Today (23/2), at 12 noon, the online submission of funding applications for the package of actions, Digital Transformation of SMEs, starts. Ο budget amounts to €300 millionεται σε 300 εκατ. euros and is part of the new Competitiveness Programme of the NSRF 2021/27.

The action will remain open until the available budget is exhausted. It aims to address the lagging behind of Greek enterprises in the integration of modern digital technologies in their productive activity.

The programme, which covers targeted needs of SMEs depending on their existing digital and technological maturity and their different investment needs, is structured in 3 actions. The evaluation of funding applications will be immediate (FiFo). Investment projects will be evaluated in the order in which they are submitted until the budget of the action per category of region is exhausted. The grant rate will be up to 50% and in some regions of the country up to 60%.

Digital Transformation of SMEs - The three actions

Action 1

Key Digital Transformation of SMEs . It concerns medium, small and micro enterprises that have not yet integrated major information and telecommunication technologies (ICT) in their operations and aim to cover basic deficiencies in applications and equipment. The minimum and maximum total eligible budget (T/A) of the funding application is set between 18,000 EUR and 30,000EUR. The maximum duration of completion of the investment will not exceed nine (9) months from the date of the approval decision.

The main expenditure categories

1. Equipment costs (procurement of digital office equipment, upgrading of internal data transfer networks, interaction with employees, customers or suppliers, etc.)

2. Software costs (supply of basic applications for business resource & process management, image processing, 3D models and CAD, digital security, customer and supply chain management, production optimisation, etc.).

3. Expenditure for provision of services related to the digital upgrade (consultancy support for monitoring the implementation of the investment project, technical support for the implementation of the investment project, installation or configuration of applications included in the application for funding).

Action 2

Advanced Digital Transformation of SMEs . It concerns medium, small and micro enterprises that aim to expand their digital and technological maturity with integrated investments in new ICT that will upgrade their competitiveness in international markets and improve their production process.

The minimum and maximum total eligible budget of the funding application is set from EUR 50,000 up to EUR 650,000, while the maximum duration of the investment will not exceed fifteen (15) months from the date of adoption of the Decision of Inclusion.

Investment projects

The investment projects submitted must have the character of an initial investment and meet one of the following criteria:

1. The creation of a new business establishment.

2. Expansion of the capacity of an existing unit.

3.Diversification of a unit's output into products or services that have never been produced in that unit

4. Fundamental change of the entire production process of an existing unit.

Categories of expenses

The main categories of expenditure covered are the following:

1. Equipment for the supply of advanced systems for the operation of facilities or personnel, automation of production with robotic systems, upgrading of internal data transmission networks, supply of advanced technological systems and mechanical equipment, etc.

2. Applications/software, for the supply of modern applications for enterprise resource & process management, customer and supply chain management, artificial intelligence tools, production optimization, upgrading of services, digital control of facilities, etc.

3. Services related to digital upgrading.

Action 3

Digital Transformation Cutting Edge SMEs . It concerns medium, small and micro enterprises that have already integrated ICT in many of their operations and are now seeking to implement integrated investments in cutting-edge technologies or 4th industrial revolution solutions.

The minimum and maximum total eligible budget of the funding application is set from EUR 200,001 to EUR 1,200,000, while the maximum duration of the investment will not exceed eighteen (18) months from the date of adoption of the Decision of Inclusion.

Digital Transformation of SMEs - Criteria for inclusion

It should be noted that investment projects must have the character of an initial investment and, in particular, must be met one of the following criteria :

1. The creation of a new business establishment.

2. Expansion of the capacity of an existing unit.

3. Diversification of a facility's output into products or services that have never been produced at that facility.

4. Fundamental change of the entire production process of an existing unit.

The main categories of expenditure covered

1. Equipment for the supply of digitally controlled E/M equipment, advanced systems for remote operation of facilities, automation of various stages of the value chain with robotic systems, upgrading of internal data transmission networks, digital technology systems, etc.

2. Applications/software for the supply of applications for increased intelligence for administrative and financial planning, digital security, customer and supply chain management, data analysis with artificial intelligence tools, production optimisation, upgrading of services, blockchain, etc.

3. Services related to digital upgrading for consulting and technical support for the configuration and integration of new systems into the operation of SMEs, certification of systems, etc..

Digital Transformation of SMEs

It is recalled that the action, Digital Transformation of Small and Medium Enterprises, essentially marks the start of the new NSRF 2021/27, through which funds will be made available to finance the Greek economy amount to 26.2 billion euros. Through the Competitiveness Program alone, resources reaching 4 billion euros will be made available for the support and transformation of Greek small and medium entrepreneurship. 4 billion euros.

The Applications for funding will only be submitted electronically through the Integrated State Aid Information System (OPSKE app.opske.gr) and the date of submission of the funding application will be the starting date for the eligibility of expenditure. The maximum duration of the completion of the physical and financial scope of the investment project may not exceed 18 months from the date of adoption of the decision of inclusion. can only be done electronically in the Integrated State Aid Information System (OPSKE app.opske.gr) and as the date on which expenditure shall become eligible shall be the date of submission of the application for funding. The maximum duration of the completion of the physical and financial scope of the investment project may not exceed 18 months from the date of the adoption of the decision of integration.

Submission of a funding application is permitted:

• or only in Action 1 - Basic Digital Transformation of SMEs
• or only in Action 2 - Advanced Digital Transformation of SMEs
• or only in Action 3 - Digital Transformation of Cutting Edge SMEs, under penalty of rejection of all applications

Detailed information and updates are provided by the Information Office of the Information Office of the EAD Competitiveness Programme at 801 11 36 300, e-mail: infoepan@mou.gr, and by EFEPAE at 210 6985210, e-mail: info@efepae.gr as well as by the partners of EFEPAE