EU funding for the digital transformation of SMEs
EU funding for the digital transformation of SMEs | Author Freepik
The call will promote the full digital transformation of micro-, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). As part of this, investments will be made in digital operations, roll-out of new digital models, improvement of management practices and optimisation of business and production processes. These investments will allow businesses to undergo restructuring, increase material and energy efficiency and boost competitiveness in domestic and foreign markets.
The goals of the call for proposals will be as follows:
- implementing digital transformation, which will allow supported SMEs to shift to digital operating models and adjust to digital markets,
- providing training to improve staff competences in supported SMEs,
- fostering processes in supported SMEs that are material and energy efficient,
- adding value per employee in supported SMEs.
The call will co-finance eligible costs of new technological solutions and eligible costs of digitalisation of key production and business processes.
Technical equipment will encompass the purchase of digital technologies, i.e. software/hardware and digital tools that will enable the shift to digital processes. The purchase of production machines will not be co-financed under this call.
Digital transformation of SMEs under this call will encompass several areas:
- improving customer experience,
- collecting, processing and visualising data in an efficient way,
- developing digital solutions to support operational and production processes,
- rolling out digital business models,
- cultivating digital culture: upskilling the workforce to meet the needs of digital workplaces,
- investing in cybersecurity infrastructure and building cyber resilience,
- implementing industry 4.0 projects.
The Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport will publish the call for proposals on 11 April 2025 in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia.