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Factsheet for measure AT-2017-35/2682 Updated – measures in Austria

SME Digital 3.1

KMU Digital 3.1

Country Austria , applies nationwide
Time period Temporary, 01 September 2017 – 30 June 2025
Context Digital Transformation, Restructuring Support Instruments
Type Other initiatives or policies
Category Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace
– Changes in work organisation
Author Bernadette Allinger (Forba) and Eurofound
Measure added 23 June 2022 (updated 07 November 2022)

Background information

The original programme lasted from September 2017 until summer 2019. Back then, the consulting module could be funded with up to €4,000 and provided digitalisation check, analysis of innovative potential, targeted advice, and staff education and training. The implementation module could receive funding up to €5,000 in the total programming period. The second phase of the programme lasted from October 2019 to September 2021, offering two modules: Status and potential analysis and Strategic consulting. For the first module, the funding was limited to €4,000. For the second module, the limit was €5,000. The total costs of the project had to remain between €5,000 and €20,000. The investment should support the building of modernised digital infrastructures. It is eligible for Austrian small and medium-sized enterprises.

Content of measure

The programme aims to support the digitalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises by providing professional consultation and funding for innovative projects.

Started in May 2022, the third edition of the programme is now offering two modules:

  1. Status and potential analysis, whereby 80% of the consultation costs are funded by the state;

  2. Strategic consulting with a public funding of up to 50% of the costs.

For the first module, the funding is limited to €3,000. For the second module, the limit is €6,000. The total costs of the project must remain between €3,000 and €30,000.   For the third phase, the period of validity lasts until 30 June 2025 but is limited to the existing funding budget.

The budget in total is €10,0 Mio.

The goal of the programme is to raise the level of digitalisation in focus fields of IT-security, e-commerce, new business models and social media. The project is supported by Ministry for Digitalisation and Business Location (BMDW) in cooperation with the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKÖ) and the Digitalisation Agency (DIA).

Funding: Austrian Federal Ministry of Digital and Economic Affairs (BMDW): funding, consulting

Austrian Economic Chambers (WKO)

Examples: The first wave of the programme between 2017 and 2019 has helped many companies innovate their work and products. Few examples are KMT - Kunststoff-/Metalltechnik GmbH, Kunst-Steinmetz Pointner GesmbH, Gruber Electric GesmbH and others.

Updates

The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.

01 May 2022

Started in May 2022, the third edition of the programme is now offering two modules:

  1. Status and potential analysis, whereby 80% of the consultation costs are funded by the state;

  2. Strategic consulting with a public funding of up to 50% of the costs.

For the first module, the funding is limited to €3,000. For the second module, the limit is €6,000. The total costs of the project must remain between €3,000 and €30,000.

For the third phase, the period of validity lasts until 30 June 2025 but is limited to the existing funding budget.

Use of measure

According to the Ministry for Digitalisation and Business Location (BMDW), the first wave of the project met its goals. The project successfully enforced the modernisation of Austrian enterprises in a variety of areas like e-commerce and online marketing, business models and processes, and IT security. 

As the Salzburg Economic Chamber has stated, the programme offered around 10,000 consulting sessions to 7,000 companies over the last two years in Austria WKS 2020 .

The programme helps companies to recognise the benefits of digital technologies and implement modern solutions in their own company.

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Employees in standard employment
Particular professions
Sector specific set of companies
SMEs
Other businesses
Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
National government
National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role Unknown Unknown
Form Not applicable Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

  • Unknown
  • Main level of involvement: Unknown

Involvement

Unknown

Views and reactions

Unknown

Sectors and occupations

    • Economic area Sector (NACE level 2)
      J - Information And Communication J62 Computer programming, consultancy and related activities

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2022), SME Digital 3.1, measure AT-2017-35/2682 (measures in Austria), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/AT-2017-35_2682.html

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Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.