The Digitalise Your Business Scheme is one of the most generous SME digital funding programmes in Europe. Yet in most conversations I have with business owners in Malta, they either haven’t heard of it or tried to apply and got lost in the process.
This guide is the walkthrough I wish existed when I first navigated the scheme.
What You Get
Co-funding of up to 60% on eligible digital costs, with a maximum grant of €50,000. To put that in real terms: a €30,000 digital project could cost your business €12,000 out of pocket.
Maximum co-funding available per project, covering up to 60% of eligible digital costs
Eligible investments include BI platforms, analytics dashboards, CRM systems, e-commerce, marketing automation, AI tools, and website development with integrated analytics. Essentially anything that makes your business smarter digitally.
Who Qualifies
SMEs registered in Malta with a genuine need for digital improvement. The key criteria:
Business size: Under 250 employees, under €50 million turnover or €43 million balance sheet (standard EU SME definition).
Malta operations: You need a registered presence and the investment must benefit Malta-based operations.
Genuine need: Malta Enterprise wants to see a real business case, not a vague wish for “digitalisation.”
What’s Covered and What’s Not
Covered: Software licences, platform subscriptions, cloud infrastructure, custom development, digital strategy consulting, implementation, training, data migration.
Not covered: General IT maintenance, laptops and printers, standard office software, ongoing operational costs after the project.
The Process, Step by Step
1. Pre-assessment. Before applying, honestly assess your digital maturity and what you actually need. The biggest mistake I see is businesses applying for generic digitalisation when they could be building something that gives them a real edge. Be specific.
2. Define the project. Scope, timeline, expected outcomes. Malta Enterprise wants clear, measurable objectives. “Improve our online presence” is weak. “Implement a predictive analytics dashboard that reduces customer acquisition cost by 25% within 6 months” is what gets approved.
3. Apply. Through Malta Enterprise’s portal with your business plan, project scope, cost quotations, and ROI projections.
4. Wait. Evaluation takes 6–8 weeks typically. They assess business impact, feasibility, and alignment with Malta’s digital economy goals.
5. Implement and claim. Once approved, build according to the approved scope. Claims need proof of expenditure and project deliverables.
What Makes Applications Stronger
Be specific about outcomes. Include current metrics alongside targets. Show the baseline so the improvement can be measured.
Get your quotations right. At least 2 suppliers for major line items. Detailed breakdowns, not lump sums.
Choose good partners. Malta Enterprise looks favourably at applications involving established technology partners. A consultancy with demonstrated experience strengthens your case.
Plan beyond the grant. Show how the investment continues to deliver value after the funded period ends. This demonstrates you’re thinking strategically, not just grabbing free money.
The Window
Funding is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis within each round. The businesses that prepare properly and apply early capture the most.
Important note: this scheme is being superseded by the Digitalise Your SME Scheme, which offers up to €128,000 with an additional 10% AI top-up. If you haven’t applied yet, the newer scheme may be the better path. But Digitalise Your Business closes June 2026, so if timing matters, weigh both options carefully.
There’s money on the table for businesses that are ready to invest in their digital future. The application process rewards those who prepare.