Digital Economy Nov 04, 2020

Digitalbonus Bayern: funding programme to be continued until 2023

In terms of digitization, Bavaria has long been in first place in Germany. The recent decision to extend the Digitalbonus Bayern until 2023 shows that Bavaria is continuing to invest in Bavarian digitization despite its top ranking. Over the next three years, 60 million euros per year are to flow to Bavarian companies.

It was recently decided that the Digitalbonus Bayern will be extended for another three years until 2023. Bavaria's Minister of Economic Affairs Hubert Aiwanger says:


Every euro invested supports the digital transformation in Bavarian companies. That pays off: investments of almost 600 million euros have been pushed with the 190 million euros applied for so far. 18,000 applications in four years shows how well the programme is being received.
 

The Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs promotes investments in digital technology with Digitalbonus Bayern, so companies can take measures to convert their analogue business models and digitise operational processes. The grants also support IT security within companies. The largest share of the funding, almost 85 percent, goes to small businesses with up to 49 employees. The grants already issued show that almost two-thirds of the funds so far have been applied for by companies from rural areas in Bavaria.


The continuation of Bavaria’s Digitalbonus also shows that the state is giving all regions in Bavaria an equal share of the funding for digitisation in companies. "For digitisation must not be a question of location. We are therefore bringing the digital transformation to all regions and all industries," continued Minister of Economic Affairs Hubert Aiwanger. To be able to process and approve applications more quickly in future, the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs will provide the individual district governments with additional personnel in future.
 

Digitalbonus Bayern: a blueprint for the digitisation of all funding programmes
 

Digitalbonus Bayern is not just a digital grant for companies in Bavaria, but also promotes general digitisation itself. This is because its processing is largely digitalised itself and therefore serves as a blueprint for Bavaria’s other funding programmes. Starting in the new year, it should then also be possible to sign the application for the Digitalbonus Bayern using the ELSTER company account. This step would make the Digitalbonus Bayern one of the first fully digitised funding programmes in Germany.