The initiative, promoted by the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy (MIMIT), completes the triptych of Important Projects of Common European Interest dedicated to the digital sector, alongside the programs already launched for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Semiconductors. The primary objective is the construction of a European supply chain capable of guaranteeing technological independence through a multi-provider and scalable architecture.
The industrial strategy focuses on the creation of an Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) type of infrastructure, characterized by cloud and edge platforms distributed on a continental scale. This model aims to prevent technological lock-in phenomena, ensuring high standards of IT security and energy sustainability.
Candidate projects will have to demonstrate a solid transnational dimensionpromoting direct collaborations between companies from different Member States to integrate skills along the entire data chain: from the physical construction of data centers to the provision of advanced artificial intelligence services.
The concept of computing continuum represents the heart of the initiative. It is aimed at create a network of interconnected sovereign infrastructures that allow data processing directly at the generation sites. These infrastructures will be distributed regionally but integrated into an interoperable European network, with open and non-discriminatory access. Italian companies have until May 7, 2026 to send their proposals to the PEC [email protected].
Subsequently, a ministerial commission will evaluate the suitability of the projects for access to the European matchmaking phase and final notification to the European Commission.