The Romanian Ministry of European Investments and Projects (MIPE) announced on Wednesday the launch schedule of the SME Digitalization Program.
The official calendar of the call for projects for SME DIGITALIZATION - worth 350 million euros.
Guide Release: December 15, 2022
Project submission: February 1, 2023 – March 30, 2023
Project evaluation: April 1, 2023 – May 31, 2023
Stage I of signing contracts: June 30, 2023
Stage II of signing contracts: August 31, 2023
The program will allow micro, small and medium enterprises in Romania to apply for European funds worth 20,000-100,000 euros each, as part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).
The call is competitive and will support the following types of actions:
ICT hardware purchases;
procurement of equipment for automation and robotics intended for technological flows, integrated with digital solutions;
development and/or adaptation of software applications/licenses, including RPA software automation solutions, respectively Robotic Process Automation;
procurement of blockchain technologies;
purchases of artificial intelligence systems, machine learning, augmented reality, virtual reality;
purchase of presentation website;
procurement of cloud and IoT services;
training the staff who will use ICT equipment;consultancy/analysis to identify technical solutions needed by SMEs, etc.
The call has an allocation of 347.5 million euros and is addressed to companies regulated by the Commercial Companies Law no.31/1990, which fall under the category of SMEs and have their headquarters in Romania.
SME Digitization - no investment for IT SMEs
One of the shortcomings of PNRR Component 9.I3 Measure 1, is the fact that IT SMEs are not supported, all of which are ineligible according to the Applicant's Guide.As can be seen, all CAEN codes specific to IT activities are excluded from funding.
CAEN codes ineligible through PNRR C9 M1:
CAEN code 2611- Manufacture of electronic subassemblies (modules);
CAEN code 2612 – Manufacture of other electronic components;
CAEN code 2620 – Manufacture of computers and peripheral equipment;
CAEN code 2630 – Manufacture of communications equipment;
CAEN code 6201 – Custom software creation activities (customer-oriented software);
CAEN code 6202 – Consulting activities in information technology;
CAEN code 6203 – Management activities (management and operation) of computing resources;
CAEN code 6209 – Other service activities regarding information technology;
CAEN code 6311 – Data processing, web page management and related activities
CAEN code 6312 – Activities of web portals;
CAEN code 7211 – Research and development in biotechnology;
CAEN code 7219 – Research and development in other natural sciences and engineering;
Do IT startups, in order to develop, have to develop their infrastructure only by accessing external funding (e.g. the Microsoft for Startup Founders Hub program) - not being eligible in the Romanian state funding programs through any of the PNRR Components?
Comments