Igor Košir: There Are Enough Funds Available for Digitalization Development

Igor Košir is an independent consultant specializing in small and medium-sized enterprises. His primary focus is securing European funding for digitalization and tourism projects. We spoke with him about grant opportunities and how entrepreneurs can leverage various EU programs to modernize their businesses more easily.

Digitalization is becoming an increasingly integral part of our daily lives. How has its role evolved in your field over the years?

In recent years, we've witnessed significant progress in this area. I would say that digitalization became a recognized topic within the European Union about ten years ago. Initially, it wasn't a priority for key decision-makers in Europe. However, this changed roughly five years ago when digitalization moved to the forefront. That was when the first funding calls specifically focused on digitalization appeared, and this trend has continued in recent years.

Lately, a lot of attention has also been given to cybersecurity. Businesses are becoming more aware of the risks, as cyberattacks are becoming increasingly common. Employee education plays a crucial role in this, as unintentional actions can create security vulnerabilities.

What is the current state of grant opportunities?

There is certainly financial support available for such projects. However, the first steps depend on the characteristics of each business, which can generally be divided into three categories:

  1. Companies without internal or external digitalization experts.
  2. Companies with external digitalization experts.
  3. Companies with both internal and external digitalization experts.
The key for all businesses is to first develop a digital strategy that identifies which areas should be digitalized. Too much digitalization can hinder operations, while too little may not yield sufficient benefits. This can be avoided with a clear action plan, which is essential for long-term success.

What are the best steps for an entrepreneur looking to secure such funding?

If an entrepreneur is not yet working with a digitalization expert, their first step should be to find one. It's important that this expert is compatible with the company, understands its operations, and can recommend the most suitable solutions.

It's also advisable for the company to collaborate with an external funding specialist to create a basic investment timeline. Such an expert can assess whether an appropriate funding opportunity will be available in the next 12 to 18 months.

Is that also the optimal timeline? This process doesn't happen overnight.

Exactly. The optimal timeline is between 12 and 18 months. It's crucial that businesses don't rush these projects due to time constraints. However, in some cases, the process can be expedited—especially if the company already has a prepared action plan and clearly defined measures.

One of the upcoming grant opportunities, expected to be announced soon, will be suitable for companies with around 10 to 200 employees. The eligible projects will be in the range of approximately €150,000.

What role do different industries play in these funding programs? Are there significant differences?

The landscape is constantly evolving. Some industries, such as the tobacco industry, are excluded from the outset. On the other hand, certain sectors receive active support from the European Union through various measures. A typical example is the wood industry.

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