European Commission backs EU Code Week again: new tender to fast‐track digital skills for millions
NewsSunday, 12 July 2026 at 19:51
The European Commission has opened a new European tender to expand EU Code Week from 2027 to 2030. The goal: reach more young people, teachers, and schools, and boost the digital skills of millions of Europeans. Submissions close on 15 September 2026.
The Commission wants this new tender to significantly scale up EU Code Week, an initiative that since 2013 has introduced people of all ages to programming, computational thinking, and digital tech. The selected organization will be responsible for almost all European coordination over the next four years—from communications campaigns and curriculum development to managing the technical platform. Published on 9 July, the tender is open to organizations with expertise in digital education, IT systems, and international community-building.
The European Commission also recently launched a new action plan on AI and cybersecurity.
Why double down on Code Week now?
The Commission increasingly views digital skills as a strategic economic and social pillar. AI, cybersecurity, cloud, and data analytics are reshaping the job market—making coding and logical reasoning more critical than ever.
EU Code Week serves as an easy on-ramp for schools, educators, students, and citizens. It encourages not just coding, but systematic problem-solving through computational thinking—a mindset central to AI development and software engineering.
According to the Commission, the program supports the broader European digital strategy, where expanding digital competencies is key to strengthening Europe’s competitiveness. The Digital Europe Programme likewise invests heavily in digital infrastructure, AI, cybersecurity, and skills in the coming years.
Millions of participants worldwide
In recent years, EU Code Week has become one of Europe’s largest digital education initiatives.
Since 2013, millions of pupils, students, teachers, and volunteers have taken part. In 2025 alone, more than 156,000 activities were organized worldwide, drawing nearly 7 million participants.
The Commission wants to accelerate that growth in the next contract period—not just within the EU, but also through international partnerships and broader participation from educational and civil society organizations.
What the new contractor must deliver
The winning bidder will take on a wide-ranging brief, including:
- strengthening the European network of Code Week Ambassadors;
- expanding cooperation with national ministries;
- developing new teaching materials and training;
- running events and communications campaigns;
- maintaining and evolving the Code Week platform;
- measuring the program’s social impact;
- increasing the participation of girls and young women in coding.
Notably, the Commission is prioritizing inclusion. More girls should join coding activities, and teachers without a technical background need support to integrate programming into mainstream subjects.
AI makes digital skills non‑negotiable
The timing is no coincidence. The rapid rise of generative AI is reshaping how businesses, governments, and schools operate. As a result, the focus is shifting from basic digital literacy to a broader set of AI-related skills.
While not everyone needs to be a software developer, the Commission expects foundational knowledge of programming, algorithms, and computational thinking to become essential across almost every profession.
Code Week aligns with a wider European push to train enough digital talent for sectors like AI, semiconductors, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. Europe has faced an IT talent shortfall for years, even as demand keeps climbing.
Who can bid?
The tender targets organizations experienced in:
- digital education;
- communications and international outreach;
- community management;
- educational program development;
- management of complex IT platforms.
Interested organizations can submit proposals via the official EU Funding & Tenders Portal. The final deadline is 15 September 2026 at 16:00 (CET). After evaluation, the Commission will select a single executor to coordinate EU Code Week from 2027 to 2030.
Why this matters for Europe
The new tender underscores that the Commission no longer treats digital skills as an add-on, but as a strategic investment in Europe’s competitiveness. As AI races into every sector, the need grows for citizens who understand technology and can use it responsibly.
By scaling up EU Code Week, Brussels aims not just to teach more people to code, but to build a broader digital culture—one where innovation, AI, and tech skills are accessible to everyone.
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