Go Digital in Western Balkans

The EBRD is providing up to €350 million to local partner financial institutions (PFIs) in the Western Balkans for on-lending to SMEs investing in automation and digitalisation over the next few years. In addition to those loans, sub-borrowers can also receive EU grants totalling 10 per cent of loan amounts on successful completion of eligible investment projects.

The Go Digital in the Western Balkans programme helps SMEs to accelerate their digital transformation and align their business operations with EU standards. By supporting investment in automation, digitalisation and green technologies, the programme helps SMEs to boost their productivity, improve quality and strengthen market competitiveness.

What is it?

A financial product supporting SMEs’ twin transition to digitalisation and green growth.

What can it help you to achieve?

• Accelerate your company’s automation, digital transformation and alignment with EU standards
• Boost your productivity and maintain competitiveness with smarter digital operations
• Streamline your business processes to save time and reduce costs
• Enhance your ability to innovate and respond to changing market demands
• Invest in green technologies to make your business more sustainable
• Strengthen your team’s digital skills and create an inclusive, future-ready workplace

Who is it for?

• SMEs.
• While it is open to all SMEs, the programme offers targeted support to women-led businesses to help ensure inclusive access to finance for digitalisation.

What does Go Digital in the Western Balkans offer?

• Targeted credit lines via local Partner Financial Institutions (PFIs).
• In addition to loans, EU grants totalling 10 per cent of loan amounts on successful completion of eligible automation and digitalisation projects.
• Free technical assistance with the planning, documentation and implementation of projects.

Where is it available?

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia. Montenegro is set to join soon.

Which financial institutions are participating in the programme?

The EBRD and EU financing is channelled through local PFIs. Decisions on whether or not to extend financing to applicant companies – and the terms and conditions of any loans – are made by the PFIs alone. The EBRD and the EU have no influence over these decisions

.To check which PFIs participate in the programme in your country, please contact the consultant at the contact details listed below. The EBRD and EU financing is channelled through local PFIs. 

How to apply

SMEs apply to the local PFIs for loans. The process is as follows:

• The potential Sub-borrower gets in touch with the PFI, asking for a Go Digital in the Western Balkans Sub-loan
• The PFI checks the client’s eligibility and creditworthiness and sends the application to the programme consultant.
• The programme consultant checks and confirms the eligibility of the planned investment on the basis of the automation/digitalisation component. If necessary, it advises on potential improvements or adjustments to the investment.
• If the sub-borrower wishes to proceed, the PFI finalises and grants the loan
• Once the project has been implemented, supporting documentation is submitted to the programme consultant through the PFI.
• The programme consultant verifies the implementation of the investment and confirms the size of the EU grant that is payable on the basis of the automation/digitalisation component.
• Upon successful verification, the EU grant is disbursed to the sub-borrower.

Why should SMEs embrace automation and digitalisation?

Automation uses technology to perform tasks with minimal human input, boosting accuracy, speed and efficiency. For SMEs, it means doing more with less by automating routine work, reducing errors and costs, and focusing on growth. Digitalisation goes further by embedding digital technologies in all business areas, transforming operations, communication and customer value. It helps SMEs to innovate, make better decisions, access new markets and meet evolving customer and EU standards. In today’s fast-paced economy, investing in automation and digitalisation is essential in order to future-proof your business, stay competitive and unlock new growth.

Which investment projects are eligible for a loan and a 10 per cent grant under this Programme?

The programme covers a wide range of automation and digitalisation technologies and solutions, with examples including:

• Automated manufacturing and processing equipment such as systems for automated material handling and transport, automated tending and feeding, cutting and shaping, processing tasks, dispensing, finishing processes, quality control, assembly, sorting, and classification
• Automated agricultural equipment
• Automated manufacturing solutions that improve business efficiency, productivity, and flexibility over the production cycle, including interconnected and quickly programmable collaborative robots and machines
• Medical equipment such as diagnostic imaging devices (excluding analogue radiotherapy and radiosurgery equipment), medical and surgical robots, robotic rehabilitation systems, automated laboratory systems, dental milling machines, tools for designing dental prosthetics, dental chairs, CAM/CAD systems, wearable health monitors, remote patient monitoring platforms, continuous glucose monitoring systems, digital pacemakers and implantable devices, digital stethoscopes, and AI-based diagnostic tools
• Software such as Business Process Automation & ERP Systems, Digitalization of Operations, Energy Efficiency & Resource Optimization, Cross-Functional Digital Solutions.