The European Commission has awarded the prestigious Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) Seal to OpenEuroLLM, a pioneering project focused on developing open-source Large Language Models (LLMs) that support all official and future European Union languages. The award marks a significant milestone for AI development in Europe, positioning OpenEuroLLM as the first Digital Europe Programme-funded initiative to receive this recognition.
STEP is a newly launched EU initiative aimed at strengthening European industrial competitiveness by investing in critical technologies such as artificial intelligence, biotechnologies, and clean tech. The STEP Seal serves as a mark of excellence, signaling that a project meets high-quality standards and making it easier for awardees to access additional EU funding and private investments.
The OpenEuroLLM project seeks to build the first family of open-source LLMs tailored specifically for European linguistic diversity. By collaborating with European startups, research institutions, and supercomputing facilities, the initiative aims to train AI models on European infrastructure while adhering to transparency, openness, and accessibility principles outlined in the EU AI Act. The project has a total budget of €37.4 million, with €20.6 million coming from the Digital Europe Programme.
The STEP platform was designed to channel and coordinate funding across 11 EU programmes, focusing on three priority areas: digital technologies and deep-tech innovation, clean and resource-efficient technologies, and biotechnologies. By awarding the STEP Seal, the EU is reinforcing its commitment to fostering homegrown AI advancements that align with European values and regulatory frameworks.
Projects that receive the STEP Seal gain increased visibility on the European Commission’s STEP portal and the InvestEU platform, improving their access to future funding opportunities. Additionally, a newly released Guidance Note provides practical implementation support for projects navigating STEP regulations.
The OpenEuroLLM initiative represents a major step toward Europe’s goal of establishing a robust, independent AI ecosystem. By prioritizing linguistic inclusion and compliance with the AI Act, the project aims to reduce reliance on foreign AI models while fostering innovation within Europe’s digital landscape.
As AI continues to reshape global economies, OpenEuroLLM’s recognition under STEP underscores the EU’s strategic focus on ensuring that technological advancements serve the interests of European citizens, businesses, and research institutions.
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