Supporting SMEs Digitization with the Collaboration of Selected Stakeholders
About this good practice
Advanced digital technologies are deeply changing the economic landscape, with a significant impact on all aspects of value and supply chains. The Emilia-Romagna productive sector is characterized by the presence of many SMEs, which often encounter difficulties in adapting to and integrating these new technologies. It should therefore be the task of the public system, through the use of incentives and the creation of systemic conditions, to support SMEs in their journey towards the so-called 4’ industrial revolution.In this regard, the Emilia-Romagna Region has launched a call for funding - up to 40% of the project value and for a maximum of 150.000 euros for each beneficiary - the implementation of innovative projects aimed at introducing advanced digital technologies into the firms production and organizational processes, products and services, supply and sales chains, in relations with the various actors of the value and supply chains to which they belong and in communication systems.The new element is the obligation for the applicant SMEs, to submit an assessment on level of digital maturity, before and after the financed project, drawn up according to the ACATECH scale embedded in a pre-established scheme by a member of the Regional Network for the Digital Transition of Emilia-Romagna companies (DIHs, EDIHs, Technical Assistance Centres, Innovation Centres) or by a DIH belonging to the national Industry 4.0 network. This would allow to measure the progress made.
Resources needed
25 mln € as initial financial endowment, then integrated with 11 mln € and further 16 mln with the Regional Decrees n. 1171/2022 and n. 2331/2022;- 35 people of DIHs belonging to the Network for assessment support.
Evidence of success
A Call for funding of 52 mln € worth generated 133 mln € investments in digital technologies implemented by 701 funded firms-Initiative perceived as a good opportunity by 890 applicant firms-Initial endowment of 25 mln € increased up to 52 mln € to finance all worthy projects-629 firms achieved an advanced level of digitalization by implementing enabling technologies-Collection of first-hand data by the Region on the digitalization level of the firms on its territory thanks to 890 DMAs.
Potential for learning or transfer
The key elements for the GP transferability are:-A relatively high financial endowment to fund a considerable number of eligible projects and make an impact in the Region; -Depending on the number of target companies, there should be enough qualified subjects in the region to support SMEs in the assessment fulfillment. Indeed, if there are many applicants, an high number of DMA is expected and therefore more people have to be involved;-In order to collect and easily analyze the Digital Maturity Assessment results, a platform that collects the results to be shared with the Region can be an advantage. Some adaptation can be implemented: -If the financial endowment is not so high, just firms of targeted sectors, and namely the most strategic ones for the region, can be addressed. Alternatively, a priority to finance firms with a basic level of digitization can be considered;-To guarantee adequate assistance to the firms for the assessment also EDIH(s) can be involved.
Further information
Support for the digitalization of companies
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Good practice owner
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