Today we will present the last of the three shares of the “Digital Transformation of SMEs” package, which was announced as part of the “Competitiveness” program of the NSFR 2021-2027. We remind you that all three actions of the package with a total budget of 300,000,000 euros are aimed at eliminating the backlog of Greek businesses in the implementation and integration of modern digital technologies in their production activities, as well as covering the target needs of SMEs, depending on the existing digital technologies and their technological maturity. but also their different investment needs.

Action 3 – Advanced Digital Transformation refers to businesses that have already integrated ICT into many of their operations and are now looking to make comprehensive investments in advanced technologies or fourth industrial revolution solutions.

According to published data, the action with a budget of 60,000,000 euros encourages, as a matter of priority, the implementation of targeted digital transformation investment projects that contribute to forward-looking, innovative, competitive and sustainable, higher value-added, critical production of products and services.

• Eligible enterprises – participation conditions

As indicated in the published call, existing medium, small and micro enterprises can apply for equity financing. Eligible business activity categories (CABs) are detailed in the call to action.

The main conditions for the participation of companies applying for financing are as follows:

Submit a single funding application for each VAT number.

Be active in Greece and invest exclusively in one category of the region (with the same aid intensity).

Keep simple or double digit books and have at least one (1) full closed administrative form.

Be active in an eligible investment plan CSD for at least one (1) year, and the investment relates exclusively to eligible CSDs.

Have at least nine full-time or part-time EMEs during the calendar year prior to applying for funding.

Be of a corporate/commercial nature with an appropriate operating license.

Not be in a state of bankruptcy, liquidation or bankruptcy proceedings.

Work on the investment project did not start before the application for assistance was submitted.

Score at least 70 points on the Invitation Digital Maturity Questionnaire.

It is specified that the subsidized budget of an investment project cannot exceed three times the maximum turnover achieved in one of the three (or less if the company does not have three) closed management periods preceding the year of application for funding.

• Budget and duration of projects.

As indicated in the published data, the minimum and maximum total supported budget of the funding application is set from 200,001 euros to 1,200,000 euros. The maximum duration of completion of a physical and economic facility may not exceed eighteen months from the date of issue of the Decision of Approval.

Aid rates vary from 25% to 60% depending on the aid regime, country region and business size.

• Eligible costs

The main categories of costs covered by Action 3 – Advanced Digital Transformation:

Cost of equipment. Delivery of production automation systems and/or modern technological equipment with an estimated cost: Server equipment, Automation – Control systems for centralized heating / air conditioning and / or lighting systems, Closed-loop control systems (CCTV). ) for objects, warehouses, open areas, etc.

Applications/Software with Estimated Application Delivery Costs: Business Resource Management – ERP, Customer Management – CRM, Secure Electronic Payment, Electronic Data Interchange, Big Data Analysis and Processing, Internet of Things (IoT), Data Collection, Analysis and Processing in cloud or edge platforms, blockchain, etc.

Services related to digital modernization, with an estimated cost: Consulting and technical support for setting up and integrating new systems into the work of SMEs, system certification, investment plan monitoring, etc.

The application date is determined as the start of eligibility.

The full text of the invitation can be found at http://21-27.antagonistikotita.gr/.

Applications are submitted electronically until the budget is exhausted.

* Ms. M. Paspalari is the Managing Director of AMBIO SA.