The Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026–2027[1] marks the final phase of the European Union’s flagship Research and Innovation framework programme, with an indicative budget of €93.5 billion for the 2021–2027 period, aimed at strengthening European competitiveness, productivity, and social well-being.
Among the main new features of this cycle are horizontal activities that promote coordination between clusters, particularly within the framework of the Clean Industrial Deal[2] and Artificial Intelligence in Science (AI in Science)[3], with the objective of accelerating the market uptake of clean technologies, strengthening European strategic autonomy, and promoting the RAISE initiative (Resource for AI in Science in Europe)[4]. The RAISE initiative plays a central role in the 2026–2027 Work Programme, as it seeks to accelerate scientific productivity through the systematic use of Artificial Intelligence, in direct alignment with the role of CCG/ZGDV as the managing entity of the ALGORITMI Research Unit.
Transversally, the programme is structured around three major strategic orientations: the green transition, the digital transition, and the consolidation of a more resilient, competitive, and inclusive Europe. Within this framework, the CCG/ZGDV Institute is strategically positioned to support the European Commission in delivering on these priorities.
The applied research domains developed by CCG/ZGDV directly reflect the core priorities of Horizon Europe. Real-image interpretation, as well as the development of virtualised environments, are intrinsically linked to the fields of Computer Vision and Computer Graphics. The Institute’s consolidated expertise in Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality (XR), as well as in Generative Artificial Intelligence technologies, is guided by the principles of Ethical and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence (Trustworthy AI)[5]. This framework, aligned with the requirements of the AI Act[6] and the cross-cutting demands of Horizon Europe 2026–2027, ensures that the solutions developed are safe, transparent, and user-centred.
In this way, CCG/ZGDV contributes directly to the European Commission’s objective of leading the next technological transition associated with Web 4.0 and virtual worlds[7], promoting technological innovation that respects fundamental rights and European values. This positioning reinforces the Institute’s role as an enabler of advanced technologies oriented towards societal and economic impact.
In the field of industrial competitiveness and decarbonisation, CCG/ZGDV leverages technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), stochastic modelling, and the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for applications such as infrastructure inspection and monitoring. These technologies constitute fundamental technical tools for the operationalisation of the Clean Industrial Deal and for promoting the circular economy, particularly in the construction sector and the built environment.
As a Research and Technology Organisation (RTO), CCG/ZGDV develops and optimises software engineering processes, ensures data quality and governance, and designs scalable cloud computing architectures. These capabilities are essential to the European Commission’s objectives of modernising industrial production, reducing strategic dependencies, and developing robust, interoperable, and resilient digital platforms.
In addition, the Institute develops intuitive human–machine interfaces and collaborative robotics solutions, in line with the European approach to human-centred innovation and the safe integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in strategic sectors, notably industry and healthcare.
CCG/ZGDV’s transversal expertise in AI constitutes a central catalyst within the context of the Horizon Europe 2026–2027 Work Programme. AI is not viewed as an isolated functionality, but as a structural element common to all of the Institute’s research domains. The CCG/ZGDV Data Centre was designed to support AI- and deep learning–intensive workloads, providing high-performance computing clusters that enable initiatives such as AI in Science, the development of Virtual Human Twins[8], or the transition towards Web 4.0 through, for example, the deployment of generative AI and XR technologies.
This technological positioning also extends to the urban domain, where CCG/ZGDV develops solutions based on mobile and urban computing, focused on efficient energy management and the implementation of smart city systems. The work carried out in 6G technologies, network slicing, and edge computing is aligned with the Horizon Europe Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities[9], as well as with the European strategy for Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM)[10].
The integration of intelligent sensing systems and context-aware user interfaces enables CCG/ZGDV to support the implementation of multimodal transport systems, identified by the European Commission as critical for reducing the carbon footprint of the transport sector.
Complementing the urban and industrial dimensions, CCG/ZGDV offers specialised expertise in Cybersecurity and Cyber Resilience, aiming to respond to the evolving landscape of threats to European internal security. The focus on privacy-preserving technologies, distributed ledger technologies (blockchain), and stochastic modelling of complex systems provides a foundation for protecting critical technological infrastructures against hybrid threats and cyberattacks. In parallel, CCG/ZGDV applies expertise in the development of Digital Twins and IoT/Edge Computing architectures. These tools are crucial for the real-time monitoring of critical infrastructures and for simulating energy-efficiency scenarios, thereby addressing the challenges of the Clean Industrial Deal.
These competencies are particularly relevant in the context of the European “Preparedness Union” strategy[11], which seeks to equip security professionals with advanced technological tools while ensuring the protection of fundamental rights and data sovereignty. This positioning is further reinforced by CCG/ZGDV’s active participation in European reference networks such as the International Data Spaces Association (IDSA)[12], the Big Data Value Association (BDVA)[13], the AI, Data and Robotics Association (ADRA)[14], and the European Factories of the Future Research Association (EFFRA)[15], ensuring alignment with European roadmaps on AI, data governance, robotics, interoperability, and digital systems supporting industry.
Finally, CCG/ZGDV’s physical and digital infrastructure strengthens its capacity to contribute to these European objectives. In addition to the Data Centre, the Institute integrates several Living Labs and specialised facilities, including the CAVE Automatic Virtual Environment, dedicated to immersive simulation and advanced experimentation. These infrastructures enable CCG/ZGDV to adopt a holistic approach to research and innovation, integrating different scientific and technological disciplines in response to global challenges.
In light of the strategic priorities defined by the European Commission for Horizon Europe 2026–2027, the CCG/ZGDV Institute positions itself as a highly qualified scientific and technological partner for companies and public entities seeking to actively contribute to the implementation of European policies on the green transition, digital transition, and strengthened resilience. The combination of advanced expertise in digital and computational technologies, proprietary research and experimentation infrastructures, and experience in European R&I contexts enables CCG/ZGDV to play a structuring role as a research, development, and technological validation partner in the design and implementation of solutions aligned with Commission strategies, delivering tangible economic, technological, and societal impact.
Opinion article by João Sousa, Science & Business Management.
