The European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) has announced the results of the HORIZON-CL4-2025-04 call, confirming that 20 high-quality research and innovation proposals will receive a combined €132.7 million in EU funding
The call closed on 2 October 2025 under Horizon Europe Cluster 4: Digital, Industry and Space.
Following the completion of evaluations, HaDEA has begun preparing grant agreements with the successful consortia. The selected projects cover cutting-edge fields including artificial intelligence, generative AI, advanced sensors, robotics and AI safety. Together, they aim to strengthen Europe’s technological leadership while supporting a human-centred and ethical approach to digital transformation.
Focusing on AI and generative AI
Artificial intelligence and generative AI feature prominently among the funded topics.
Under HORIZON-CL4-2025-04-DATA-02, four projects will explore how to empower AI and generative AI across the cognitive computing continuum. These Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs), supported by the AI/Data/Robotics Partnership, are designed to advance Europe’s capabilities in trustworthy and high-performance AI systems.
In some similar efforts, three projects funded under HORIZON-CL4-2025-04-DATA-03 will focus on software engineering for AI and generative AI. By improving development methodologies, tools and validation techniques, these initiatives aim to make AI systems more robust, scalable and reliable for industrial and societal applications.
Breakthroughs in sensors and photonics technologies
Emerging digital technologies are also strongly represented. Four projects selected under HORIZON-CL4-2025-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-01 will work on advanced sensor technologies and multimodal sensor integration. Supported by the Photonics Partnership, these Innovation Actions (IAs) target applications across multiple domains, from healthcare and manufacturing to environmental monitoring.
As general-purpose AI systems become more powerful and widely deployed, assessing their capabilities and risks is more important. Two projects funded under HORIZON-CL4-2025-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-04 will develop methodologies to evaluate general-purpose AI, helping to ensure safety, transparency and alignment with European values.
Soft robotics expands physical capabilities
Robotics is another priority area. Two Innovation Actions under HORIZON-CL4-2025-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-05 will advance soft robotics technologies to enhance physical capabilities in complex, dynamic environments. These projects are expected to contribute to safer human-robot interaction and new industrial use cases.
Further strengthening Europe’s AI ecosystem, two projects funded under HORIZON-CL4-2025-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-07 will develop enhanced learning strategies for general-purpose AI within the GenAI4EU initiative. These efforts seek to push the boundaries of performance and adaptability in next-generation AI systems.
International cooperation
The call also extends further than Europe. Three projects under HORIZON-CL4-2025-04-HUMAN-08, titled GenAI for Africa, will foster collaboration and innovation in generative AI applications relevant to African contexts. This international dimension underlines the EU’s commitment to global partnerships in digital research and innovation.
Horizon Europe Cluster 4 Digital supports the development of key digital technologies that drive both the green and digital transitions. It promotes competitiveness, sustainability and ethical standards, in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal and Europe’s broader industrial strategy.
