The Digitalise Your SME incentive is a strategic funding initiative designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises transition into the global digital economy. Recognizing that modern businesses now compete on a worldwide stage, the program facilitates the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and the modernization of internal workflows. By providing non-repayable financial support, the initiative aims to ensure that enterprises remain resilient and capable of achieving sustainable growth through the integration of intelligent production and enhanced digital capabilities.
Strategic Objectives and Market Positioning
- Enhancing the global competitiveness of local enterprises to ensure they can compete effectively beyond domestic borders.
- Facilitating the adoption of the latest technologies to enable the delivery of high-quality products and rewarding services.
- Unlocking new economic opportunities through the implementation of digital-first business models.
- Enabling intelligent work and production processes through advanced technological integration.
- Improving customer acquisition strategies and fostering better networking within industry ecosystems.
Eligible Digital Processes and Capabilities
- Modernization of product and process design through digital engineering tools.
- Implementation of end-to-end digital procurement systems to streamline operations.
- Integration of digital solutions for supply chain management and distribution logistics.
- Enhancement of after-sales services through automated and digitalized customer support frameworks.
- Improvement of overall operational resilience, efficiency, and productivity by addressing core digital gaps.
Financial Framework and Budgetary Allocation
- Total scheme budget is established at a value of €5,000,000.
- Funding is provided in the form of non-repayable grants to eligible SMEs.
- The incentive is structured to part-finance strategic investments in digital infrastructure.
- Financial management is overseen by a robust mechanism that tracks funds from the program level down to individual invoices.
Digital Management and Monitoring Infrastructure
- Use of centralized information systems developed by the Ministry responsible for EU Funds to manage bilateral and European agreements.
- Maintenance of computerized records for every project to ensure rigorous monitoring, evaluation, and financial management.
- Storage of accounting records detailing expenditure declared to the European Commission, including accounts of recoverable and withdrawn amounts.
- Integration of a unified platform bringing together Managing Authorities, Audit Authorities, Certifying Authorities, and Intermediate Bodies.
- Availability of the Structural Funds Database for data storage, verification, audit, and publicity requirements.
Application and System Access Protocols
- Beneficiaries of the 2014-2020 programming period have access to a specific application form for the Structural Funds Database.
- Stakeholders and beneficiaries under the 2021-2027 period and the Recovery and Resilience Facility follow a distinct request process for system access.
- Horizontal stakeholders, including Line Ministries and the Strategy & Implementation Division, utilize a centralized request portal.
- Compliance with strict regulations and Standard Operating Procedures to ensure transparency in the management of co-financed operations.
This program serves as a critical catalyst for SMEs seeking to navigate the complexities of digital transformation in a competitive global market. By mitigating the financial barriers to technological adoption, the initiative ensures that local businesses can re-engineer their processes for maximum efficiency and better customer engagement. Through the deployment of these strategic grants, the ecosystem is better positioned to leverage digital innovation as a foundation for long-term economic success and resilience.