GrantTRL 6-8

AI Testing and Experimentation Facilities (AI TEFs)

Testuj swoją sztuczną inteligencję w warunkach rzeczywistych w sektorach ochrony zdrowia, rolno-spożywczym, produkcyjnym i inteligentnych miast

Ask the EUACC assistant
Success rate20-35%
TRL band6–8
2026 budget€220M

Verified against official EU sources · last checked 7 days ago (26 lip 2026)

On this page · 18 sections
The programme

Overview

Ośrodki testowania i eksperymentowania AI (TEFs) to duże, wspierane przez UE obiekty, w których firmy z obszaru sztucznej inteligencji i robotyki poddają swoją technologię warunkom rzeczywistym jeszcze przed wprowadzeniem jej na rynek. Program obejmuje cztery węzły sektorowe: TEF-Health dla ochrony zdrowia, AgrifoodTEF dla sektora rolno-spożywczego, AI-MATTERS dla produkcji oraz CitCom.AI dla inteligentnych miast i społeczności. Każdy z nich jest prowadzony przez duże konsorcjum i oferuje testy fizyczne oraz wirtualne, piaskownice regulacyjne, referencyjne zbiory danych i wsparcie ekspertów. Są one skierowane do dostawców na poziomie TRL od 6 do 8, a MŚP korzystają z podstawowych usług bezpłatnie w okresie finansowania. Całość jest finansowana w ramach programu Cyfrowa Europa (Digital Europe), tego samego instrumentu, który stoi za najważniejszymi cyfrowymi przedsięwzięciami UE. Firmy takie jak EWC (Konsorcjum Europejskiego Portfela Tożsamości Cyfrowej) i DC4EU (Cyfrowe Poświadczenia dla Europy) wybrały ścieżkę Cyfrowej Europy, aby skalować transgraniczną infrastrukturę, a DS4Health wykorzystał ją do wprowadzania kompetencji cyfrowych do ochrony zdrowia. TEFs przeznaczają te same środki na węższe zadanie: doprowadzenie Twojego produktu od etapu walidacji laboratoryjnej do gotowości rynkowej i zgodności z aktem UE w sprawie sztucznej inteligencji (AI Act). Niektóre węzły prowadzą również nabory w ramach finansowania kaskadowego z grantami w wysokości około 50–200 tys. € na jedno MŚP. Sedno jest proste. TEFs zamykają lukę między prototypem, który działa w Twoim laboratorium, a produktem, który Europa faktycznie certyfikuje i kupi.

2026 Budget~€220M total TEF investment (2022–2027)
Average GrantFinansowanie kaskadowe 50–200 tys. € na jedno MŚP
Miej jasność co do tego, o co właściwie się ubiegasz, ponieważ są tu dwa różne rodzaje szans.
Fit

Is this for you?

Jest to stworzone dla jednego konkretnego założyciela: masz już produkt z obszaru AI lub robotyki działający w istotnym środowisku (TRL 6 do 8), masz siedzibę w UE lub kraju stowarzyszonym, a Twoją kolejną realną przeszkodą jest udowodnienie, że działa on w nieuporządkowanym świecie rzeczywistym i spełnia wymogi aktu UE w sprawie AI. Jeśli to Ty, TEF to niemal darmowa dźwignia. Otrzymujesz sektorowe środowiska testowe, referencyjne zbiory danych i piaskownice regulacyjne, których nigdy nie zbudowałbyś samodzielnie, a jako MŚP otrzymujesz podstawowe usługi bezpłatnie w okresie finansowania. Odpuść sobie, jeśli jesteś na zbyt wczesnym etapie. Jeśli Twoja sztuczna inteligencja to wciąż notatnik, demo lub wstępny prototyp (TRL 5 lub niżej), nie kwalifikujesz się i zostaniesz odprawiony już na etapie naboru. Odpuść sobie, jeśli nie masz prawdziwego produktu i szukasz gotówki, by go zbudować; dostęp do usług TEF nie jest grantem, a nabory kaskadowe finansują ukierunkowane testy, a nie budowanie firmy. A jeśli działasz poza UE i nie masz europejskiego podmiotu, w ogóle nie zarezerwujesz tych obiektów. Dla takich założycieli akcelerator lub wczesny grant na badania i rozwój to lepsze drzwi.
A good fit if
  • Working AI or robotics solution at TRL 6–8 (past the lab, pre-market)
  • SME or startup registered in the EU, EEA or an associated country
  • Single company — no consortium, no Part B proposal
  • Fits one of the four sectors: healthcare, agri-food, manufacturing, smart cities
  • Needs AI Act compliance checks or CE-marking preparation
Probably not if
  • Need cash, not testing services → EIC Accelerator (grant + equity)
  • Still at lab stage, TRL 1–5 → Horizon Europe or EIC Pathfinder
  • AI outside the four sectors → your local European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH)
  • Building the testing infrastructure itself → Digital Europe consortium calls

Large companies can use TEFs too — but they pay the published national price list, not the subsidised SME rate. You can test at any TEF node in any country, regardless of where you are registered.

The odds

Success rates — the honest picture

Miej jasność co do tego, o co właściwie się ubiegasz, ponieważ są tu dwa różne rodzaje szans. Rezerwacja usług testowych nie jest konkursem: jeśli faktycznie jesteś na poziomie TRL 6 do 8 i się kwalifikujesz, wchodzisz, a dla MŚP jest to bezpłatne w okresie finansowania. Ta część to niemal pewnik, a nie loteria. Nabory w ramach finansowania kaskadowego to element konkursowy i mieszczą się w przedziale 20–35% na nabór, w zależności od TEF i liczby zgłaszających się MŚP. To znacznie łaskawiej niż około 5%, które widać w EIC Accelerator, ale granty są mniejsze (50–200 tys. €). Dwie rzeczy robią różnicę: zaproponowanie jednego wąsko zakrojonego eksperymentu, który odpowiada opublikowanemu zakresowi naboru, zamiast całej Twojej mapy drogowej, oraz powiązanie go wprost z krokiem zgodności z aktem UE w sprawie AI, który dany obiekt pomoże Ci udokumentować. Wnioski, które przegrywają, prawie zawsze ignorowały zakres i prezentowały firmę zamiast eksperymentu.
End-to-end success rate20-35%

Roughly 1 in 3 applications gets funded. A sharp, evidence-backed proposal is what separates the funded from the rejected.

The four TEFs at a glance
TEFSectorBudgetCoordinatorHow you get in
TEF-HealthHealthcare & medical robotics€60MCharité Berlin (53 partners, 10 countries)Open call — up to €300K subsidised services per SME, rolling until 31 Dec 2027
agrifoodTEFAgri-food€60MFondazione Bruno Kessler (Italy)Direct contact — no formal call
AI-MATTERSManufacturing€60MCEA-List (France)Direct contact — browse services by country or challenge
CitCom.AISmart cities & communities€40MImec (Belgium)Direct contact via helpdesk

TEFs are not competitive grant calls, so no success-rate or cut-off statistics exist. The binding limit is the €300,000 de minimis state-aid ceiling per company over three fiscal years; TEF-Health evaluates rolling applications in about 45 working days.

Who qualifies

Eligibility

  • 1Jesteś dostawcą technologii z produktem z obszaru AI lub robotyki na poziomie TRL 6 do 8: działający prototyp zwalidowany w istotnym środowisku, a nie prezentacja w slajdach ani jeszcze nie produkt w pełni sprawdzony rynkowo.
  • 2Twoje rozwiązanie pasuje do jednego z dokładnie czterech węzłów sektorowych — ochrony zdrowia (TEF-Health), rolno-spożywczego (AgrifoodTEF), produkcji (AI-MATTERS) lub inteligentnych miast i społeczności (CitCom.AI). Jeśli obejmuje dwa, i tak wybierasz jeden najlepiej dopasowany węzeł na wejście.
  • 3Masz siedzibę prawną w państwie członkowskim UE lub w kraju stowarzyszonym z programem Cyfrowa Europa. Podmiot z USA lub Wielkiej Brytanii bez obecności w UE nie może zarezerwować tych obiektów.
  • 4MŚP i startupy otrzymują podstawowe usługi testowania i walidacji bezpłatnie lub ze znaczną zniżką w okresie finansowania — TEF-Health na przykład udziela obecnie wsparcia w formie pomocy państwa jako zniżek od ceny rynkowej swoich usług walidacyjnych; duże firmy, jednostki badawcze i organy publiczne zazwyczaj płacą lub współfinansują koszty.
  • 5Aby korzystać z obiektów, nie konkurujesz: jeśli się kwalifikujesz i faktycznie jesteś na właściwym poziomie TRL, rezerwujesz dostęp. Konkurencja dotyczy wyłącznie odrębnych naborów w ramach finansowania kaskadowego, w których MŚP ubiegają się o granty w wysokości 50–200 tys. €.
  • 6Czyste projekty badawcze, pomysły na etapie laboratoryjnym (TRL poniżej 6) oraz firmy konsultingowe bez własnego produktu AI nie są grupą docelową i zostaną odrzucone na etapie naboru.
The fine print
The money is a discount, not a grant — and large firms pay full price

TEF (Testing and Experimentation Facility) support is delivered as state aid in the form of reduced or zero fees on services priced against each node's published list. The Commission's own FAQ is blunt: SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) can use TEFs without paying, while large companies pay the full list price, with that revenue booked as project income. TEF-Health structures the subsidy either as innovation aid for SMEs under Article 28 of the GBER (General Block Exemption Regulation) or as de minimis aid — €200,000 per company over three financial years in its Call #1 documentation, with its Call #2 pages citing a €300,000 de minimis ceiling. There is no cash transfer to your bank account at any point.

Ownership and control rules reach up to your cap table

Being incorporated in the EU is not enough. TEF-Health requires that the SME's shareholding be held by legal persons incorporated or established in an EU Member State or a country associated to the Digital Europe Programme, evidenced by an official declaration from the authorities of the company's headquarters plus disclosure of ultimate beneficial owners. An EU subsidiary with a US or UK parent can fail this test even with a flawless product. Non-eligible third-country entities may only use services where this does not compromise EU security or strategic autonomy, with restricted access to confidential information.

Digital Europe association is not Horizon Europe association — the UK is out

TEFs are funded under the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL), whose membership differs from Horizon Europe's. The UK is associated to Horizon Europe but is a non-associated third country for DIGITAL, so UK-registered companies are outside the standard eligibility perimeter. Switzerland only gained DIGITAL participation under transitional arrangements from 1 January 2025. Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein are fully associated, alongside Ukraine, Moldova, Türkiye and the Western Balkans. Individual TEF calls can be narrower still: TEF-Health Call #2 admits only SMEs legally registered in the EU or EEA (European Economic Area).

State-aid headroom is the silent killer

Eligibility for the discount depends on aid you have already received. TEF-Health requires evidence — a self-declaration or declaration of honour, and for some national registries an official certificate — that the company has not exhausted its state-aid ceiling over the previous three fiscal years. National innovation vouchers, regional grants and other de minimis support all count against the same ceiling, so a startup that has been efficient at harvesting small national schemes can find its TEF discount eliminated. Aid is tracked through national registries (in Portugal's case, the AD&C central de minimis register).

Financial capacity is scored, because you pay whatever the discount does not cover

TEF-Health's evaluation grid allocates 15 of 100 points to funding: applicants must show budget availability aligned with the service catalogue's prices and a solid financial track record covering the estimated cost of the services. A newly created company with no accounts and no cash to cover the unsubsidised share scores poorly here even if its technology is strong. The applicant must also qualify as an SME under Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC (fewer than 250 staff, turnover ≤ €50M or balance sheet ≤ €43M), proven by official declaration.

TRL window and no double-dipping with other testbeds

The Commission targets technology providers at TRL (technology readiness level) 6–8 — solutions ready for real-world testing, not lab concepts. Individual calls set their own floor: TEF-Health Call #1 accepted self-declared TRL 4 and above, while its Call #2 requires TRL 6 or higher. TEF-Health also requires a self-declaration that the same solution is not already supported by another national testbed, and selection expects the solution to demonstrably climb TRL within six months of the services — that criterion is scored pass/fail (1 or 7) with no middle ground.

The money

The money — services, not cash

Total investment€220M+Four sectorial TEFs co-funded 50/50 by the European Commission (Digital Europe Programme) and Member States, running 2023–2028
Per-TEF budget€40–60MTEF-Health, agrifoodTEF and AI-MATTERS get €60M each; CitCom.AI (smart cities) gets €40M
Max value per SME€300KTEF-Health Call #2 subsidises testing services up to the de minimis state-aid ceiling over three fiscal years
Cost for SMEs€0Free or heavily subsidised during the project lifetime; larger companies pay national price-list rates
Good to know
You never see the money.

TEFs are not a grant — you receive testing, validation and compliance services instead of cash. Each consortium publishes a country-level price list; the value of what you consume is passed on to you as state aid, which is why a paper trail exists even when you pay nothing.

The de minimis ceiling is the real cap.

Under EU de minimis rules a company may receive at most €300,000 in such aid over three fiscal years — across ALL sources, not just TEFs. If you have already taken de minimis aid (national innovation vouchers, subsidised loans), it eats into your TEF headroom. You sign a declaration; misdeclaring is a clawback risk.

No proposal, no consortium, no evaluation panel.

For three of the four TEFs you simply contact the facility, describe your technology, and get matched to the right node. Only TEF-Health runs a formal open call: rolling applications evaluated in roughly 45 working days, open until 31 December 2027 or until capacity is filled.

You keep the IP.

Every TEF must operate an intellectual-property policy guaranteeing that innovators — SMEs in particular — retain ownership of all IP created during testing at the facility. Your test data and results are yours to take to investors and notified bodies.

The process

How to apply — step by step

  1. 1
    Discover available services1 hour

    Browse the CoordinaTEF service catalogue to find testing, validation, and compliance services across all four TEFs. Filter by sector, service type, country, and TRL level.

    Browse TEF catalogues →
  2. 2
    Contact the relevant TEF1 day

    Reach out to the TEF matching your domain — TEF-Health for healthcare AI, agrifoodTEF for agriculture/food, AI-MATTERS for manufacturing, or CitCom.AI for smart cities. Each has an online portal or helpdesk.

  3. 3
    Share your technology and use case1–2 weeks

    Describe your AI solution, its current TRL level, and what you need tested or validated. The TEF team will assess whether your technology fits their capabilities.

  4. 4
    Receive facility matching1–2 weeks

    The TEF matches you to the best testing node across their European network. You may access nodes in multiple countries depending on your needs.

  5. 5
    Get a customised test plan2–4 weeks

    Domain experts design a tailored testing and validation plan for your AI solution. This covers technical testing, safety checks, and if needed, regulatory compliance assessment.

  6. 6
    Conduct testing with full supportVaries (weeks–months)

    Execute your test plan using TEF infrastructure — physical facilities, virtual environments, or both. TEF teams provide technical support throughout. SMEs receive services free or at heavily subsidised rates.

  7. 7
    Receive independent validation report2–4 weeks after testing

    Get a comprehensive validation report from the TEF — covering performance, safety, compliance, and recommendations. Use this for investor pitches, market entry, and regulatory submissions.

Where to applyBrowse TEF catalogues →
Evaluation

What evaluators look for

Relevance

Threshold Min 3/5 to pass; scored 0-5

Evaluators judge how squarely the proposed facility fits the call's scope and the EU's wider digital, competitiveness and sustainability goals — i.e. whether it genuinely serves the targeted sector and Europe's trustworthy-AI agenda.

  • Alignment with the call's objectives and the targeted AI sector
  • Contribution to EU policy priorities (competitiveness, digital transformation, sustainability)
  • Demonstrated need and added value at European scale

Implementation

Threshold Min 3/5 to pass; scored 0-5

Evaluators assess whether the consortium can actually deliver: a coherent work plan, sound milestones and resourcing, and a partnership with the track record and capacity to run a large, multi-country reference facility.

  • Quality and clarity of the work plan, tasks and milestones
  • Appropriate allocation of resources and budget
  • Consortium expertise, complementarity and operational track record

Impact

Threshold Min 3/5 to pass; scored 0-5

Evaluators weigh the expected effect on society, economy and technology, plus a credible plan for exploitation, dissemination and sustaining the facility's services beyond the grant period.

  • Concrete societal, economic and technological benefits
  • Strategy for exploitation, dissemination and uptake by AI suppliers
  • Long-term sustainability of the facility's services
Paperwork

Documents you'll need

Essential
Digital Europe Work Programme 2025-2027PDF · EC publication

The master document for all Digital Europe funding — covers AI TEFs, EDIHs, GenAI, AI Factories.

Contains:
Defines all Digital Europe Programme calls for 2025-2027 including AI factories, data spaces, digital identity, cybersecurity, and digital skills. TEFs were funded under the 2023-2024 work programme with 5-year grants — this document references continued support for sector-specific testbeds.
Length:
~120 pages (TEFs referenced throughout)
Why:
Understand the broader EU digital funding landscape TEFs sit within, and upcoming opportunities like GenAI testbeds and AI Factories.
When:
If exploring other Digital Europe opportunities beyond TEFs
View document
AI TEFs overview — European CommissionWeb

Official overview of all four sectorial TEFs with scope, objectives, and access information.

Contains:
The EC's official TEF policy page covering all four sectorial TEFs: what they are, their investment (€220M), the 50/50 co-funding model, sector breakdown (healthcare, agri-food, manufacturing, smart cities), and links to each TEF.
Length:
Single web page with links
Why:
The authoritative starting point for understanding TEFs. Gives you the big picture before diving into individual TEF portals.
When:
Read first — before contacting any TEF
View document
TEF Service Catalogues (CoordinaTEF)Web

Browse all 580+ services across the four TEFs — filter by sector, service type, country, and TRL.

Contains:
The unified catalogue linking to each TEF's individual service portfolio: 200+ services from agrifoodTEF, 250+ from AI-MATTERS, 93 from CitCom.AI, and 40+ from TEF-Health. Filter by sector, country, technology type, and TRL level.
Length:
Navigation hub linking to 4 TEF catalogues
Why:
The fastest way to find out exactly what testing services are available for your AI solution. Start here if you're not sure which TEF to contact.
When:
When choosing your TEF and scoping services
View document
TEFs FAQ — Questions and Answers (82 questions)Web

Official EC FAQ covering eligibility, access, funding, IP protection, and service scope.

Contains:
82 questions across 4 sections: Concept of TEFs (Q1-15), Sustainability & Operations (Q16-33 — IP management, HPC access, data collection), Links with Other EU Initiatives (Q34-39 — EDIHs, AI Act, data spaces), and Funding & Process (Q40-82 — co-funding model, state aid, eligible costs).
Length:
82 questions, ~30 pages equivalent
Why:
The most comprehensive reference for any question about TEFs. Covers IP ownership, cross-country billing, de minimis rules, and relationship with other EU programmes.
When:
When you have specific questions about eligibility, IP, or funding rules
View document
TEF Portals
TEF-Health — Application Portal (Call #2)Web · Application portal

Apply for up to €300K in subsidised AI healthcare testing. Rolling applications until Dec 2027.

Contains:
The online application portal for TEF-Health Call #2. Submit your SME details, describe your AI/robotics healthcare solution, specify TRL level, and request testing services. Applications evaluated within ~45 working days on a rolling basis.
Length:
Online application form
Why:
This is where you actually apply if you're building healthcare AI. Up to €300K in subsidised services — the largest open TEF call.
When:
When ready to apply for healthcare AI testing
View document
agrifoodTEF — Apply for ServicesWeb

Access real-world testing for AI in agriculture and food processing across 9 European countries.

Contains:
Direct access portal for agrifoodTEF services. Browse available testing infrastructure for arable farming, viticulture, horticulture, livestock, and food processing AI. 34 partners across 9 countries, 200+ services catalogued.
Length:
Web portal with service directory
Why:
No formal call needed — contact directly to begin your testing engagement. Services free or reduced price for SMEs.
When:
When building AI for agriculture or food processing
View document
AI-MATTERS — Manufacturing TEFWeb

Access 250+ AI and robotics services for manufacturing — factory optimisation, predictive maintenance.

Contains:
Service portal for AI-MATTERS with 250+ developed services, 90+ currently being provided. Browse by country (8 EU countries), technology area, or manufacturing challenge. Recently redesigned for easier SME access.
Length:
Web portal with service directory
Why:
Direct engagement model — no formal call. Contact the TEF, get matched with relevant nodes, and receive AI/robotics services.
When:
When building AI for manufacturing, robotics, or industrial automation
View document
CitCom.AI — Smart Cities TEFWeb

Testing AI for smart cities — energy, transport, and citizen services across 11 countries.

Contains:
Access portal for CitCom.AI with 93 services (66 professional, 17 virtual, 10 physical) plus 125 datasets. 130+ experiments in the pipeline, 15 testbed sites across 8 cities. Contact via helpdesk for service matching.
Length:
Web portal with helpdesk
Why:
Subsidised access to smart city test environments. 18 SMEs recently onboarded — continuous intake.
When:
When building AI for energy, transport, or urban services
View document
Helpful
EU Funding & Tenders Portal — Digital EuropeWeb

The official portal for all Digital Europe Programme calls and submissions.

Contains:
The master portal for all Digital Europe funding opportunities. Search for open and upcoming calls, check deadlines, and submit applications. Also lists cascade funding opportunities that TEFs may publish.
Length:
Search portal
Why:
Useful if you're looking for complementary Digital Europe funding beyond TEF services.
When:
When exploring additional EU funding
View document
Cascade Funding HubWeb

Find open calls for SME funding through Digital Europe cascade mechanisms.

Contains:
Aggregator for all cascade funding calls under Digital Europe. Monthly roundups (13+ opportunities in Feb 2026). TEF-Health Call #2 is cross-listed here. Browse by sector, deadline, and funding amount.
Length:
Searchable directory
Why:
Discover additional SME funding opportunities beyond TEF services — including cascade grants from EDIHs and other Digital Europe projects.
When:
When looking for complementary cascade funding
View document
Budget split

Typical Budget Breakdown

Dostęp do obiektów testowych
Finansowanie kaskadowe dla MŚP
Wsparcie ekspertów i mentoring
Koordynacja i zarządzanie
Calendar

2026 Deadlines

Rolling open calls — check individual TEF websites
Cut-off 2TEF-Health Call #2: broad validation services, up to €300K subsidised access per SME, rolling intake to Dec 2027 — OPEN
Cut-off 3TEF-Health Call #3: CLOSED — received 11 applications, no longer accepting (was: in-kind access to French Health Data Hub / SNDS)
From submission to money
  1. Open now (rolling)Sectoral TEF call open

    Each of the four TEFs (TEF-Health, agrifoodTEF, AI-MATTERS, CitCom.ai) runs its own open calls. The live route for most startups and SMEs is TEF-Health Call #2 for subsidised testing and validation services, open since April 2025 via apply.eithealth.eu, currently listing 271 discounted services. A separate Call #3 for access to the French Health Data Hub (SNDS) attracted 11 applications before closing 30 April 2026; no Call #4 has been announced.

  2. T+0Submit application

    Select up to three services from the node's catalogue ranked by preference; self-declare SME status, TRL and state-aid headroom over the previous three fiscal years.

  3. T+45 working days (~2 months)Evaluation results communicated

    Rolling evaluation, not batch deadlines: TEF-Health commits to communicating results within roughly 45 working days of submission. Experts score 1–7 against weighted criteria (solution 40%, fit to TEF 45%, funding 15%); a weighted average of 5.0 is the pass threshold.

  4. T+2–3 monthsMatchmaking and service quotation

    Approved applicants are matched with node service providers and receive quotations at published market prices — the state-aid discount is then applied against those prices.

  5. T+3–4 monthsAdhesion (service) agreement signed

    A private-law contract with the service provider, not an EU grant agreement. Where a provider's capacity is oversubscribed, signature is first come, first served — another reason rolling calls reward early movers.

  6. T+4 months onwardSubsidised services delivered — this is the money

    No pre-financing payment exists: the support materialises as discounted or fully subsidised invoices up to the state-aid ceiling, ending with a product/pilot evaluation report and a higher-TRL validated solution.

  7. 31 Dec 2027TEF-Health Call #2 closes

    Or earlier, once service capacity is filled — capacity-capped rolling calls can close without notice.

  8. Jan 2028TEF funding period ends

    All four TEFs are five-year Digital Europe projects launched in January 2023; subsidised services must be delivered within the funded window.

After the grant

After you're funded

Independent test reports

You leave with third-party validation evidence from real hospitals, farms, factories or city infrastructure — the kind of independent performance data that moves conversations with investors, procurement teams and notified bodies. Published users report concrete outcomes: TRYGONS cut assembly time 20–25% via AI-MATTERS; EdenCore hit over 90% vineyard-yield prediction accuracy via agrifoodTEF.

AI Act and CE-marking support

TEFs run conformity-assessment preparation: performance testing against safety benchmarks, bias and fairness checks, transparency and explainability review, cybersecurity validation. Relevant deadline — every Member State must operate at least one AI regulatory sandbox by 2 August 2027 (extended from 2026 by the EU Digital Omnibus, signed July 2026), and SMEs join those free of charge.

State-aid paperwork instead of grant reporting

There are no periodic technical reports, no Commission audits, no work packages. What you do owe: a de minimis declaration, and the obligation to count the value of services received against your €300,000 three-year ceiling when applying for any future aid.

Your IP stays yours

TEF IP policies guarantee innovators retain ownership of everything created during testing — models, training data improvements, results. There is no equity, no licence-back, no Commission claim on foreground IP.

A closing window

The subsidised regime lasts only for the project lifetime — TEF-Health runs to December 2027, the others to roughly 2028 — after which the facilities must become financially self-sustaining and rates will reflect that. If you are at TRL 6–8 now, sooner is cheaper.

On the ground

Practical notes

You are a customer, not a grant applicant — there is no consortium to assemble

Unlike most Digital Europe calls, you don't write a proposal or build a partner consortium for the AI TEFs. The four sectoral facilities — agrifoodTEF, TEF-Health, AI-MATTERS (manufacturing) and CitCom.AI (smart cities) — are already-funded infrastructure that you approach as a single SME or startup to test and validate your AI/robotics solution (TRL 6-8). Pick the facility for your sector and request services directly via its own intake; there is no unified EU portal across the four.

Apply during an open 'call', because that's when access is subsidised or free

Each TEF runs rolling 'calls' that are really intake windows for discounted service access under EU state-aid rules (GBER / de-minimis), so selected SMEs pay a reduced market price or nothing during the funded period. TEF-Health, for example, has run distinct calls such as Call 2 (services across multiple member-state partners) and Call 3 (access to French Health Data Hub secured data centres) — the same service can be cheap inside a call and full price outside one, so time your request to an active call rather than emailing cold.

Each TEF has its own multi-country node network — choose by capability, not geography

A TEF spans many national nodes: TEF-Health alone covers nine member states (Germany lead, plus Belgium, Czechia, Finland, France, Italy, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden) and 52 entities, and AI-MATTERS lists roughly 290 manufacturing services. You can be routed to whichever node holds the test environment, dataset or regulatory-sandbox capability you need — you are not restricted to the node in your own country, so scope by the specific facility/data you need.

Use the xTEF info/matchmaking days and your national NCP — both are free

The four TEFs coordinate jointly under the 'xTEF' label and run shared info and matchmaking days (the Commission has hosted final online information-and-matchmaking days for the sectorial TEF calls) — the practical place to meet node coordinators and scope a service before committing. Separately, the free Digital Europe National Contact Point (NCP) in your country gives one-on-one help understanding eligibility and which facility fits, at no cost.

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Track record

Who's been funded

67 projects funded · €160.3M in EU contribution · sourced from CORDIS.

EWC

€10.3M

EU Digital Identity Wallet Consortium

🇸🇪BOLAGSVERKET · DIGITAL Simple Grants

DS4Health

€10.0M

Digital skills for Healthcare Transformation

🇩🇪UNIVERSITAETSKLINIKUM AACHEN · DIGITAL Simple Grants

3D-CIRCULAR

€10.0M

Digital Deep tech Driven Circular Economy

🇪🇱PANEPISTIMIO AIGAIOU · DIGITAL Lump Sum Grants

DC4EU

€9.6M

Digital Credentials for Europe

🇪🇸MINISTERIO PARA LA TRANSFORMACION DIGITAL Y DE LA FUNCION PUBLICA · DIGITAL Simple Grants

Europeum

€6.0M

EUROPEUM European Digital Infrastructure Consortium

🇧🇪Europeum · DIGITAL Simple Grants

EDITH

€5.0M

An ecosystem for digital twins in healthcare

🇧🇪VIRTUAL PHYSIOLOGICAL HUMAN INSTITUTE FOR INTEGRATIVE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH VZW · DIGITAL Coordination and Support Actions

DIH4CAT AI CONNECT

€3.0M

Catalonia Digital Innovation Hub

🇪🇸AGENCIA PER A LA COMPETITIVITAT DE LA EMPRESA · DIGITAL Simple Grants

EDIH Rheinland 2.0

€3.0M

European Digital Innovation Hub Rheinland

🇩🇪FIR E.V. AN DER RWTH AACHEN · DIGITAL Simple Grants

EDIH Rheinland

€3.0M

European Digital Innovation Hub Rheinland

🇩🇪RHEINISCH-WESTFAELISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHEN · DIGITAL Simple Grants

DIVA 2.0

€3.0M

Digital Innovation Value Accelerator 2.0

🇫🇷ATLANPOLE · DIGITAL Simple Grants

DIVA

€3.0M

Digital Innovation Value Accelerator

🇫🇷ATLANPOLE · DIGITAL Simple Grants

EDIH MADRID REGION 2.0

€2.9M

European Digital Innovation Hub Madrid Region 2.0. Supporting Digital Transformation

🇪🇸FUNDACION PARA EL CONOCIMIENTO MADRIMASD · DIGITAL Simple Grants
Track record

Who's been funded

agrifoodTEF60 million total (approx. 30M from Digital Europe, matched by national funding)
Test and Experimentation Facilities for the Agri-Food Domain

A network of physical and virtual sites, coordinated by Italy's Fondazione Bruno Kessler, where agritech firms can field-validate AI and robotics on real farms and food chains before bringing them to market.

TEF-Healthapprox. 60 million total (approx. 30M from Digital Europe, matched by national agencies)
Testing and Experimentation Facility for Health and Care

Coordinated by the Berlin Institute of Health at Charite, it lets developers test and validate clinical AI and medical robotics across 51 partners in nine countries to speed safe products to patients.

GermanyProject
AI-MATTERS60 million total (30M from Digital Europe, 30M from Member States and in-kind)
AI in Manufacturing Testing and Experimentation Reference Sites

A 25-partner network coordinated by France's CEA, running eight world-class sites where manufacturers can trial AI and robotics on pilot production lines before factory deployment. Runs January 2023 to December 2027 under grant agreement 101100707.

FranceProject
CitCom.aiapprox. 40 million total (half from Digital Europe, half from national/regional and own resources)
Cities and Communities Testing and Experimentation Facility for AI and Robotics

Coordinated by Belgium's imec across three super-nodes spanning 11 countries, it tests AI and robotics for power, mobility and connectivity before they are let loose in places where people live.

BelgiumProject
At a glance

Key Features

Środowiska testowe w warunkach rzeczywistych w 4 sektorach
Dostęp do referencyjnych zbiorów danych i infrastruktury obliczeniowej
Wsparcie w zakresie zgodności z aktem UE w sprawie AI i certyfikacji
Finansowanie kaskadowe dostępne dla wybranych firm
Paneuropejska sieć ośrodków testowych

Frequently Asked Questions

AI TEFs są otwarte dla dostawców technologii rozwijających rozwiązania z obszaru AI lub robotyki na poziomie gotowości technologicznej (TRL) od 6 do 8, co oznacza, że Twój produkt jest dojrzały, ale jeszcze nie w pełni sprawdzony rynkowo. Jako użytkownicy mogą się zgłaszać MŚP, startupy, większe firmy, organizacje badawcze i organy publiczne. Musisz mieć siedzibę w państwie członkowskim UE lub w kraju stowarzyszonym z programem Cyfrowa Europa, a dostęp jest przyznawany w sposób otwarty, przejrzysty i niedyskryminacyjny.

AI TEFs nie udzielają inwestycji w zamian za udziały. Cztery obiekty dzielą ponad 220 mln € łącznego współfinansowania UE i państw członkowskich na lata 2023–2028, z czego UE wnosi około 110 mln € w ramach programu Cyfrowa Europa. Dla MŚP podstawową korzyścią jest to, że usługi testowania, walidacji i wsparcia ekspertów są bezpłatne lub ze znaczną zniżką w okresie finansowania — TEF-Health na przykład udziela obecnie wsparcia w formie pomocy państwa jako zniżek od ceny rynkowej swoich usług walidacyjnych. Odrębnie niektóre TEFs prowadzą nabory w ramach finansowania kaskadowego (wsparcia finansowego dla stron trzecich) z grantami rzędu 50 000 do 200 000 € na jedno MŚP.

Nie. Jako pojedyncze MŚP lub startup nie budujesz konsorcjum, aby korzystać z TEF; po prostu składasz wniosek przez pojedynczy cyfrowy punkt dostępu danego obiektu na potrzebne Ci usługi. Każdy z czterech TEFs jest sam prowadzony przez duże konsorcjum (na przykład TEF-Health ma 51 partnerów, a AgrifoodTEF 29), ale są to operatorzy obiektu, a nie użytkownicy. Angażujesz się jako klient lub, w naborach kaskadowych, jako pojedynczy wnioskodawca.

Nie ma jednego ogólnounijnego terminu. Każdy z czterech TEFs prowadzi własny ciągły nabór oraz własne nabory w ramach finansowania kaskadowego z odrębnymi terminami, które zmieniają się w ciągu 2026 i 2027 r. Aby korzystać z usług testowych, możesz złożyć wniosek w dowolnym momencie przez cyfrowy punkt dostępu danego TEF. W przypadku grantów kaskadowych sprawdź stronę naborów konkretnego TEF (na przykład TEF-Health, AgrifoodTEF, AI-MATTERS lub CitCom.AI) pod kątem aktualnego terminu, ponieważ są one publikowane dla poszczególnych naborów.

Dostęp do samych usług testowych nie jest grantem konkursowym; jeśli się kwalifikujesz i jesteś na poziomie TRL 6 do 8, możesz zarezerwować obiekty, przy czym usługi dla MŚP są bezpłatne lub ze zniżką w okresie finansowania. Elementem konkursowym są nabory w ramach finansowania kaskadowego, w których MŚP rywalizują o granty w wysokości 50 000 do 200 000 €. Nabory te są oceniane i ograniczone dostępnym budżetem, więc sukces zależy od liczby i jakości wnioskodawców w danym naborze, a nie od stałego, opublikowanego wskaźnika sukcesu.

Ponieważ usługi testowe rezerwuje się bezpośrednio, a nie przyznaje w drodze długiej oceny, zwykle możesz rozpocząć onboarding i planowanie testów w ciągu kilku tygodni od zwrócenia się do obiektu. Granty w ramach finansowania kaskadowego przebiegają zgodnie z harmonogramem ustalonym w każdym naborze, zazwyczaj kilka miesięcy od złożenia wniosku do podpisanej umowy i pierwszej płatności. Terminy różnią się w zależności od TEF, więc potwierdź harmonogram z obiektem prowadzącym Twój nabór.

W przypadku dostępu do usług wykaż, że Twoje rozwiązanie z obszaru AI lub robotyki jest rzeczywiście na poziomie TRL 6 do 8, i jasno określ, który węzeł sektorowy pasuje (ochrona zdrowia, sektor rolno-spożywczy, produkcja czy inteligentne miasta) oraz jakiej walidacji w warunkach rzeczywistych potrzebujesz. W przypadku finansowania kaskadowego przedstaw ukierunkowany plan testów, wiarygodną ścieżkę do rynku lub do zgodności z aktem UE w sprawie AI oraz konkretne wskaźniki, które dany TEF pomoże Ci zwalidować. Dopasowanie wniosku do referencyjnych zbiorów danych obiektu, piaskownic regulacyjnych i zakresu właściwego naboru istotnie wzmacnia zgłoszenie.

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