Get Digital, an opportunity for EU SMEs to scale-up their businesses
A catalogue of leading European businesses with use cases for a more resilient industry. This is the objective of the new call launched by the European Commission's Department for Internal Market, with the final goal to launch two workshops to help the industry to be more energy independent and resilient.
The project is in partnership with the Digital SME, the European Innovation Council and the Small and Medium Enterprises' Executive Agency. This would allow more than 45.000 digital SMEs coming from 30 national and regional associations to participate. An opportunity not only for EU Member states but also for neighbouring countries such as Ukraine – where businesses have been highly affected by the war – Georgia and Moldova.
The catalogue will include all the submitted digital solutions and an independent managers' jury will select the most relevant applicants who will have the chance to present their solutions at the workshops.
Economic losses due to supply chain disruptions in the Eurozone are estimated at €112.7 billion (0.9% of GDP). Energy prices and inflation (that hit 27% in January 2022), raw material shortages and logistics breakdowns, and talent shortages are exacerbating the shock to supply. Both workshops will try to address these issues.
The first one, ‘Get Digital: Go Green’, will focus on a digital solution which could reduce energy consumption, in a historical moment that sees rising inflation and the EU energy security threatened by Russia. The second workshop is named ‘Get Digital: Be Resilient', and will try to address the issue of the supply chain crisis that has negatively impacted sectors such as automotive, construction and agri-food since the Covid-19 pandemic started.
The European-wide initiative will help the selected entities – among other things – to promote and increase their innovative business model, get advice for access to finance, and get access to European business and innovation support services based on companies' needs. Last but not least, SMEs will have the chance to network with companies of a similar size and challenges based in other EU Member states.
“Through the ‘Get Digital Workshop series, we aim to ensure leading digital SMEs in Europe can use the Single Market to scale digital solutions that help all our industries, including our many SMEs, become greener and more resilient. Our Single Market is the best lever to promote digitalisation and help our industries to thrive in today’s global context”. Kerstin Jorna, Director-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs commented on the initiative.
Interested companies can apply via the call for interest.