Funding Call for the Regional Network Supporting Digital Transition of Emilia-Romagna Enterprises
About this good practice
The entrepreneurial fabric of Emilia-Romagna (E-R) is dominated by small and micro-enterprises, increasingly challenged by digital transition. To enhance their competitiveness, the Region established in 2022 the Regional Network for Digital Transition of E-R Enterprises, composed of accredited entities supporting SMEs in their digital transformation path.
In synergy with National and European initiatives, the Region launched a Funding Call for Network members applying as Help Desks and Nodes, where the Nodes coordinate at least 3 Help Desks across provinces (including themselves), while Help Desks support SMEs independently or with a Node.
Particularly, Nodes received reimbursement of up to 80% of expenses and Help Desks up to 70% to fund activities in digital innovation such as:
-information and dissemination for external or internal target groups
-research, simulations, and study visits to develop or improve products, processes, or services
-strengthening internal personnel skills
-conducting Digital Maturity Assessments (DMA) and identifying enabling technology projects
-coordinating tools and actions to support Help Desks.
To obtain funding, Nodes and Help Desks must:
-publish their catalog of digital transition services on a dedicated web platform
-collaborate with all Network members to support businesses
-deliver at least 50 DMAs and Digital Intensity Index (DII) Forms for Nodes, and 20 for Help Desks
-share DMA results with the Region (even anonymously).
Expert opinion
Resources needed
€1.5 million for the Funding Call, of which €556,767.56 granted as a contribution for a total activity value of €748,866.75.
9 Help-Desks, 3 Nodes representing 22 network members received the contribution.
Approximately 30 people belonging to the Nodes/Help-Desks for DMA /DII Form support.
Evidence of success
- 31 out of 47 Network members benefited from the funding call and 352 DMA and DII forms were completed, exceeding the expected 330.
- An interim questionnaire showed 64 training/dissemination activities carried out by 11 entities and 65 training/orientation meetings by 8.
- Feedback highlights the strengthened role of Help-Desks in supporting businesses and the strategic value of the program in raising SME managers' awareness of digital innovation.
Potential for learning or transfer
Node mechanism encourages collaboration among the stakeholders of a relatively complex and fragmented innovation ecosystem, promoting the division of activities by area of expertise among entities with different specializations in enabling technologies.
A widespread network of Help-Desks can be replicated wherever there is a need to facilitate businesses' access to information, research, use cases, application areas, and simulations aimed at developing or improving products, processes, or services.
The specific funding call sustains the activities of Nodes and help desks and also acts as a way to improve the capacity of the people that work in them (upskilling of the workforce).
Further information
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
DG Knowledge, Research, Labour, Enterprises - Emilia-Romagna Region
