Nation actively fosters digital business expansion

Baden-Württemberg's Ministry of Economic Affairs has announced a new call for funding for regional Digital Hubs, as part of the Initiative Wirtschaft digital Baden-Württemberg. This initiative is a central pillar of the state's digitalization strategy, digital.LÄND, and aims to advance the digitalization of the economy.

The Initiative Wirtschaft digital Baden-Württemberg is a partnership between the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs and 35 partner organizations, spanning various industries. The regional Digital Hubs, a central measure of the Initiative, bring together regional users and providers of digital solutions, contributing to the implementation of concrete digitalization projects.

The goal of the regional Digital Hubs is to connect the existing strengths of Baden-Württemberg SMEs with the possibilities of new digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Metaverse. These hubs serve as information and experimentation spaces, making the opportunities of digital technologies tangible for SMEs.

The funding call is addressed to both existing regional Digital Hubs and institutions that want to set up a new regional Digital Hub. Each hub can receive a maximum funding amount of 500,000 euros. Projects are scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2026 and have a duration of two years.

In the new funding period, the regional Digital Hubs should be more present in rural areas with their offerings. Institutions eligible to apply for the third funding round are those serving as local contact points supporting SMEs with digitalization efforts across industries, aiming to connect regional users and providers of digital solutions.

The Initiative Wirtschaft digital Baden-Württemberg focuses on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and their employees. The regional Digital Hubs have a particular focus on these entities, providing them with the resources and knowledge necessary to embrace digital technologies.

The deadline for submitting project outlines is October 24, 2025, 12:00 noon. A total of 5.3 million euros are available for the third funding round of regional Digital Hubs, until 2028.

By fostering digitalization in SMEs, the regional Digital Hubs aim to contribute to Baden-Württemberg's economic growth and competitiveness in the digital age.