The European Commission announced a new €1 billion package to help companies adopt AI in strategic sectors such as healthcare, energy, automotive, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and defense. The plan, nicknamed Apply AI, funds projects like AI screening centers in hospitals and agentic AI for industrial and climate use cases.

The initiative lands alongside the phased application of the EU AI Act, which set obligations for general-purpose AI models in August 2025 and fully applies by August 2026, with some exceptions.

Why it matters: funding plus clearer rules aim to reduce EU dependence on non-EU tech, while nudging startups to build within Europe’s regulatory framework.