New Dual Strategy for AI Leadership On October 8, 2025, Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen unveiled two significant strategies aimed at embedding Artificial Intelligence (AI) across Europe: the Apply AI Strategy and the European AI in Science Strategy. These initiatives, approved by the College, form Virkkunen's vision to transform the EU into a leading AI continent.
Concrete Sectoral Focus and Policy Orientation The Apply AI Strategy targets specific industries including healthcare, mobility, and robotics with precise actions such as establishing AI-powered screening centers for healthcare and promoting autonomous driving cars in mobility. It advocates an AI-first policy urging companies and public administrations to prioritize AI solutions. Complementing this is a multi-pronged support system involving European Digital Innovation Hubs and AI Factories, backed by significant investment interest exceeding 230 billion euros. Importantly, it promotes a “buy European AI” approach, especially in the public sector, focusing on open-source solutions. Supporting measures include AI literacy training and an Apply AI Alliance to coordinate stakeholders.
Scientific Innovation via RAISE The second strategy introduces RAISE, a resource hub combining funding, talent, and computing power to boost both AI research and the use of AI across scientific fields, with emphasis on frontier AI's security and safety.
Implications for Stakeholders For European businesses, especially in industrial automation and tech startups, this represents opportunities to innovate and access financing and infrastructure but also imposes compliance with new AI rules supported by tools like the Compliance Checker. Public sector authorities gain enhanced tools and guidance to deploy AI but must adapt to the administrative integration. Consumers could see improved services but face the challenges of AI systemic impact. The scientific community stands to benefit from coordinated research resources but will be expected to align with evolving AI advancements and regulation.
This strategy reflects a clear shift towards increasing EU-level coordination and regulatory guidance, favoring European technology adoption, and supporting the expansion of AI capabilities both industrially and scientifically.
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