New support programme for enterprises to boost employees' digital skills

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved another Recovery Fund support programme for businesses. The programme aims to enhance the digital, robotics and automation skills of Latvian micro, small, medium and large enterprises, including skills that would aid in promoting export, fundamental digital skills at company management level, and skills in applying digital technologies to various business processes.

Training will be available through European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) or selected associations and is expected to begin at the start of 2024.

To receive the support, enterprises will need to undergo a Digital Maturity Test at the EDIH and receive a Digital Development Roadmap, which must include recommendations for improving employees’ skills.

The total funding for the support programme is 20 million euros. It is planned that at least 3,000 enterprises will receive support via the programme.

As previously reported, to promote the digital transformation of companies, the Ministry of Economics will develop five new Recovery Fund support programmes. On February 22 this year, the first three support programmes were launched:

• “Support for the Establishment of Digital Innovation Hubs and Regional Contact Points”, whose aim is to promote EDIH inclusion in the European Union’s unified network, fostering a unified and coordinated support ecosystem for digital transformation. The EDIH will provide support to enhance understanding of digital transformation, introduce the possibilities of digital transformation in commerce, and promote digital and innovative public administration.
• “Financial Instruments for Promoting Digital Transformation”, under which enterprises will have access to Altum support in the form of a loan with a capital discount for promoting digital transformation;
• “Support for Process Digitalisation in Commerce”, under which merchants will have access to the support of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia in the form of a grant towards new software and equipment, ensuring the digitalisation of internal processes in commerce and increased productivity.

This year, to promote digital transformation, the government also plans to approve a support programme for the introduction of new products and services in business, aiming to provide grants for the development of new digital products, technologies and services to increase private research and development expenditure, using targeted state investments.

Detailed information on the Cabinet of Ministers regulations project “European Union Recovery and Resilience Facility Plan Component 2 “Digital Transformation” 2.3. reform and investment direction “Digital Skills” 2.3.1.2.i. investment “Development of Company Digital Skills” can be found on the Legal Act Portal.

Source: Press release (www.em.gov.lv)
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