International Cooperation in Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The European Commission has announced a forthcoming Horizon Europe funding opportunity aimed at accelerating the adoption, testing, validation, and deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions in low- and middle-income countries, with a strong focus on strengthening AI innovation ecosystems across Africa and other developing regions.

The call seeks to support collaborations between European and international partners to adapt existing AI technologies, train AI systems using local data, establish AI Living Labs, and deploy AI solutions that address pressing societal challenges such as healthcare, agriculture, climate resilience, education, biodiversity conservation, and humanitarian response.

Projects are expected to support responsible AI development, digital transformation, technology transfer, and sustainable socio-economic development while strengthening international digital cooperation between Europe and partner countries.

Funding Programme

Programme: Horizon Europe (HORIZON)

Call: DIGITAL (HORIZON-CL4-2027-04)

Topic Code: HORIZON-CL4-2027-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-06

Topic Title: International Cooperation in Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Type of Action: Innovation Action (IA)

Funding Type: Horizon Europe Lump Sum Grant

Opening Date: 17 November 2026

Closing Date: 18 March 2027 (17:00 Brussels Time)

Objectives

The call aims to:

• Accelerate uptake of AI solutions by innovation hubs in low- and middle-income countries.
• Strengthen local AI ecosystems and innovation capacity.
• Support deployment of AI technologies tailored to local contexts.
• Establish Living Labs that facilitate co-creation between communities, researchers, entrepreneurs and policymakers.
• Promote ethical and responsible AI adoption.
• Enhance technology transfer and knowledge exchange between Europe and partner countries.
• Support large-scale deployment of AI solutions addressing key development challenges.

Priority Areas

Projects should focus on AI solutions that contribute to:

• Healthcare and public health
• Agriculture and food security
• Climate change adaptation and mitigation
• Biodiversity conservation
• Environmental sustainability
• Education and skills development
• Humanitarian assistance
• Socio-economic development

Expected Activities

Eligible projects may include:

• Training and optimisation of AI systems using local datasets.
• Development and operation of AI Living Labs.
• Testing and validation of AI technologies in real-world environments.
• Demonstration projects supporting deployment readiness.
• Capacity building and talent development.
• Technology transfer and knowledge exchange.
• Scaling AI solutions through local innovation hubs.
• Building partnerships with existing initiatives such as:
  • Global Gateway
  • Smart Africa
  • Digital for Development (D4D) Hub
  • AI for Public Good
  • GenAI for Africa

Projects are expected to start at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 and achieve TRL 7 by project completion.

Geographic Eligibility

The call specifically targets collaboration with low- and middle-income countries.

African countries eligible for participation and funding include:

• Algeria
• Angola
• Benin
• Botswana
• Burkina Faso
• Burundi
• Cabo Verde
• Cameroon
• Central African Republic
• Chad
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Republic of Congo
• Djibouti
• Egypt
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Eswatini
• Ethiopia
• Gabon
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Kenya
• Lesotho
• Liberia
• Libya
• Madagascar
• Malawi
• Mali
• Mauritania
• Mauritius
• Morocco
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Rwanda
• São Tomé and Príncipe
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia
• South Africa
• South Sudan
• Sudan
• Tanzania
• Togo
• Tunisia
• Uganda
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

Additional eligible countries are listed under Horizon Europe low- and middle-income country participation rules.

Where Must Projects Take Place?

Projects should be implemented within low- and middle-income countries and demonstrate real-world deployment and validation of AI technologies in operational environments.

A strong emphasis is placed on:

• African innovation ecosystems
• Local innovation hubs
• Community-driven AI solutions
• Deployment within target countries
• Local data utilisation
• Capacity building and skills transfer

Projects must demonstrate clear benefits and impact for the target countries where deployment occurs.

Consortium Requirements

This is a Horizon Europe Innovation Action and therefore requires an international consortium.

Unless otherwise specified in the final call documentation, proposals must include:

• At least three independent legal entities.
• Each entity must be established in a different country.
• At least one organisation must be established in an EU Member State.
• At least two additional organisations must be established in different EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries.

Strong participation from:

• Universities
• Research institutions
• AI innovation hubs
• SMEs and start-ups
• Technology companies
• Civil society organisations
• Public sector entities

is expected.

Who Should Apply?

• Artificial Intelligence companies
• Technology SMEs and start-ups
• Innovation hubs and incubators
• Universities and research institutions
• Digital transformation organisations
• Data science organisations
• Public sector innovation agencies
• NGOs working on technology for development
• Multi-stakeholder international consortia

Click HERE to visit the official website. 

European Commission Funding & Tenders Portal

Future applications will be submitted through the Horizon Europe Funding & Tenders Portal once the call officially opens.