Deadline Date: October 31, 2025
The Digitalise your SME scheme in Malta provides Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) with non-repayable grants to partly finance investments in digital technologies aiming to improve business resilience, efficiency, productivity, and customer experience.
The grant scheme falls under Policy Objective 1: a more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity under the SFC2021 Programme 2021-2027 towards a smarter, well-connected and resilient economy, a greener environment, and an integrated society, addressing PO1: promoting entrepreneurship by facilitating economic exploitation of new ideas and fostering new firm creation including business incubators; and RSO1.2: reaping the benefits of digitisation for citizens, companies, research organisations, and public authorities.
In today’s competitive global market, enterprises must stay ahead by adopting the latest technologies to deliver superior products and services. Digitalisation investment is essential for business survival and growth, enabling new business models, smarter production processes, and better customer engagement.
The Digitalise your SME scheme assists SMEs by providing grants to partially fund hardware, software, and digital solutions that enhance operational efficiency and productivity. Eligible applications can receive grants ranging from €10,000 up to €128,400, with variations in aid intensity based on region and status (de minimis or start-up). Additional top-ups are available for investments in advanced technologies like Cyber Security, IoT, AI, Big Data, Cloud Computing, and Quantum Technology, aligned with Malta’s Digital Decade Strategic Roadmap 2023-2030.
The scheme supports procuring digital solutions including commercial off-the-shelf software, custom software, hardware (laptops, monitors, tablets), analytical tools, cyber security systems, routers, and training associated with the acquired technology. Applicants must source these from external unrelated suppliers, ensuring the investments are productive, not purely decorative, and have a minimum useful life of three years.
The grant operates under strict eligibility and exclusion criteria, including prohibition of funding repair/maintenance costs, taxes, insurance, entertainment, used or refurbished equipment, and businesses involved in certain sectors like agriculture, tobacco manufacturing, or gambling. Applicants must have sound financial viability and demonstrate operational and sustainability commitments.
Applications are submitted online under an open rolling call with periodic cut-off dates, assessed against gateway eligibility and detailed selection criteria such as project excellence, impact, sustainability, internationalisation potential, operational capacity, and readiness. Selected projects enter a binding grant agreement with monitoring, reporting, and audit obligations enforced during and after project implementation.
Physical or online compliance checks are conducted by the Intermediate Body to verify use and implementation. Beneficiaries must maintain asset records, evidence of expenditures, and ensure durability of investments. The scheme emphasizes equal opportunities, non-discrimination, sustainable development, and adherence to the EU ‘do no significant harm’ principle.
For more information, visit FONDI.eu.
