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Funding opportunities for the digital transformation
In the previous articles, we learned how we can overcome resistance with LEGO® Serious Play® and transform it into active and committed participation. Here we would like to show you which funding opportunities are available for digitalisation in your company.
The digital transformation has long since found its way into the printing industry and also offers many opportunities for your company to remain competitive. In order to position your company well for the future, it is important to find out about funding opportunities and receive support in the implementation of digitalisation projects.
There are a variety of funding opportunities for companies that want to invest in digital transformation. These subsidies are not only limited to financial support, but also include consulting services and training. Here are some opportunities you should consider as the CEO of a company in the printing industry.
Investment promotion by KfW Bank
KfW Bank offers low-interest loans or grants for companies that want to invest in digital technology. In the context of digitalisation, KfW Bank also supports special programmes to help companies digitalise their business processes. These include, for example, the promotional programme Digital Now and the programme ERP Digitisation and Innovation Loan. These programmes can help companies like a printer to digitise their processes and invest in new workflow solutions.
go-digital programme
The go-digital programme of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy is aimed specifically at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Within the framework of the programme, printers can, for example, take advantage of consulting services for the introduction of digital business processes, the optimisation of online marketing or the increase of IT security. The consulting services are provided by authorised consulting firms selected by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and are eligible for state funding of up to 50 per cent of the consulting costs, up to a maximum of 16,500 euros. By introducing digital technologies, printers can, for example, automate their production, make processes more efficient and thus save time and costs. Digitisation can also facilitate the development of new business areas, for example in the field of personalised print products. Overall, the "go-digital" programme is intended to help printers and other small and medium-sized enterprises in Germany take advantage of the opportunities offered by digitalisation and thus remain competitive.
State funding The example of NRW
Many federal states offer special funding programmes for digitisation that are tailored to the needs of local businesses. Using North Rhine-Westphalia as an example, we would like to show you how many options there are here:
The NRW.BANK.Digital Loan is a special promotion product of NRW.BANK that specifically targets small and medium-sized enterprises in North Rhine-Westphalia. The loan is used to finance projects in the field of digitalisation and innovation. In this context, the loans can be used for various purposes, such as investments in digital technologies, research and development projects or the full-scale networking of resource planning (ERP system) and production systems. In fact, companies can receive low-interest loans of up to EUR 10 million through the NRW.BANK Digitisation and Innovation Loan, with a financing share of up to 100%.
The NRW further training premium is a programme of the country that supports companies in training their employees. Here, companies can receive a premium of up to 50% of the further training costs. The programme is aimed at both companies and employees in North Rhine-Westphalia. The primary aim of the NRW training premium is to support employees in North Rhine-Westphalia in continuing their training and improving their professional skills and competences. The funding is intended to help ensure that employees are better prepared for the demands of the labour market and that companies can benefit from well-trained employees. In the context of digitalisation, further training measures play an important role, as the demands on employees are constantly changing due to technological change and increasing digitalisation. Through further training, employees can keep their knowledge and skills up to date and prepare themselves for the demands of digitalisation.
The MID Digitisation Voucher is a funding programme of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises that want to invest in the digitalisation of their business processes. The programme is offered as part of the Mittelstand Innovativ & Digital (MID) initiative and offers companies financial support for the implementation of digitisation projects. The digitalisation voucher is a grant of up to 10,000 euros that can be used for consulting and implementation services in the area of digitalisation. The programme is designed to help companies make their processes more efficient, increase their competitiveness and open up new business areas. The funding can be used for various digitisation measures, such as the introduction of digital business processes, the development of e-commerce solutions or the implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies. To benefit from the funding, companies must meet certain requirements and submit an application for funding.
Digitisation offers great opportunities for companies in the printing industry, but the investment costs are often high. The various federal and state funding programmes can help companies meet this challenge and make the necessary investments. Early information and advice on the various funding opportunities is therefore advisable in order to take the right steps for successful digitisation.
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