Your website.
Funded by the government.
Built by us.
Austrian SMEs can receive up to €18,000 in funding through KMU.DIGITAL for websites, online shops and more. We take care of everything, from planning to implementation.
How does the funding work?
It is simple, three steps to your funded website. We guide you from the first consultation through to the final payout.
Consultation & Analysis
We start with a funded analysis of your business. Together, we look at where you currently stand and how your website can genuinely help move your business forward.
Application & Implementation
After the consultation, we submit the application together. As soon as the funding is approved, we can start building your website or online shop.
Documentation & Payout
Once the project is complete, you submit the required documents and receive the funding payment directly into your account.
Funding at a Glance
Two funding options, Classic or GREEN. Both can be combined to help you make the most of the available funding.
Consulting
We analyse your business and develop a clear strategy for your digital presence.
Implementation
We implement your project, whether it is a website, online shop or marketing solution, all from one source.
Consulting & GREEN
Analysis and strategy focused on the digital and sustainable development of your business.
Implementation & GREEN
Digitalisation projects that not only move your business forward, but also make it more sustainable.
Who is eligible?
Funding is available to small and medium-sized businesses in Austria, regardless of industry or legal form.
-
SME under the EU definition Fewer than 250 employees, max. €50 million in annual turnover or €43 million balance sheet total
-
Business location in Austria Your registered office or place of business must be located in Austria
-
Commercial activity or liberal profession Self-employed professionals with an official GLN (Global Location Number) issued by the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ)
-
No ongoing insolvency proceedings The company must be solvent at the time of application
-
Digitalisation project planned A new website, online shop, SEO, online marketing or similar digital measures
-
Agriculture & forestry Primary production of agricultural products, fisheries and aquaculture
-
Purely digital business models Software and app companies, intermediary platforms and fintechs whose core business is entirely digital
-
Non-profit associations Associations with non-profit status in a business area are excluded
-
Public-sector bodies Public-law entities with more than 25% public ownership
-
Large enterprises Companies with more than 250 employees or annual turnover above €50 million
Quick check:
Am I eligible?
If you can answer yes to all four points, you are eligible for funding.
Not sure whether you are
eligible?
All Questions
16 Questions
KMU.DIGITAL is a government funding programme run by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs in cooperation with the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ) and Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH (aws). The current KMU.DIGITAL 4.0 programme has been running since May 2024 and includes a new GREEN track focused on ecological transformation. It supports Austrian small and medium-sized businesses with digitalisation projects, from the initial consultation through to implementation.
Generally, yes, if the following requirements are met:
- A commercial business or liberal profession with an official Global Location Number (GLN)
- SME status under the EU definition, meaning fewer than 250 employees and no more than €50 million in annual turnover or €43 million in total assets
- A registered office or place of business in Austria
- No ongoing insolvency proceedings at the time of application
Excluded are agriculture and forestry, fisheries, purely digital businesses such as software start-ups or platform providers, non-profit associations and public-sector bodies.
Both tracks support digitalisation projects. The difference is their focus. KMU.DIGITAL 4.0 supports standard digitalisation measures such as websites, online shops, SEO or CRM systems. KMU.DIGITAL 4.0 & GREEN additionally supports projects that contribute to ecological transformation, combining digitalisation with a sustainability focus. The key advantage is that both tracks can be applied for separately for different projects, potentially doubling the maximum amount of available funding.
Generally, yes. Funding programmes may be combined as long as the total funding does not exceed 100% of the project costs. The de minimis limit of approximately €300,000 over three years also applies to all state aid combined. Any existing funding must be disclosed when submitting the application.
By making full use of both tracks, up to €14,800 in funding may be available. Per track, this consists of:
- Consulting funding: up to €1,400 for a combined status or potential analysis and strategy consultation
- Implementation funding: up to €6,000, based on 30% of eligible project costs
As KMU.DIGITAL 4.0 and KMU.DIGITAL 4.0 & GREEN can be applied for separately, the theoretical maximum is 2 × €7,400, resulting in a total of €14,800.
The consulting funding includes two tools:
- Status or potential analysis: 80% of consulting costs, up to €400 excluding VAT
- Strategy consulting: 50% of consulting costs, up to €1,000 excluding VAT
A maximum of €1,400 per funding track is available per company, including affiliated entities. The consultation must be carried out by an approved, certified consultant with the relevant CDC or CDTE certification.
Eligible costs include capitalised new investments and external services directly related to the digitalisation project:
- Development of a new website or online shop
- Search engine optimisation (SEO)
- Specialised software and cloud licences for up to 12 months within the project period
- CRM or ERP systems
- Development and programming services provided by external suppliers
Standard IT equipment such as laptops and PCs, general operating costs, internal work, consultant expenses and costs incurred before the funding application are not eligible.
Generally, no. Funding is usually calculated based on the net amount, and VAT is not considered an eligible expense. An exception may apply if you are not entitled to deduct input VAT and can demonstrate that you ultimately bear the VAT yourself. Recoverable input VAT cannot be claimed as an eligible cost.
The process is divided into two clearly separated phases:
- Consulting funding: Submit the application through the aws Funding Manager → complete the consultation with a certified consultant → submit the consulting report, invoice and proof of payment → receive the consulting grant
- Implementation funding: Available only after the consulting funding has been completed and paid out → submit an implementation application with a project cost plan → conclude the funding agreement with aws → implement the project → submit proof of use → receive the implementation grant of 30%
No. This is a common and potentially costly mistake. The funding application must be submitted before the project begins. Costs incurred before the application is submitted are generally not eligible. The invoice date, delivery and payment must all take place after the funding application has been submitted. The consulting funding must also be fully completed and paid out before an application for implementation funding can be submitted.
A reservation confirmation for implementation funding is usually issued by email within 14 working days. Once the funding offer has been accepted within the one-month deadline, the project period begins. The funding itself is typically paid within two to three weeks after the project has been completed and the required accounting documents have been submitted.
The project must be completed and fully paid within 12 months of the application date. The accounting documents must be submitted to aws no later than two months after project completion. In justified exceptional cases, an extension of up to two months may be requested. The programme is scheduled to run until the end of 2026 for consulting and until the end of 2028 for implementation. However, interruptions may occur if the available budget is exhausted.
Each consulting tool can only be used once per company, including affiliated companies. The total limit for consulting is €1,400 per funding track. Implementation funding is limited to one project per funding track and company. The EU de minimis limit of approximately €300,000 over three years also applies to all state aid combined.
We support you throughout the entire process, from the initial assessment through to the funding payout:
- Free assessment of whether your project is eligible for funding and how much funding may be available
- Coordination with an approved KMU.DIGITAL consultant for the consulting module
- Support with the application through the aws Funding Manager
- Implementation of your digitalisation project, including websites, online shops, SEO and more
- Preparation of the accounting documents required by aws after the project is completed
You do not have to manage the process on your own. We think ahead and guide you through it.
The initial consultation to assess your funding options is free and non-binding. Together, we look at whether your project may be eligible for funding and how much support could be available before you make any decisions.
Yes, provided the project involves a substantial redevelopment rather than just a content or design update. A complete relaunch with new technology, structure or functionality, such as a new online shop, CMS or user journey, may generally be eligible because it constitutes a new investment. Simple updates to existing content are not. We can clarify your specific situation during a free initial consultation.