The Government Gazette with the decision on the programmes has been published support for the digitisation of small and medium-sized enterprises in the cultural, creative and craft sectors, with funding from the Recovery Fund.

The programmes for the digitisation of SMEs aim to invest in technologies and services that promote the digitisation of SMEs in the cultural, creative and craft sector, in particular digital equipment, software to support the provision of digital products and digital promotion and advertising, the digitisation of cultural products and their upgrading through the use of digital media.

The Programme is divided into three (3) individual State Aid Programmes-Actions, as follows:

- Programme I: "Funding to support the Digital Transformation of Enterprises in the Performing Arts Sector".

- Programme II: "Funding to Support the Digital Transformation of Businesses in the Book Production Sector".

- Programme III: "Financing to strengthen the productive equipment and digital transformation of craft enterprises".

Beneficiaries of aid under the Programmes may be existing Small, Micro, Small and Individual Enterprises, as defined in Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC, which before the date of online submission of the application for funding:

• They have their registered office or a branch in the Greek Territory with a Greek VAT number.
• Have at least one (1) full closed management year.
• They are substantially active (Main Activity Code or Highest Revenue Activity Code) in one (1) eligible Activity Code.
• Have the eligible investment ID(s) available before 3 April 2023.
• Engaged in an eligible activity
• Operate legally and comply with relevant EU and national environmental legislation
• They operate exclusively in one of the following forms of business of a corporate/commercial nature [e.g. Public Limited Company, Limited Liability Company, General Partnership or Limited Partnership, Private Limited Company, Sole Proprietorship, Social Cooperative Enterprise of the Law of Cyprus. 4430/2016 (A' 205) as in force, Cooperative] and keep single-entry or double-entry books
• submit an investment project with a subsidised budget not exceeding three times the highest turnover achieved in one of the three (or less if the enterprise has no three) closed business years preceding the year in which the application for funding is submitted.

More specifically, the following applies to each programme:

Programme I: "Funding to support the Digital Transformation of Enterprises in the Performing Arts Sector"

The aim of Programme I: "Funding to support the Digital Transformation of Performing Arts Businesses" is to support performing arts businesses to invest in infrastructure and know-how for the development and dissemination of digital, foreign language and exportable content. The transition of the cultural and creative industries to the digital era is intended to address contemporary challenges facing the sector and to enhance its alignment with the digital transformation of the whole economy..

Potential Beneficiaries of the Programme - Eligibility Criteria

Beneficiaries of aid under the Programme may be existing Small, Micro, Small and Individual Enterprises, as defined in Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC, which before the date of online submission of the application for funding:

1) They have their registered office or a branch in the Greek Territory with a Greek VAT number.
2) Have at least one (1) full closed management year.
3) They are substantially active (Main Activity Code or Highest Revenue Activity Code) in one (1) eligible Activity Code.
4) Have the eligible investment ID(s) available before 3 April 2023.
5) They are engaged in an eligible activity.
- Eligible activity for the purposes of Programme I means any economic activity that falls within the Programme's eligible activity codes as defined by the Implementing Entity in the Programme Call

Eligible actions and expenditure

Eligible expenditure will receive aid in the form of a grant. The formulation of the proposed budget by the potential beneficiary undertaking requires that the actions to be carried out under the investment project be linked to the following categories of eligible costs: Categories of Expenditure 1.1 and 2 should constitute at least 50% of the Subsidised Budget.

Amount and intensity of the aid

Projects proposed for support under Programme I may have a subsidised budget of from five thousand euros (€5,000) to thirty thousand euros (€30,000).

The rate of aid for the investment project for all eligible expenditure under this call for proposals is 70% of the Grant Budget and takes the form of a non-repayable grant covering part of the eligible costs.

Programme II: "Funding to Support the Digital Transformation of Businesses in the Book Production Sector"

Programme II: "Funding to support the digital transformation of companies in the book production sector" aims to support companies in the book production sector through their digital transformation. The main objectives of the programme will be achieved through the promotion of digital transformation processes, which will make it easier for businesses to adapt to new technological developments and the requirements of the digital age. By encouraging new/alternative models for the production, distribution and promotion of digital content, it will enable businesses in the sector to obtain alternative sources of revenue beyond traditional revenue models. It is necessary to support investment in infrastructure and know-how in order to create an environment where publishing companies can develop and distribute digital content. Finally, it is also important to restructure the resources of publishing companies with a view to increasing their efficiency through the digitisation of processes.

Potential Beneficiaries of Programme II - Eligibility Criteria

The beneficiaries of aid under the Programme may be existing Medium, Small, Micro, Very Small and Individual Enterprises, as defined in Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC, which before the date of online submission of the application for funding:

1) They have their registered office or a branch in the Greek Territory with a Greek VAT number.

2) Have at least one (1) full closed management year.

3) They are substantially active (Main Activity Code or Highest Revenue Activity Code) in one (1) eligible Activity Code.

4) Have the eligible investment ID(s) available before 3 April 2023.

5) They are engaged in an eligible activity.

- Eligible activity for the purposes of Programme II means any economic activity that falls within the Programme's eligible activity codes as defined by the Implementing Entity in the Programme Call

Eligible actions and expenditure

Eligible expenditure will receive aid in the form of a grant. The formulation of the proposed budget by the potential beneficiary undertaking requires that the actions to be carried out under the investment project be linked to the following categories of eligible costs: