Grants for the digitisation of SMEs are foreseen by MIPE Order 3185/2022, the timetable for which has recently been adjusted by the Ministry through Order 221/2023.
According to the Ministry of European Investment and Projects (MIPE), small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including micro-enterprises, can apply for a de minimis grant of up to €100,000 to digitise their business between 15 February and 30 June 2023.
Thus, the aid scheme financed by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, for which applications are made online in a dedicated application, provides for the submission of projects between 15 February and 30 June 2023 (initially, the period was 1 February to 31 March);
The evaluation and contract signature stages are as follows:
- project evaluation phase: 3 – 16 August 2023;
- first contract signature stage: 15 September – 15 October 2023;
- second contract signature phase: 15 October – 15 November 2023.
- Specifically, with funding of up to €100,000, SMEs can go digital by:
- purchase of ICT (information and communication technology) hardware;
- purchasing automation and robotics equipment for technological workflows, integrated with digital solutions;
- development and/or adaptation of software applications/licenses, including RPA (robotic process automation) software solutions;
- acquisition of blockchain technologies;
- procurement of artificial intelligence, machine learning, augmented reality, virtual reality systems;
- acquisition of a presentation website;
- procurement of cloud and IoT (internet of things) services;
- training of staff who will use ICT equipment;
- consultancy/analysis to identify technical solutions needed by SMEs, etc.
We mention that the de minimis aid, which is at least 20,000 euros, can cover a maximum of 90% of the eligible expenses of enterprises, the remaining 10% being co-financing. Thus, micro-enterprises can obtain a maximum of 30,000 euros, small enterprises can obtain a maximum of 50,000 euros and medium-sized enterprises can obtain a maximum of 100,000 euros.
We mention that among the conditions to be ticked by applicants are:
- to be companies established before 2022;
- must not have had its activity interrupted or suspended in 2022;
- must not have financial problems.