Funding for digitalisation
Digitalisation is funded from more directions than most companies realise: R&D instruments when you build something digital, development aid and dedicated loans when you adopt technology, subsidised expert help through the EU’s digital hubs, and a tax deduction rewarding development spend. Below is every digitalisation-relevant option we track, live from our funding database.
Grants
Business development aid (development measures)min grant €10,000The standard regional grant for SME development projects, now handled by the Elinvoimakeskus (formerly the ELY centre).Business development aid (investments)min grant €10,000An investment grant whose rate depends on location.Company-group project75% aid for a shared development project run by 3 to 10 companies, often used to split the cost of entering a new market.Just Transition Fund aidfollows regional ratesEU funding for diversification and green-transition projects in Finland's peat-transition regions.R&D grantproject-based (€100k – millions)The main national R&D grant.Rural development supportcosts €5k–100k (aid €2.5k–50k)Covers half the cost of expert services for rural companies.Sprint grantup to €100,000Business Finland's entry-level R&D grant for small companies with an innovation aimed at international markets.Loans
Bank term loan€10k to millionsThe standard route for financing investments once repayment capacity is clear.Digitalisation & Innovation Loan€150k–2M per projectAn unsecured development loan for cases the bank has turned down.EIB/EIF-intermediated loansvia your bank, typically €25k–12.5MEU-supported loan programmes delivered through Finnish banks.Micro-Enterprise Growth Loan€20k–50kA direct growth loan introduced in 2026 for micro-enterprises that cannot obtain bank financing.R&D loanup to 50–70% of project costsA development loan on softer terms than a bank offers, and it can be partly written off if the project fails.Guarantees
SME Guarantee€10k–200k per guarantee (€300k ceiling)A collateral-free guarantee on bank loans for established, financially sound SMEs, covering working capital and investments.Start Guarantee€10k–80k per loanFinnvera guarantees up to 80% of a bank loan for a company under three years old, which is how most young firms secure their first bank financing.Equity
Angel investment€20k–500kOften the first external equity, with hands-on help from experienced entrepreneurs.Venture capitalrounds typically €0.5–10MEquity for high-growth companies targeting international markets.Advisory
European Digital Innovation Hubsfree / subsidised servicesFree digitalisation support from Finland's EDIH hubs: FAIR (AI), Robocoast (Industry 4.0) and the Location Innovation Hub (geospatial).Tax incentives
R&D combined tax deductionextra deductions up to €1M/yrAn extra tax deduction on R&D wages and bought-in R&D services.How to choose
Building digital? That’s R&D. A new digital product or service follows the R&D track — Sprint as the entry point for small companies, larger R&D grants and loans beyond it, and the combined tax deduction on qualifying spend.
Adopting technology? Implementation projects fit regional business development aid, and Finnvera’s Digitalisation & Innovation Loan exists specifically to finance them.
Take the free help first. European Digital Innovation Hubs provide subsidised testing and advice — a low-risk way to scope what your digitalisation project should even be before applying for money.
Frequently asked questions
Is there funding for buying software or systems?
Adoption and implementation projects can fit regional business development aid, and Finnvera's Digitalisation & Innovation Loan finances them; routine off-the-shelf purchases are rarely grant-funded on their own. The option pages show what qualifies.
What about developing a new digital product?
That is R&D — the same track as other product development: Sprint for small companies, Business Finland's R&D grants and loans beyond it, and the combined R&D tax deduction on top. See our R&D funding guide.
Where can I get help before spending anything?
European Digital Innovation Hubs offer subsidised testing and expert advice for digitalisation — often the cheapest first step.
Not sure where you fit?
Run our funding tool to screen your situation in a few minutes — or send us a note. Screening is what we do.
Check if you qualify