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The European Commission has announced two strategies—“Apply AI” and “AI in Science”—aimed at accelerating AI adoption in industry and administration while strengthening Europe’s scientific edge.

“Apply AI”: Boosting Technology Across Sectors

The Apply AI strategy sets out a framework to speed up AI adoption in key economic sectors and public administration. The goal is to harness technology not only to make the economy more efficient but also to improve citizens’ daily lives—from smarter medical diagnostics to intelligent public services.

This strategy also addresses one of Europe’s major challenges: slow commercialization of innovations. The European Commission aims to shorten the time from concept to market by better connecting infrastructure, data, and test facilities. This approach could reduce the EU’s dependence on non-European technologies, especially amid the growing dominance of American and Asian tech giants.

A key part of the strategy is skills development. Europe needs a workforce capable of working with AI technologies. The new Frontier AI initiative aims to connect top European experts, creating a knowledge network and fostering collaboration between the private sector, academia, and public institutions.

Alliance and Observatory: New Institutions for an Old Challenge

To ensure coherent action, the Commission has launched the Apply AI Alliance, a forum for industry, public authorities, academia, and civil society to exchange experiences and plan AI deployments together. However, questions remain about whether this platform will speed up decision-making or just become another layer of European bureaucracy.

At the same time, the AI Observatory will monitor trends and assess AI’s impact across sectors. Its effectiveness will depend on access to data and how quickly insights are shared.

Another crucial institution is the AI Act Service Desk, responsible for coordinating the implementation of the world’s first comprehensive AI regulation. This office will be the bridge between regulation and innovation—deciding whether European law will support technological development or slow it down.

AI in Science: Ambitions and Realities

The second pillar, AI in Science, focuses on research and innovation. Its centerpiece is RAISE (Resource for AI Science in Europe), a virtual institute coordinating and sharing resources for AI development in research.

The Commission plans to build networks between universities and research centers and attract global talent. The Choose Europe program encourages researchers from around the world to conduct projects in the EU, reinforcing Europe’s position as an AI innovation hub.

Support for computational capacity under Horizon Europe amounts to €600 million, with plans to double annual AI investments to over €3 billion. These figures are impressive, but the question remains: will they be enough to compete with the USA and China, which invest significantly more in AI?

The Data Gap: A Silent Threat to Innovation

A major challenge the AI in Science strategy seeks to tackle is access to research data. The Commission plans to help scientists identify data gaps and create integrated, organized datasets.

This issue is not just technical but also legal and ethical. Research data often face intellectual property or privacy restrictions. Europe’s real challenge will be balancing open science with individual rights. Without this balance, the vision of “open and ethical” AI risks remaining a political slogan rather than a practical research reality.

Does Europe Really Want to Lead?

In April 2025, the Commission launched the AI Continent Action Plan, aiming to make Europe a global AI leader. The Apply AI and AI in Science strategies are key steps in this vision.

However, for these ambitious plans to succeed, political courage must meet regulatory flexibility. Europe faces a paradox: it wants to lead ethical AI development but overly strict rules often slow innovation. The crucial question is whether the EU can build an ecosystem where law and innovation coexist, rather than clash.

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