileo-enabled navigation alongside digital twin technologies to optimize building energy-efficiency. The operational framework allows cities to simulate climate resilience and deploy precise thermal imaging and localized environmental mapping.

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European Commission: Digital Networks Act (DNA) Implementation Roadmap

Following its January proposal, the EU has released updated guidance on the Digital Networks Act. The act aims to harmonize the telecommunications market and specifically empowers the Commission to authorize “network slicing” for industrial IoT applications, ensuring high-priority connectivity for smart manufacturing and energy grids.

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EU Cybersecurity Act 2 (CSA2) – High-Risk Supplier Restrictions

Under the newly revised Cybersecurity Act (CSA2), the European Commission has released a delegated act detailing the mechanism to restrict ICT components from high-risk suppliers. This affects the procurement of hardware for mobile, fixed, and satellite electronic communications networks across the Union.

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European Union: AI-Powered IoT for Electric Grid Optimization

The European Commission (DG CONNECT) has issued a large-scale call for tenders (Lot 2) for AI-powered solutions for electric grid optimization. While categorized under AI, the contract explicitly requires the development of IoT-driven data collection and testing to manage decentralized energy resources across the EU.

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European Union: Supply of Equipment for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)

The EU has issued a procurement notice for the supply of specialised equipment for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). This includes IoT-enabled sensors and communication hardware designed to enhance traffic safety and data collection on major European transport corridors.

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EU GDPR Amendments for AI/IoT Development

The EU Commission is advancing the “Digital Omnibus Package,” which includes amendments to facilitate the use of pseudonymized data in training AI for IoT applications.

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EU AI Act Guidelines for High-Risk Systems

The Commission has released updated practical examples of “high-risk” AI use cases for urban management and critical infrastructure. These guidelines help local authorities determine compliance requirements for smart city deployments.

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European Commission Issues High-Risk AI Classification Guidelines

The European Commission has released official guidelines specifying the practical implementation of Article 6 of the EU AI Act. These documents provide the definitive criteria for businesses to determine if their AI systems are “high-risk,” a key step ahead of the August 2026 full application deadline.

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EU proposes “Industrial Accelerator Act” (IAA)

The European Commission has formally proposed the Industrial Accelerator Act to boost EU competitiveness. The act aims to streamline public procurement for low-carbon products and introduces “Made with Europe” frameworks to reduce strategic dependencies on foreign suppliers for critical industrial value chains.

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OECD Report on AI in Mobility (EU Focus)

The OECD has published a major report on the uptake of AI in high-impact sectors across the EU. The report identifies real-time traffic flow optimisation and predictive maintenance in Spain and Germany as leading examples of AI-enabled smart transportation.

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European Digital Sovereignty Declaration

European Union member states have co-signed the European Digital Sovereignty Declaration. This policy commitment focuses on creating a secure European Digital Wallet and ensuring that strategic national data is processed and held only within European high-security data centres. It reflects a Europe-wide shift that includes non-EU members Norway and the UK.

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EU proposes simplified rules for Digital Networks Act

The European Commission has proposed simpler rules for the Digital Networks Act to overhaul the EU’s telecommunications framework. It aims to facilitate roll-out of cross-border fibre and 5G infrastructure, ensuring the EU remains competitive in the global digital economy while simplifying regulatory hurdles for telecom operators.

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New EU Cybersecurity Package & NIS2 Amendments

The EU has proposed a new package to strengthen the EU’s collective cyber-resilience, specifically including targeted amendments to the NIS2 Directive. The initiative focuses on improving cross-border cooperation among national authorities and establishing more robust cybersecurity certification schemes for managed security services.

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EuroHPC amended for AI and Quantum growth

The EU Council and Parliament have agreed to amend the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking regulation to integrate “AI Factories.” The aim is to provide start-ups and industrial SMEs with the computing power required to train large-scale AI models within Europe.

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EU: ACON Cross-Border Smart Grid Project Event

The EU’s Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) has announced the completion of the ACON (Again COnnected Networks) programme, a flagship smart grid project between Slovakia and Czechia. Supported by €91.2 million in EU funding, the project has modernised regional electricity grids with digital technologies to improve reliability and flexibility for renewable energy.

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UK

UK Warning on AI-Driven Cyber Threats

The UK government has issued a formal open letter warning business leaders that advanced AI is rapidly lowering the cost and increasing the speed of cyberattacks. Corporate boards are strongly urged to take direct ownership of cyber risks.

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UK Transport Research and Innovation Grants 2026

The UK Department for Transport and the Connected Places Catapult launched the 2026 Transport Research and Innovation Grants (TRIG) program to support early-stage solutions for a greener, safer transport network. The initiative offers up to £45,000 in non-matching grant funding per project for conceptual research in areas including digital twins, critical transport technologies, and maritime decarbonisation.

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UK Launch of “Sovereign AI” Funding for Industrial & Healthcare Applications

The UK government has announced the first phase of a £500 million Sovereign AI initiative. This funding is earmarked for homegrown AI firms focusing on industrial supercomputing, drug discovery, and the integration of AI within national infrastructure to drive economic growth and job creation.

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UK Procurement: AI Tutoring Tools for Disadvantaged Pupils

The UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has invited EdTech companies and AI laboratories to bid on a new contract for developing safe, personalized AI tutoring tools. This procurement focuses on creating ethical AI models that can be scaled across the public education sector to improve learning outcomes.

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UK Cybersecurity: Consultation on Signal Jamming Device Ban

The UK government has announced a consultation on banning signal jamming devices frequently used by criminals to disrupt vehicle tracking and smart doorbell IoT systems. This move is part of a broader strategy to protect domestic and commercial IoT infrastructure from physical-layer cyber interference. Of interest to IoT companies in: connected vehicles; smart retail; and smart home tech.

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UK £210 Million Government Cyber Action Plan Published

The UK government has unveiled an investment to strengthen the cyber resilience of public services, including healthcare and tax systems. The plan establishes a new “Government Cyber Unit” to coordinate incident response across all departments and local authorities.

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UK Software Security Ambassador Scheme Launched

The UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has appointed cyber industry majors like Cisco and Palo Alto Networks as “Ambassadors” for its Software Security Code of Practice. The scheme aims to prevent supply chain attacks on critical national infrastructure.

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UK: AI Growth Zones and Grid Accelerators

The UK Government has published its latest Industrial Strategy update, launching “AI Growth Zones” in North and South Wales to provide localised tax incentives for tech firms. Simultaneously, it has introduced the “Connections Accelerator Service,” a pilot programme designed to fast-track energy grid connections for critical digital infrastructure and renewable energy projects.

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UK-Japan Digital Partnership: IoT Security Labelling Agreement

Following a ministerial meeting, the UK and Japan has finalised a mutual recognition agreement for IoT security labels. This ensures that smart consumer devices (like connected appliances) meet shared cybersecurity standards, facilitating trade and protecting consumers from insecure “smart” home technologies.

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UK-Australia Frontier AI Security Pact

The United Kingdom and Australia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to deepen cooperation between their respective AI Safety Institutes to combat fast-moving frontier AI security risks.

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UK: Tees Valley Digital Twin Slashes Road Delays by 13%

Tees Valley Combined Authority has announced the success of the UK’s first region-wide automated digital twin for traffic management. The pilot project used AI-driven models to adjust traffic signals in real-time, resulting in a 13.7% reduction in delays across major routes.

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UK: Reform of the Electricity Grid Connection Process

The UK National Energy System Operator (NESO) and the UK national energy regulator Ofgem has announced the “biggest reform to-date” of the grid connection process, moving from a “first-come, first-served” system to one that prioritises “shovel-ready” projects. This transformation aims to unlock £40 billion in annual investment and clear “zombie projects” from the queue to meet the UK 2030 Clean Power target.

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UK: NHS Smart Health IP Reform for AI

For the first time in 23 years, the UK Government has updated the NHS Intellectual Property (IP) guidance. The reforms are aimed at streamlining how medical innovations move from concept to frontline use. This policy shift, paired with a £300 million capital investment in NHS technology, is designed to speed up the adoption of AI-driven diagnostic tools and administrative automation.

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UK: Dundee City Council Cybersecurity Digital Twin Project

Scotland’s Dundee City Council is partnering Abertay University’s CyberQuarter to address municipal research problems. A key project involves students creating a secure “digital twin” of the city’s website to explore and enhance the cyber resilience of public sector organisations.

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City Council Joins Abertay cyberQuarter

Germany

Germany Transnational Repression Cyber Security Guidance

May 21, 2026

Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Interior published a detailed handbook designed to help vulnerable individuals protect their digital footprints from state-sponsored surveillance. The guidance specifically warns against tracking vulnerabilities associated with smart wearables and automated cloud synchronisation.

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Germany: Consulting and Operation of IoT Real-World Laboratories

The city of Koblenz (Rheinland-Pfalz) has issued a tender for the consulting, setup, and operation of IoT applications within a dedicated “Living Lab” (Reallabor). This project seeks to test urban IoT solutions such as smart environmental sensors and traffic management before wider municipal rollout.

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Germany: Cabinet Adoption of “AI Gigafactory” and Data Centre Strategy

The German government has announced a policy paper to quadruple AI computing capacity by 2030, with the wider goal of the programme is to drive resilient industrial, transport, energy and infrastructure digital modernisation, which will accelerate the implementation of AIoT, intelligent edge systems, smart cities, and transport digitalisation. Key measures include the construction of at least one commercial “AI gigafactory” and streamlining planning processes to make Germany a sovereign data hub.

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Germany Reports Industrial Recovery Stabilisation

Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs (BMWK) has reported that demand from the “Special Fund for Infrastructure and Climate Neutrality” is beginning to stimulate industrial output. The report highlights a turnaround in orders for goods-producing sectors despite prior energy price volatility.

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Germany: National Cybersecurity Act

Germany’s new Cybersecurity Act has officially come into force. The act transposes the requirements of the EU’s NIS2 Directive into federal law. It mandates stricter security protocols and reporting requirements for “essential” and “important” entities, including energy providers, healthcare facilities, and digital service providers.

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Italy-Germany Security and Resilience Agreement

Germany and Italy have signed an “Agreement on Enhanced Co-operation on Security, Defence, and Resilience,” which includes a dedicated chapter on technological sovereignty. The agreement focuses on joint development of AI for defence and the protection of critical underwater and energy infrastructure.

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Germany/Poland: Joint Declaration on Smart Infrastructure Cooperation

During the 17th government consultations, Germany and Poland committed to exploring cooperation in the digital economy and smart energy infrastructure. The declaration specifically emphasizes joint efforts in smart city development, e-health, and AI to enhance regional competitiveness.

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France

France: Technical Integration for Age Verification (IoT/Digital ID)

The French Ministry for AI and Digital has launched a “Forum for Operationalisation” (FOVA) with a specific call for expressions of interest regarding technical integration. This involves the use of secure hardware and digital signatures often tied to mobile IoT devices for online age verification.

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Reindustrialisation Incentives in French Budget

France has reaffirmed its “France 2030” plan following the passage of the country’s budget. This includes massive subsidies for life sciences manufacturing and green industry, and will see a focus on increased modernisation and infrastructure support for both the energy grid and industrial sectors, especially in the process, pharma and life science sectors.

France Implements New IoT Numbering Plan

The French regulator ARCEP has begun enforcement of a new National Numbering Plan. This includes a dedicated category of numbers for automated “Public Interest” messages and IoT devices to combat caller ID spoofing and fraud.

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Toulouse unveils city management platform

The city of Toulouse in the south west of France has unveiled a real-time city management platform that brings together building information management (BIM), city information modelling (CIM), and Operation and Maintenance (GEM).

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Italy

Italy Designates Data Centres as “Strategic Infrastructure”

The Italian government has introduced a new regulatory framework that designates data centres over 300 MW as strategic infrastructure. This allows for a “Single Authorisation Procedure” through the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, cutting permit times to 10 months.

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Terna Updates 2026 Grid Digitalisation Plan

Italy’s grid operator, Terna, has accelerated its €16.6 billion industrial plan to include “Digital Twin” technology for the entire national grid. The goal is to manage real-time energy flows for hyperscale AI data centres without compromising local stability.

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Italy-Germany Security and Resilience Agreement

Germany and Italy have signed an “Agreement on Enhanced Co-operation on Security, Defence, and Resilience,” which includes a dedicated chapter on technological sovereignty. The agreement focuses on joint development of AI for defence and the protection of critical underwater and energy infrastructure.

For more information:

Spain

Spain: NB-IoT Communication Services for Smart Water Meters

The Community of Madrid (Canal de Isabel II) has updated a major tender for NB-IoT (Narrowband IoT) connectivity services for the region’s smart water meters. This procurement is a core part of the city’s smart utility strategy, aiming to automate meter readings and leak detection using specialized cellular IoT networks.

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Spain’s Sustainable Mobility Law: Milestone 1 Effective

Spain’s landmark Sustainable Mobility Law has entered its first major phase of enforcement. New mandates require rail operators to provide automatic refunds for delays of 15+ minutes, part of a larger push to use digital tracking to improve public transport reliability.

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Spain Approves “Railway Emergency Plan” Phase 1

Following the Adamuz rail incident on January 18, 2026, the Spanish Ministry of Transport has approved a province-by-province digital identification of priority traffic lines. This plan integrates IoT sensor data to monitor track conditions and rolling stock in real-time.

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Spain: €355 Million Aid Package for Energy Industry Value Chain

The Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition has launched a new funding call of €355 million to underpin the industrial value chain of the energy transition. The funds target manufacturers of components for solar, wind, and smart grid technologies, aiming to localise production within Spain.

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Spain: Launch of RedCyTI Smart Territories Grant ($89M)

The Spanish government has launched the RedCyTI aid programme, allocating 89 million euros to promote smart cities and territories. The first phase targets “Smart Economy” initiatives, focusing on digital tools to drive local productivity and economic development through urban technology.

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Netherlands

Dutch Government Expands Telehealth Reimbursement Framework

The Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) has implemented new funding rules that officially treat video consultations as equal to face-to-face visits for reimbursement. This is part of the “Zorg van Nu” (eHealth Now) initiative to make digital healthcare a standard across the Netherlands.

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Netherlands: Response to Smart Meter Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities

The Netherlands Ministry of Climate and Green Growth has addressed parliamentary concerns regarding a large order of 4 million smart meters from Chinese manufacturers. The government announced updated cybersecurity vetting procedures for energy grid hardware to mitigate potential risks of foreign interference in national energy data.

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Dutch provinces seek to promote manufacturing

The Dutch provinces at the heart of The Netherlands high tech industries want to support the government in developing a national high tech industrial strategy. Deputies from the provinces of Gelderland, Brabant and Overijssel have met government ministers at The Hague. The issue has become acute since the Dutch Government seized control of Chinese-owned firm Nexperia in the name of national security.

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Poland

Poland: Funding for Large-Scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)

The Polish Ministry of Climate and Environment announced a new funding round for the implementation of large-scale energy storage (BESS) to stabilize the national grid. This initiative is part of the “Green, Smart Mobility” component of the National Recovery Plan, aimed at transforming the energy grid into a bidirectional system.

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Poland Prepares for Q1 NIS2 Implementation

The Polish Ministry of Digital Affairs has confirmed that its implementation of the NIS2 cybersecurity directive is in the final parliamentary phase. The Polish version is significantly stricter than the EU baseline, including a “High-Risk Vendor” regime that affects 18 critical sectors.

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Poland Allocates $2.5 Billion for Digitisation Strategy

The Polish government has entered the primary spending phase of its 2025-2026 Digitisation Strategy. A significant portion ($700 million) is being funnelled into defensive cybersecurity infrastructure as part of Poland’s EU Presidency priorities.

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Poland Digitisation Strategy 2026–2027: AI Factories and Sandboxes

Poland has announced its digital roadmap for the next two years, including the construction of two massive “AI Factories” in Poznań and Kraków. The plan also commits to launching a national AI Regulatory Sandbox by August 2026 to allow businesses to test AI applications in a controlled environment.

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Germany/Poland: Joint Declaration on Smart Infrastructure Cooperation

During the 17th government consultations, Germany and Poland committed to exploring cooperation in the digital economy and smart energy infrastructure. The declaration specifically emphasizes joint efforts in smart city development, e-health, and AI to enhance regional competitiveness.

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Poland: Shift in Energy Grid to Onshore

Poland’s power grid operator (PSE) has announced a pivot to prioritise onshore wind and energy storage over high-cost offshore projects. This shift is intended to keep energy prices competitive for the industrial sector and ensure the grid can handle the rapid expansion of the Polish data centre and supercomputing industry.

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Portugal

Portuguese cities receive €38 million

Portuguese cities have received €38 million from the European Union for sustainable mobility operations. The cities of Braga, Cascais, Vila Nova de Gaia and Lisbon have received 38 million euros from EIT Urban Mobility, an arm of the European Commission that supports innovative and sustainable solutions for urban transport.

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Finland

Finland AI-Assisted Healthcare Proposals

The Finnish Government has submitted a proposal to amend the country’s Health Care Act to allow use of AI and medical devices for “technology-assisted assessment” of the need for care. This would automate initial patient triage in primary care. Patients will retain the right to an assessment by a human professional.

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Sweden

Norway

Scandinavia

NordForsk Joint Initiative on Disruptive Technologies

A coalition including the UK, Canada, and the NordForsk Nordic Council states has launched a major research call for “Disruptive Technologies.” The programme provides up to 17.1 million NOK per project to develop innovations that radically alter economic systems or address UN Sustainable Development Goals.

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Nordic Energy Challenge 2026: “Powering Nordic AI”

Nordic Energy Research has opened the 2026 Challenge focusing on the intersection of AI and the green transition. The initiative seeks to use AI to optimise grid resilience and accelerate the integration of renewable energy across Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland.

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Baltic States

Estonia: Smart City Exchange & Digital Twin Initiative

In Tallinn, government representatives from the Baltic-Nordic region have showcased the use of digital twins for urban resilience. The forum highlighted new cross-border cybersecurity protocols for municipal infrastructure.

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