“Digital Transformation of Leading SMEs”: 3rd decision approving evaluation results for the action
The third (3rd) Evaluation Results Approval Decision has been published for the Action “Digital Transformation of Leading SMEs” of the “Competitiveness” Program 2021/27″, which includes the results of evaluation and pre-accession check & accumulation check for the following, in order of submission, twenty-eight (28) funding applications, according to the date and time of their final electronic submission to OPSKE.
In particular, ten (10) funding applications with a subsidized public expenditure of 4,558,713.93 euros are approved and eighteen (18) applications with a total requested budget of 13,022,351.52 euros with a requested public expenditure of 6,103,615.99 euros are rejected.
The total approved projects in the Action amount to seventeen (17), with a total public expenditure of 7,690,554.33 euros and the total number of applications, for which evaluation results have been issued, amount to fifty-two (52) funding applications of the total requested budget 42,288,289.27 euros with a requested public expenditure of 20,055,374.76 euros.
The beneficiaries are informed electronically, at the electronic contact address (email) stated in the submission form, through the Integrated State Aid Information System (OPSKE).
The interested may, within an exclusive period of seven (7) working days from the day after the notification of the final evaluation result, in accordance with the Decision Approving Evaluation Results, submit an administrative objection exclusively through OPSKE.
See the relevant Decision here.
Action “Digital Transformation of SMEs”
Priority of the Action “Digital Transformation of Leading SMEs” is the upgrading of SMEs with edge technologies or with esophisticated 4th generation digital systems industrial revolution and additionally the coverage of particular needs in information and communication technologies (ICT) that expand their productivity and competitiveness.
The Action encourages, as a matter of priority, the implementation of targeted digital transformation investment projects that contribute to an outgoing, innovative, competitive and sustainable critical production of products and services of higher added value.
Boost Rate
From 25% to 60% depending on the aid regime, the Region of the country and the size of the business.
Action Budget
The budget of the Action amounts to 60,000,000 euro.
The Public Expenditure is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the European Union and by National Participation.
Budget Allocation by Region category
- 13,200,000 euros for the Regions in Transition: Attica and South Aegean
46,800,000 euros for the Less Developed Regions: Northern Aegean, Eastern Macedonia – Thrace, Central Macedonia, Epirus, Thessaly, Western Greece, Crete, Western Macedonia, Ionian Islands, Peloponnese, Central Greece.
Beneficiaries
Beneficiaries are small and medium enterprises, which among others should:
- To have closed at least one (1) full administrative use
- To be active in one of the eligible KAD of the investment plan for at least one (1) year
- To have at least one (1) eligible KAD activity, when submitting the application for financing the investment project, included in Appendix IV – ELIGIBLE
ACTIVITIES (KAD) - The investment plan should concern exclusively the eligible KAD of Annex IV – ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES (KAD)
- To have at least nine (9) EMEs of dependent work during the calendar year preceding the submission of the funding application.
- Works on the investment project have not started before the submission of the aid application.
- Gain a minimum score of 70 on the invitation’s digital maturity questionnaire.
It should be noted that co-location of companies is not allowed, so that it is not possible to use the equipment and/or software of the supported investment by another company. The term co-location means the installation of the aided enterprise in the same, non-distinct space with another enterprise. In the event that co-location of companies is found where it is possible to use the equipment and/or software of the supported investment by another company, the Inclusion Decision will be revoked.
Eligible Expenses
- Equipment Expenses (indicative): Supply of sophisticated systems for remote operation of facilities, automation of the various stages of the value chain (production – transport – storage), production / storage / transport with robotic systems, upgrading of internal data transfer networks, etc.
- Software Expenses (indicative): Supply of applications of increased intelligence of administrative and financial planning, digital security, customer and supply chain management, data analysis with artificial intelligence tools, optimization of production, upgrading of services provided, etc.
- Expenses for the provision of services related to the digital upgrade (indicative): Consulting and technical support for the configuration and integration of the new systems in the operation of SMEs, system certification, etc.
The date of submission of the funding application is defined as the start date of expenditure eligibility.
Maximum duration of completion of physical and financial object: Eighteen (18) months, from the date of issuance of the Decision Approving Evaluation Results.
See more information about the action here.