STARTS
On 30 September 2026 14:31:23 innovation <[email protected] > wrote:
Central Bank of Ireland - UNRESTRICTED
Dear All,
Please see below information that you may wish to share with your clients/members.
For Information:
The Eurosystem is inviting firms to build and test new payment features on the digital euro infrastructure during the first half of 2027. If your firm works in payments, retail, fintech, AI or public services, this is an opportunity to work hands-on with the digital euro before any launch decision is made, and to influence how it is designed.
What participants get
Selected firms will work with the ECB to develop and test solutions on the digital euro's core infrastructure. For payment service providers and fintechs, this gives an early view of the features and services you may be expected to offer, and time to develop your product thinking before the wider market. Your work will feed into the design of future releases. The ECB may invite participants to present their results at an event and will publish the key findings, giving your firm visibility with the Eurosystem and with peers across Europe. The ECB will also consider geographic diversity when selecting participants.
Where you could contribute
There are two strands. The experimentation strand runs from January to June 2027 and asks firms to develop and test working features in four areas: electronic receipts built into payments, split payments with multiple payers or recipients, conditional payments that execute automatically when set conditions are met, and new features for payment apps. The exploration strand runs as workshops at the ECB in Frankfurt during the first half of 2027 and looks further ahead at AI in payments (including AI agents and micropayments) and at public uses such as transport, utility bills and smart city services.
What's involved
Experimentation participants will build and test a solution and submit a proof of concept and an outcome report. Exploration participants attend on-site workshops. Joint applications are encouraged, particularly pairings across roles such as a merchant with a PSP or technology provider. The call does not include funding, and a decision to issue the digital euro will only be taken once the EU legislation is adopted.
How to apply
Complete the ECB application form, indicating which strand and focus areas interest you, your motivation, expertise and proposed use case. Send it to [email protected] by 17:00 CET on Monday 9 November 2026. The full call document is available here
Should you have any questions please contact [email protected]
Kind regards,
Innovation Hub Team
ENDS
On 30 September 2026 14:31:23 innovation <[email protected] > wrote:
Central Bank of Ireland - UNRESTRICTED
Dear All,
Please see below information that you may wish to share with your clients/members.
For Information:
The Eurosystem is inviting firms to build and test new payment features on the digital euro infrastructure during the first half of 2027. If your firm works in payments, retail, fintech, AI or public services, this is an opportunity to work hands-on with the digital euro before any launch decision is made, and to influence how it is designed.
What participants get
Selected firms will work with the ECB to develop and test solutions on the digital euro's core infrastructure. For payment service providers and fintechs, this gives an early view of the features and services you may be expected to offer, and time to develop your product thinking before the wider market. Your work will feed into the design of future releases. The ECB may invite participants to present their results at an event and will publish the key findings, giving your firm visibility with the Eurosystem and with peers across Europe. The ECB will also consider geographic diversity when selecting participants.
Where you could contribute
There are two strands. The experimentation strand runs from January to June 2027 and asks firms to develop and test working features in four areas: electronic receipts built into payments, split payments with multiple payers or recipients, conditional payments that execute automatically when set conditions are met, and new features for payment apps. The exploration strand runs as workshops at the ECB in Frankfurt during the first half of 2027 and looks further ahead at AI in payments (including AI agents and micropayments) and at public uses such as transport, utility bills and smart city services.
What's involved
Experimentation participants will build and test a solution and submit a proof of concept and an outcome report. Exploration participants attend on-site workshops. Joint applications are encouraged, particularly pairings across roles such as a merchant with a PSP or technology provider. The call does not include funding, and a decision to issue the digital euro will only be taken once the EU legislation is adopted.
How to apply
Complete the ECB application form, indicating which strand and focus areas interest you, your motivation, expertise and proposed use case. Send it to [email protected] by 17:00 CET on Monday 9 November 2026. The full call document is available here
Should you have any questions please contact [email protected]
Kind regards,
Innovation Hub Team
ENDS
