Subsidies, Businesses

Digital Transformation of SMEs

30
Jan

The package of State Aid Actions "Digital Transformation of SMEs" in the "Competitiveness" Program of NSRF 2021 – 2027, with a budget of €300,000,000, aims to address the lag of Greek businesses in the adoption and integration of modern digital technologies in their production activity and covers targeted needs of SMEs depending on their existing digital and technological maturity, but also their different investment needs

ACTION 1 – BASIC DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF SMEs” aIt targets businesses that have not yet integrated significant information and telecommunications technologies (ICT) into their operations and aims to cover key deficiencies in applications and equipment.

The basic conditions of participation of the companies applying for financing, are the following:

  1. To submit a single funding application per VAT number.
  2. To be active in the Greek territory and to invest exclusively in a single Region Category (with the same aid intensity).
  3. To be active in the eligible KAD of the investment plan for at least one (1) year.
  4. The investment plan should exclusively concern eligible activities.
  5. Have at least five (5) full-time or part-time dependent laborers in the calendar year preceding the submission of the funding application.
  6. To operate exclusively as businesses of a corporate/commercial nature.
  7. The physical object of the investment has not been completed or has not been fully implemented before submitting the financing application.
  8. To operate exclusively as businesses of a corporate/commercial nature.
  9. Not be in bankruptcy, liquidation or receivership.
  10. The physical object of the investment has not been completed or has not been fully implemented before submitting the financing application.

The minimum and maximum total supported budget (P/Y) of the funding application is defined by 18.000€ until  30.000€.

The subsidy rate ranges from 50% to 60%

ELIGIBLE EXPENSES 

The basic costs covered by the Action  Key SME Digital Transformation relate to:

  1. Equipment Expenses with indicative expenses: Supply of digital office equipment, upgrade of internal data transfer networks, interaction with employees, customers or suppliers, etc.
  2. Software Expenses with indicative costs: Supply of basic business resource & process management applications (eg ERP, WMS, KPIs, EDI, BMPS, etc.), image processing, 3D models and CAD, digital security, customer and supply chain management, production optimization, etc. .
  • Costs for the provision of services related to the digital upgrade with indicative costs: Consulting support for monitoring the implementation of the investment plan, technical support for the implementation of the investment plan, installation or configuration of applications included in the financing application.

ACTION 2 – "ADVANCED SME DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION" of the "Competitiveness 2021-2027" Program concerns businesses that aim to expand their digital and technological maturity with comprehensive investments in new ICT that will upgrade their competitiveness.

The basic conditions of participation of the companies applying for financing, are the following:

  1. To submit a single investment proposal per VAT number.
  2. Be active in the eligible KAD of the investment plan for at least one (1) year.
  3. They have at least nine (9) full-time or part-time salaried employees in the calendar year preceding the submission of the funding application.
  4. To ensure private participation in a percentage of at least 25%.
  5. Work on the investment project has not started prior to the submission of the aid application.
  6. To collect at least a grade of 80 in the digital maturity questionnaire of this invitation.
  7. To operate legally by having the appropriate, in accordance with current legislation, operating license.
  8. To operate exclusively as businesses of a corporate/commercial nature.
  9. Not be troubled businesses and not be in bankruptcy, liquidation or receivership.

The minimum and maximum total supported budget (P/Y) of the funding application is set from €50,000 up to €650,000.

The subsidy rate ranges from 25% to 50%

ELIGIBLE EXPENSES 

The main categories of expenditure covered by Action 2 – Advanced Digital Transformation of SMEs are as follows:

  1. Equipment with indicative costs: Supply of sophisticated plant or personnel operation systems, production automation with robotic systems, CNC machines, 3D printers, 3D scanners, upgrade of internal data transfer networks, supply of sophisticated technological systems and mechanical equipment for the production of Industry 4.0 systems and equipment ., security systems and equipment (e.g. space surveillance, cyber-protection, etc.), automation systems, robotic systems, digital sensors and controllers, digitally controlled mechanical equipment, advanced digital production systems, etc.
  2. Applications/software, with indicative costs: Supply of modern applications for management of business resources & processes (eg ERP, WMS, EDI, BMPS, etc.), image processing, 3D models and CAD, IoT, Big data analysis of large volumes, digital security, customer management and supply chain, artificial intelligence tools, production optimization, service upgrade, digital facility control, etc.
  • Services related to the digital upgrade with indicative costs: Technical support for the configuration and integration of the new systems in the operation of SMEs, system certification, etc.

Our office provides full support from the first eligibility check to the preparation of the economic and technical study - submission of the application.