EU AI Act in Force: New Funding Support for AI Companies

The EU AI Act applies in stages: general application began on 2 August 2026, with exceptions for specific obligations and systems. Check the official timetable and any funding call separately.

The EU AI Act entered into force on 1 August 2024 and became generally applicable on 2 August 2026, with phased exceptions. General-purpose AI obligations became applicable on 2 August 2025; the Commission's current guidance gives later 2027 and 2028 dates for specified high-risk systems. Check the official framework for the obligations applying to a particular system. The European Commission has created targeted funding streams under Digital Europe and Horizon Europe specifically to support AI companies in this transition. Grants of up to 2 million euros are available for SMEs developing compliant AI systems.

Official source: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/regulatory-framework-ai