The well-known federal grants “Digital Jetzt” and “go-digital” have expired – but digitalisation in small and medium-sized businesses is still being funded. In 2026, the money comes mainly from three sources: federal consulting grants, low-interest promotional loans and the digital programmes of the federal states. Here is an overview of the most important building blocks – as of July 2026, without guarantee, because funding landscapes change quickly.
BAFA consulting grant: subsidised digital consulting
Through its SME consulting programme, the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) subsidises qualified consulting – including digitalisation topics such as website strategy, online shop development or AI adoption. The assessment basis is €3,500 per consultation; the grant covers 50 to 80 percent depending on the region (50 % in Berlin, i.e. up to €1,750). Until the end of 2026, each company can have up to five consultations funded, with a maximum of two per year. Important: the application must be submitted before the consulting begins.
KfW: ERP promotional loan for digitalisation
For larger projects – such as a new online shop with ERP integration or the introduction of AI tools – KfW offers the ERP promotional loan for digitalisation (programme 511/512) at reduced interest rates. Since 2026 there is practically no minimum loan amount, so even small projects can be financed. The loan is not applied for at KfW directly, but through your bank.
Training: Qualification Opportunities Act
If you want to get your team up to speed with digital tools or AI, training courses can be subsidised through the Federal Employment Agency. Under the Qualification Opportunities Act, small businesses with fewer than ten employees may pay no course costs at all – funding can reach 100 percent, plus wage subsidies during training time.
Free of charge: Mittelstand-Digital centres
The federally funded Mittelstand-Digital centres offer free workshops, consultation hours and practical examples on digitalisation and AI – a good first step before spending money.
State programmes: up to €50,000 depending on the federal state
Many federal states fund digital projects with their own grants, such as the Digitalbonus in Bavaria, the Digitalisierungsprämie in Baden-Württemberg or the Digital-Zuschuss in Hesse – ranging from around €5,000 to €50,000 depending on the state and programme. For Berlin businesses, the IBB’s Transfer BONUS is the central instrument – see our separate article for details.
The most important rule
Almost all programmes have one thing in common: apply first, then commission. If you start before approval, you lose your entitlement. We are happy to check free of charge whether your project qualifies and which programme fits – with our funding check or directly in a free initial consultation.
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