The APTITUDE project
APTITUDE (Advanced Project for Trusted Identity Technologies and Unified Digital Ecosystem) is a project funded by the European Commission under ‘Digital Europe’ programme, which aims to support the deployment of the European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet).
The project builds on the work of previous European digital wallet pilot projects (NOBID, DC4EU, POTENTIAL, and EWC) and focuses on testing solutions in real-world scenarios.
APTITUDE is testing the use of the European digital wallet in four areas:
digital travel credentials and border checks
smart check-ins at hotels, ticketing for transportation, and boarding passes
mobile vehicle registration certificates and vehicle-related services
payment and banking services
Estonia joined APTITUDE in the spring of 2026. Estonia is contributing to this initiative under the leadership of the Information System Authority, in collaboration with other public sector organisations and private companies. Estonia is contributing to the testing of digital wallet solutions and the engagement of stakeholders, and is drawing on its experience in the fields of electronic identity, e-services, and cross-border digital cooperation within the project.
The project involves 117 public and private sector organisations from 13 European countries. The consortium is led by the French Ministry of the Interior.
The aim of the EUDI Wallet is to enable people to verify their identity, use digital certificates, and access public and private sector services throughout the European Union via a single secure digital wallet. APTITUDE helps to ensure that these solutions are secure, user-friendly, and function across borders in all Member States.
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The POTENTIAL project
The POTENTIAL project was one of four EU Large-Scale Pilots supported by the European Commission, which aimed to develop the European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet) and test its potential uses in the everyday activities of individuals and businesses. The project ended on 30 September 2025.
The POTENTIAL project tested six possible uses for the future digital wallet:
- access to e-services of the state,
- bank account opening,
- mobile SIM card registration,
- presentation of a digital driving licence,
- digital signing,
- digital presentation of prescriptions.
The project involved 19 Member States and Ukraine. Led by the Information System Authority (RIA), Estonia contributed to the development of a technical proof-of-concept solution for testing the digital driving licence.
The POTENTIAL project explored possible solutions for the six agreed use cases, developed and tested different approaches, and provided input to the development of the EU Digital Identity Wallet Architecture and Reference Framework (ARF). The POTENTIAL pilot project ran for two years and concluded in autumn 2025.
The purpose of the European Union Digital Wallet is to allow for cross-border identification, sharing of electronic documents, and the use of different services. Each Member State is responsible for developing its own digital wallet application for its citizens based on its national electronic identity solution. The application will be recognised throughout Europe. In parallel with the first four pilot projects, the European Commission is developing an open-source code prototype for the EUDI Wallet to support Member States in developing their national EUDI Wallets and creating use case implementations for the pilot projects.
The European Commission will invest a total of 46 million euros from the Digital Europe Programme to test and strengthen European digital wallet. The EUDI Wallet is planned to be introduced across Europe from 2026 onwards.
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Last updated: 16.07.2026
