Funding for digitalisation projects: what is funded and what is not

The question of funding usually comes up early in initial consultations. For a new website or online shop, our honest answer at the moment is: probably not. For projects that change processes in the business, things look better. This article shows the status in November 2026 for businesses in Upper Austria and Vienna. It also shows where the limits are. Budgets and deadlines change all the time. So always check the current status on the funding body's website before you commission anything.

KMU.DIGITAL: the budget is exhausted

For years, KMU.DIGITAL from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Austrian Economic Chamber was the first thing people thought of when it came to digitalisation. A new submission phase for implementation funding started on 7 May 2026. The programme page now states that the budget of KMU.DIGITAL 4.0 is fully exhausted. Applications for consulting and implementation are no longer possible. The current funding period runs until the end of 2026. No continuation has been announced so far.

Anyone who built a project around KMU.DIGITAL therefore has to re-plan. Of the programmes described here, only the one in Vienna is currently open.

Upper Austria: DIGITAL.PLUS 26 and ERFOLG.PLUS 26 have ended

DIGITAL.PLUS 26 from the Province of Upper Austria and the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKO) Upper Austria accepted applications until 2 November 2026. The deadline has passed.

The programme document explicitly excluded digital marketing. It listed “websites and design, SEO, B2C webshops, online marketing”. Custom-developed software was eligible if the application explained why an off-the-shelf solution was not enough.

ERFOLG.PLUS 26 from the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKO) Upper Austria only funded external consulting, not implementation. The budget for 2026 has been exhausted since 28 September 2026. New applications are not possible.

Vienna: digitalisation funding from the Vienna Business Agency

In Vienna, the digitalisation funding from the Vienna Business Agency is the right programme. It is aimed at existing SMEs that have been operating in Vienna for at least one year. It covers up to 50% of eligible costs, at most €50,000 per project. The project must cost at least €10,000 and may last no more than two years. Funding covers the development and introduction of digital solutions, software and licences, as well as external consulting and training.

According to the programme page, “website creation or renewal, webshops as a stand-alone measure” are not funded. Measures with no effect on internal processes are also excluded. You need a clear digitalisation plan. The complete application must be submitted before the project starts. The next cut-off date is 31 December 2026. An independent jury assesses the projects. The decision usually comes after about two months.

What this means for your project

A website or shop for end customers is not eligible on its own in any of these programmes. It is different when the project changes your processes. Typical examples from our work:

• an online booking system whose appointments end up in the calendar and in billing without retyping,

• a membership management system that brings fees, renewals and seminar registrations together in one place,

• an interface between shop, inventory management and accounting,

• an enquiry form whose data goes straight into your customer system instead of an inbox.

The Vienna programme excludes websites and webshops “as a stand-alone measure”. This suggests that they can be accepted as part of a larger project. It is not stated explicitly anywhere. The Vienna Business Agency decides whether this applies in each case. Clarify this with its funding experts before you apply.

You can read more about when such a solution is worthwhile at all in our article on custom web solutions.

How we handle funding

We do not promise funding. The funding body decides on every application. You submit the application yourself. What we do: we check with you whether your project fits a focus area. We write the technical project description. We structure the quote so that you can attach it to the application.

Timing is important. In Vienna, the project may only start after submission. If you start too early, you lose the funding. That is why we set the start date together with you before we begin.

Running costs such as hosting and support are not part of the funding in any of these programmes. And a project should pay off even without a grant. We first plan what your business needs. Then we check whether a programme fits.

We keep the status of all programmes up to date on our funding page.