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The Government will launch on October 20 – the day after tomorrow – the third phase of the European aid included under the name Kit Digital. With it, the Executive intends to promote the digitization of Spanish micro-SMEs.
Only the self-employed and Spanish SMEs with zero to three employees can apply in this phase. It is a total of 2,799,447 small and medium-sized companies and also self-employed, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE).
The maximum aid that each company can opt for is 2,000 euros, which means that less than 9% of this group (specifically 8.9%) you can access them. Of the three aid packages that will be available to SMEs in our country when the third is approved, it is precisely the latter that will reach fewer companies. There is the paradox that it is the group that, in general terms, most needs to be digitized, and that it is also the largest in number.
425,000 micro-enterprises with three to nine employees can apply to the second phase of the Digital Kit, which will access a maximum of 6,000 euros each, for a total package of 500 million euros budgeted for this group. In total, according to these figures, a maximum of 83,333 companies may receive subsidies, 19.6% of the total. This phase was launched on September 2 last. Grants can be applied for within 12 months of that date, that is, until September 2, 2023.
As for the first phase, in Spain there are 117,534 companies with 10 to 49 workers. The budget was also 500 million euros, with a maximum grant of 12,000 euros per company. This means that they can apply, at most, 35% of SMEs with 10 to 49 employees.
A maximum of 83,333 companies, 19.6% of the total, will be able to receive subsidies from the second phase of the Digital Kit. This call was launched on September 2 last. Grants can be applied for within 12 months of that date (September 2, 2023)
Only 16% of the aid from the first phase has been awarded
According to information from Red.es, the public body through which the aid is managed, at the beginning of August there were 8,700 digitizing agents -those who guide SMEs in the subsidy request process- enabled and 68,000 requests for the first phase of the Digital Kit, a total of 21,000 grants having been awarded, 16% of the total. Specifically, 53% of small and medium-sized companies with 10 to 49 employees have requested the economic benefit for the first phase.
If we see what happened until mid-September, Red.es ensures that the first call for help from the Digital Kit has received some 70,000 applications and more than 35,000 vouchers have been assigned, at a maximum rate of 12,000 euros per voucher. The second call has registered 33,400 applications; 6,000 euros per voucher maximum.
The Government extends the terms of the Digital Kit
The data in the previous paragraph has pushed Red.es to extend the deadline to apply for aid of the first phase of the Digital Kit. It was extended until March 15, 2023. In this way, the Executive intends that more companies apply to them, and also that those that have requested it but have not received it due to errors in the documentation can solve the problems.
Since Yotramitoan online platform that accompanies companies throughout the process of applying for aid, explain that “it is very important that the subsidies reach the micro-enterprises to ensure competitiveness of Spanish companies. In this way, the country’s digital competitiveness will be guaranteed at a time when it is more necessary than ever, given the economic situation and globalization, which also affects companies.”
