Encouraging the advancement of digital businesses

Baden-Württemberg, a German state known for its vibrant economy, has announced a new funding call for regional Digital Hubs. The initiative, a central pillar of the state's digitalization strategy, is aimed at both existing Digital Hubs and institutions looking to set up new ones.

The funding call, published by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor and Tourism, is part of the Initiative Economy Digital Baden-Württemberg, a collaboration between the ministry and 35 partner organizations. The goal is to connect the existing strengths of Baden-Württemberg's Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) with new digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and the metaverse.

The regional Digital Hubs, scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2026 and lasting for two years, aim to be more present in rural areas through time-limited "pop-up formats". The funding call is open to institutions eligible to apply for the third funding round, with the deadline for submitting project outlines set for October 24, 2025, 12:00 PM.

Each regional Digital Hub can receive a maximum of 500,000 euros in funding, with a total of 5.3 million euros available until 2028. The regional Digital Hubs serve as information and experimentation spaces, making digital technologies tangible for SMEs. They bring together regional users and providers of digital solutions and contribute to the implementation of concrete digitization projects.

The Initiative Economy Digital Baden-Württemberg is a significant step towards advancing the digitization of the economy, with a focus on supporting SMEs and their employees. Eleven regional Digital Hubs are planned to be funded within the program, one in each of the eleven regional innovation systems in Baden-Württemberg.

This initiative underscores Baden-Württemberg's commitment to digital transformation, ensuring that SMEs across the state have the resources and support they need to embrace new technologies and thrive in the digital age.