GRANTS, LOANS AND SERVICES SUPPORTING THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF COMPANIES
Grants for company digitization and automation
Are you planning to automate production, implement an ERP system, use AI, or improve cybersecurity? We check which financing instruments may suit your project, what requirements the company must meet and how to prepare the investment for evaluation.
Not every company qualifies for Dig.IT, and not every software purchase constitutes a digital transformation. We help distinguish between a viable funding opportunity and an option that requires a change in scope or financing method.
The free test is for guidance purposes only. Individual consultations and documentation preparation are separate, paid services.
PRELIMINARY FINANCING DIAGNOSIS
Which digitalization financing path should you consider?
Answer six questions. You'll receive indicative funding options that require further verification.
The result will appear after completing all fields.
TWO DIRECTIONS OF TRANSFORMATION
Tailor financing to your business needs
Similar equipment or IT systems may be assessed differently across different instruments. The business profile, documented business need, project scale, and call criteria all play a role.
Manufacturing Transformation and Industry 4.0
We are examining the possibility of financing robotization, automation, monitoring systems and optimization of plant operation.
- Dig.IT: grant for specific digital technologies for eligible manufacturing and service SMEs.
- Regional programs: grants or repayable instruments for digitization, depending on the voivodeship.
- FENG: loan for digital and green transformation for investments of appropriate scale.
- EDIH: audit, expert support and technology testing before investment.
Digitalization of services, management and data
We verify projects involving management systems, data integration, service automation, and the implementation of AI-based solutions.
- ERP, CRM and integrations: assessment of process effects, scope of implementation and license eligibility.
- AI, analytics, cybersecurity: selection of call for proposals for a specific purpose, not for the name of the technology itself.
- Regional programs and loans: instruments also available for some non-manufacturing companies.
- EDIH and competence programs: diagnosis and preparation of employees for change.
FINANCING INSTRUMENTS
Four distinct support options
We verify not only the potential program, but also the rules for disbursement of funds, own contribution, aid limits, financial capacity and obligations after project implementation.
Dig.IT – ARP grant
Financing digitalization for SMEs in the industrial processing and production services sectors. The 2/2026 competition covers amounts ranging from PLN 150,000 to PLN 850,000, with a maximum of PLN 501,000 in eligible costs, with reimbursement upon project completion.
Regional European Funds
Grants, loans, and other solutions vary by province. Support may include implementing digital systems or automation, but the cost list and criteria are specific to each competition.
EDIH – expert support
Free digital diagnostics, consulting, solution testing, training, and access to specialists for SMEs. This is de minimis service assistance, not a cash grant for equipment purchases.
FENG loan with conditional grant
This instrument supports digital and green investments ranging from PLN 2.5 to PLN 15 million, also available to large companies. A conditional grant for repayment of a portion of the capital is possible, subject to the terms and conditions of the financing partner.
Note the difference between the instruments. The Dig.IT grant is a reimbursement, EDIH provides expert services, and the loan requires repayment. Grants, services, and repayable financing should not be considered interchangeable benefits.
DIG.IT 2026
What do the terms of the 2/2026 Competition actually mean?
The program's parameters are attractive, but the formal requirements, company profile, and payment model can exclude a seemingly well-suited project. This is why pre-application assessment is crucial for business.
Terms and basic parameters
Applications will be accepted from November 2nd to 30th, 2026. Minimum grant: PLN 150,000, maximum: PLN 850,000, intensity: up to 50%. No advances or interim payments are planned.
- Internship: at least five closed full financial years.
- Target group: SMEs conducting manufacturing activities or manufacturing services as defined by the Industrial Development Agency.
- Income limit: The grant cannot exceed 30% of the average annual net sales revenue from the last three years.
- De minimis aid: the available limit and verification of the situation of related enterprises are needed.
Project Scope and Eligibility
The project should include the implementation of acquired digital technology or commissioned programming work and the implementation of its results. Simply purchasing a machine without a corresponding digital component is not sufficient.
- Mandatory scope: acquisition and implementation of digital technology or programming work and implementation.
- In addition: training, necessary fixed assets and materials, totaling up to 40% eligible project costs.
- Commencement of work: no earlier than the day of submitting the application.
- Liquidity: it is necessary to finance expenses before a one-off reimbursement.
Official source: ARP – Dig.IT, Competition 2/2026. The parameters provided apply to a specific call for proposals and should not be automatically transferred to subsequent editions.
EXPENDITURE CATEGORIES
What elements of the transformation can be financed?
Eligibility is determined by the applicable regulations, not the generic product name. The cost estimate should demonstrate the relationship between each expense and a measurable implementation outcome.
Software and integration
ERP, MES, WMS, CRM, data analytics, cybersecurity and specialist digital solutions when they fall within the instrument's principles.
Programming and implementation
Solution design, system integration, programming, and configuration and launch of digital functionalities.
Automation and robotics
Devices, sensors, robots or infrastructure supporting digital processes – where their costs are permitted by regulations.
Competencies and organizational change
User and team training, technology consulting and implementation management, if provided for in a given form of support.
Don't automatically assume that a ready-made IT system is ineligible. Dig.IT allows for the acquisition and implementation of ready-made digital technologies. Other competitions may impose additional requirements regarding specialization, innovation, or the degree to which the solution fits the company.
PROJECT VERIFICATION
Six areas that may determine your assessment
Good digital project documentation should justify both the need for the technology and the feasibility of its implementation. In many cases, the greatest risk lies not in the system selection itself, but in the lack of coherence between process, budget, and results.
Business process and problem
What does the company do manually today, with what number of errors, delays or losses, and what needs to be improved?
Status, industry and seniority
SME or large company, actual nature of business, financial years and data from financial documents.
Technology and scope of implementation
Functional requirements, integration, available solutions and the supplier's role in launching the system.
Effect and metrics
Cycle reduction, error reduction, efficiency gains, data security or other baseline and target metrics.
Budget and liquidity
Own contribution, VAT, ineligible costs, ability to obtain bridge financing and reimbursement.
Schedule and orders
Call deadline, mandatory start date, negotiation stage and supplier selection rules.
The incentive effect and the start of work. Signing a binding contract or starting implementation may prevent funding. There is no single rule for all programs. For Dig.IT, check in particular the requirement to start no earlier than the date of application submission.
COMPARISON
Which instrument is right for your project?
Even if two instruments address digitalization, their financial principles may lead to completely different investment decisions.
| Criterion | Dig.IT | Regional programme | EDIH | FENG loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nature of support | Investment grant, reimbursement | Grant or repayable instrument | An expert service, not a grant transfer | Loan with the possibility of a conditional grant |
| Recipients | Eligible manufacturing SMEs | Depending on the call for proposals and the voivodeship | SMEs free of charge; large companies according to the hub rules | SMEs and large companies |
| Scale | Grant 150-850 thousand PLN | From small to large investments, according to the regulations | Scope and pricing of the service by hub | Loan 2.5-15 million PLN |
| What can you get | Digital technologies and certain associated costs | Implementations in line with the regional instrument | Diagnosis, testing, training and consulting | Financing a digital or green investment |
| Key risk | Seniority, industry, revenue limit and reimbursement | Territorial conditions and purchase eligibility | The scope of de minimis aid and the profile of the hub's services | Repayment capacity and financing partner policies |
In practice, it's worth considering the following sequence: first, diagnosis and testing, then technology selection, and finally, selecting the investment financing source. EDIH does not replace a grant application, and the loan is not a non-repayable benefit.
MEASURABLE BENEFITS
Don't start with the technology. Start with the business outcome.
Funding should not be an end in itself. Funding should serve the purpose of rational process change, the results of which can be justified, implemented, and later verified.
Performance and costs
Examples of KPIs: order completion time, operation cost, resource utilization, number of employee interventions or level of defects.
Data and decision quality
Examples of KPIs: completeness and timeliness of data, report preparation time, on-time delivery, availability of management information.
Security and scalability
Example KPIs: system recovery time, security incidents, ability to handle more customers or orders.
Objectivity of assessment. Not every project needs to increase revenue or reduce employment. Benefits should be estimated based on specific baseline data and assumptions, not vendor declarations.
THE VALUE OF COOPERATION
What do you gain from a consultation?
We analyze a specific project, not just a list of available programs. The goal of the consultation is to identify conditions, decisions, and documents that are worth reviewing before incurring costs.
- Project qualification: digitization, automation, technology purchase or a project requiring R&D.
- Selection of instruments: Dig.IT, regional FE, EDIH, FERS or FENG loan.
- Risk analysis: industry, seniority, de minimis, budget, financial results and schedule.
- Recommendation for further action: process description, KPI, cost estimate, suppliers and application materials.
DOTACJE ONLINE – Dariusz Kozakiewicz
Advice on European funds and financing of investment projects.
Prepare before the interview
- A brief description of the process to be improved and the expected outcome.
- Business profile and current prevailing PKD code.
- SME status, date of commencement of business and number of closed financial years.
- Data on net sales revenues and the company's financial situation.
- Investment budget, preliminary offers and supplier's scope of work.
- History of de minimis aid, deadlines and information about the possible start of the project.
The scope and cost of the paid consultation are agreed upon before work begins. Preparation of application documentation is a separate service.
PROCESS
How does the cooperation work?
01
Description of the project and objectives
We learn about the processes, planned technologies, budget and expected business results.
02
Criteria verification
We review the target group, access conditions, financing, and schedule risks.
03
Recommendation and plan
We determine realistic financing options, required analyses, and further steps before submitting an application.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is worth knowing before choosing financing?
Does Dig.IT provide a grant to every company that implements the software?
No. In the 2/2026 call, the program is aimed at eligible SMEs engaged in industrial processing or production services, with at least five completed financial years. Financial conditions, de minimis requirements, and evaluation criteria also apply. The ARP verifies the eligibility of the company and the project.
When is the Dig.IT call for proposals in 2026 and what is the possible grant amount?
The 2/2026 competition is scheduled for November 2-30, 2026. The minimum grant amount is PLN 150,000, and the maximum is PLN 850,000, with an intensity of up to 50% of eligible costs. The requested amount cannot exceed 30% of average annual net sales revenue from the last three years.
Can a ready-made ERP or CRM system be funded?
Yes, in some programs. Dig.IT allows the acquisition and implementation of ready-made digital technologies. However, you must demonstrate their importance to the company's transformation and meet requirements regarding the type of business, budget, and costs. Other calls for proposals may have different cost schedules.
Can a retail or service company seek funding for digitalization?
Yes. A lack of alignment with Dig.IT's target group doesn't mean there aren't other instruments. It's worth checking the regional program, EDIH services, and the appropriate loan instrument. Eligibility depends on the program and the scale and nature of the investment.
Does EDIH pay a company a grant for the purchase of a robot or IT system?
Not in this form. European Digital Innovation Hubs provide expert services, including diagnostics, consulting, technology testing, and training. These services are free of charge for SMEs and constitute de minimis aid. Financing the investment itself requires a separate instrument.
What does refund mean at Dig.IT?
The grant is not an advance payment. In the 2/2026 call, expenses are settled after project implementation, and payment is made in a single lump sum upon meeting the conditions. Therefore, the company must ensure liquidity to complete the investment and account for ineligible costs.
Can I start implementation before submitting my application?
This should not be done without reviewing the regulations. In Dig.IT, a project cannot begin before the date the grant application is submitted. Other instruments have their own rules regarding procurement, commencement of work, and eligibility of expenses.
Is the FENG loan also available to large companies?
Yes, the digital and green transformation instrument is available for micro, small, medium, and large enterprises. Loan amounts range from PLN 2.5 million to PLN 15 million. Availability, financial terms, and the possibility of a conditional grant must be confirmed with the relevant financing partner.
Does the test evaluate current calls for proposals and guarantee funding?
No. The test provides indicative directions but does not verify current funding availability, company documents, or full criteria. The institution or financing partner decides whether to grant funding. Available and planned applications can also be checked on the Grant Map DOTACJE ONLINE.
See also grants for innovation and R&D, co-financing of competences and loan for digital and green transformation.
PLAN THE RIGHT STEP
Digitization should strengthen business, not just meet grant criteria
If you're considering purchasing technology, start by defining the project's goals and outcomes. Then, let's check whether your company meets the requirements for the appropriate instrument and how to prepare the documentation before investing.
Public funding is subject to the institution's terms and conditions. Consultation does not guarantee funding.