In brief: KMU.DIGITAL is the most popular digitalisation funding programme for Austrian SMEs — and one of the most frequently squandered: budgets are exhausted quickly, applications arrive too late, and concepts end up gathering dust in a drawer. What really matters, drawn from around 30 funded consultations since 2024 alone.
What is funded (as of July 2026)
The programme funds consulting by certified consultants in two stages: the status and potential analysis at 80 % of costs (max. 400 €) and the strategy consulting at 50 % (max. 1,000 €). Businesses that go on to implement can additionally apply for the implementation grant with a 30 % subsidy (max. 6,000 €) — the funded consulting is generally a prerequisite for it. Under the KMU.DIGITAL & GREEN track, the same applies to digitalisation projects with a sustainability contribution. The current guidelines on kmudigital.at are always authoritative.
Who benefits most
I see the strongest results in businesses with between one and fifty employees that bring a specific question to the table: the trade business whose order processing still runs on paper slips. The retailer who wants to know whether an online channel will pay off. The furniture manufacturer looking to make its processes digitally end-to-end. The potential analysis answers "Where do I stand, and where are the levers?" — the strategy consulting turns that into a prioritised plan with numbers.
How it actually works
- Clarify eligibility (30 minutes): SME status, topic, the right module — DIGITAL or GREEN.
- Apply before the consulting begins: the application must be approved before the consulting starts. Get the order wrong and you lose the funding.
- Consulting with a documented report: on site or remote; the report follows the programme requirements and doubles as your basis for decision-making.
- Settlement — and if you want to implement: a properly prepared application for the implementation grant.
The three most common mistakes
Too late. The funding pots are topped up periodically and, in my experience, empty quickly. If you are planning for autumn, apply in summer.
Implementation before consulting. First the webshop, then the application — that way round, the money is gone. The funded consulting comes first, not least because it prevents expensive bad purchases.
A concept without priorities. A 40-page report that nobody reads helps no one. A good digitalisation concept ends with three prioritised measures, clear owners and a timeline.
Conclusion
KMU.DIGITAL makes professional consulting almost free of charge for small businesses — provided the sequence and timing are right. Eligibility can be clarified in a short call; ideally, the consultant handles the paperwork as part of the engagement. Go to the KMU.DIGITAL & GREEN service page.