Cluj-Napoca, 9 July 2026 – Cluj IT Cluster joins the call for an EU-wide SME Digitalisation Voucher Scheme, supporting a practical approach that connects SME digital adoption with Europe’s technological sovereignty and competitiveness.
We support this initiative from a dual perspective: as a representative organisation of the IT sector, bringing together technology providers and digital innovators, and as part of the European Digital Innovation Hubs Network through DIH4Society, where we work directly to support companies and public organisations in their digital transformation.
The proposal, put forward by the European DIGITAL SME Alliance, addresses a critical challenge: Europe cannot strengthen its technological sovereignty by investing in innovation and supply alone. European digital solutions also need real market demand, while SMEs need accessible mechanisms to adopt the technologies that can improve their productivity, resilience and competitiveness.
An EU-wide voucher scheme could help bridge this gap. The proposal calls for a coordinated European approach, complemented by technological sovereignty criteria that consider aspects such as jurisdiction, data control and interoperability. In this way, support for SME digitalisation could also stimulate demand for trusted European digital solutions and strengthen Europe’s digital resilience.
Evidence from existing voucher programmes in Europe and beyond reinforces this case. According to DIGITAL SME, 72% of participating firms reported improvements in productivity, business processes and innovation, while some schemes recorded productivity gains of up to 6.4%. At the same time, Europe remains behind its digitalisation ambitions: only 67.9% of SMEs are projected to reach a basic level of digital intensity by 2030, compared with the EU target of 90%.
For Cluj IT, this initiative reflects challenges we see from both sides of the digital transformation process: European technology companies need stronger pathways to market, while SMEs across sectors need practical and accessible support to adopt digital solutions. Our experience through DIH4Society further reinforces the value of mechanisms that can turn digitalisation plans into concrete investments and real-world adoption.
By joining this initiative, we add our voice to the call for a European approach that supports SME competitiveness while strengthening demand for trusted European technologies.
Read the full proposal from the European DIGITAL SME Alliance:
More productive, more sovereign: the case for an EU SME digitalisation voucher scheme
