Communication from the Commission Guidance to the Member States on the preparation of the national Digital Decade strategic roadmaps 2023/C 230/04
Date: 2023-06-30
Institutions: Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology, European Commission
Subjects: EU policy, EU programme, digital economy, digital literacy, digital single market, digital technology, digitisation, innovation, trans-European network, transmission network








C_2023230EN.01000401.xml










30.6.2023   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 230/4






COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION
Guidance to the Member States on the preparation of the national Digital Decade strategic roadmaps
(2023/C 230/04)
Contents







PART I:

INTRODUCTION
5










1.

Policy context – Digital Decade Policy Programme
5










2.

Objective and Structure of this document
6










3.

Timeline
6










PART II:

SCOPE, GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND CONTENT OF THE NATIONAL ROADMAPS
7










1.

Scope and General Principles
7










2.

Content of the National Roadmaps
8










2.1.

Analysis of the state of play of digital transformation in the Member State-specific context
8










2.2.

National trajectories and target values to contribute to achieving EU’s digital targets
8










2.3.

Policies, measures and actions to achieve the digital targets
9










2.4.

Policies, measures and actions to contribute to achieving the general objectives
10










2.5.

EU level cooperation
11










2.5.1.

Multi-Country projects and Joint Commitments
11










2.5.2.

Facilitating factors at EU level
11










2.6.

Stakeholders involvement
11










2.7.

Overall impact and conclusion
11










ANNEX I –

Template for the national roadmaps
13




PART I: INTRODUCTION

1.   Policy context – Digital Decade Policy Programme

The Digital Decade initiative was launched by President von der Leyen in her State of the Union speech in 2020 to ensure that the EU can shape its digital transformation in line with its values and strategic interests.
An approach and a plan, with clearly defined goals for 2030 and principles, was set out in the Digital Compass Communication which presents a vision as well as paths for the EU’s digital transformation by 2030. The objective is to accelerate the Union’s digital transformation and to ensure that it is in line with the EU’s values, boosting digital leadership while promoting human centred, fundamental rights-based, inclusive, transparent, open, accessible to all and sustainable digital policies, empowering people and businesses.
To deliver on this common vision, the Decision (EU) 2022/2481 establishing the ‘Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030’ (1) lays down a joint commitment from the The European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Member States to cooperate and follow a common direction to achieve the EU’s digital transformation. The Decision provides for general objectives and specific digital targets that the EU needs to achieve by 2030.
The Programme also sets out a structured governance framework between the Commission and the Member States to ensure that the EU jointly achieves its ambition. The implementation process kicks off with the Commission developing, together with the Member States, projected trajectories for each digital target at EU level. Then, Member States will propose national Digital Decade strategic roadmaps (hereinafter the ‘national roadmaps’), where they will set out their respective contributions to the achievement of the general objectives and digital targets and describe the policies, measures and actions to collectively achieve them. The actual progress made towards each of the 2030 targets will be monitored in particular via the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), which includes an annual exchange of information between the Commission and the Member States. An annual ‘Report on the State of the Digital Decade’, to be adopted by the Commission, will include DESI, will evaluate the progress made towards meeting the general objectives and the digital targets at EU level as well as assess underlying trends at national level, and will recommend policies, measures and actions. Furthermore, a structured cooperation framework will be created to discuss progress collectively at EU level and address areas of insufficient progress, including through joint commitments between the Commission and the Member States, and multi-country projects.
Moreover, as announced in the Digital Compass Communication (2), the Commission, the Council and the European Parliament adopted a Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles (3) for the Digital Decade which must be taken into account in the cooperation process to achieve the general objectives.






Article 7 of the Decision establishing the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030

National digital decade strategic roadmaps






1.


By 9 October 2023, each Member State shall submit to the Commission its national roadmap. The national roadmaps shall be consistent with, and shall contribute to, achieving at Union level the general objectives and the digital targets. Member States shall take into account relevant sectoral initiatives and foster consistency with them.










2.


Each national roadmap shall comprise the following:






(a)


the main planned, adopted and implemented policies, measures and actions that contribute to achieving the general objectives and the digital targets;










(b)


national projected trajectories contributing to achieving the relevant digital targets set out in Article 4 that are measurable at national level, while the regional dimension is reflected where possible in the national roadmaps;










(c)


the timing, and expected impact on achieving the general objectives and the digital targets, of the planned, adopted and implemented policies, measures and actions referred to in point (a).














3.


The policies, measures and actions referred to in paragraph 2 shall relate to one or more of the following :






(a)


directly applicable Union or national law ;










(b)


one or more commitments have been undertaken to adopt those policies, measures or actions;










(c)


the public financial resources allocated;










(d)


the human resources mobilized;










(e)


any other critical enablers related to achieving the general objectives and the digital targets.














4.


In their national roadmaps, Member States shall provide an estimate of the investments and resources needed to contribute to achieving the general objectives and the digital targets, as well as a general description of the sources of those investments, either private or public, including, where applicable, the planned use of Union programmes and instruments. The national roadmaps may include proposals for multi-country projects. […]








The national roadmaps, which are the subject of this guidance document, are crucial instruments for an efficient and effective cooperation between the Commission and the Member States. They will translate the EU’s vision and direction of the digital transformation in the context of each Member State, inviting Member States to develop a comprehensive and synthetical view covering the period up to 2030.
2.   Objective and Structure of this document

Article 7(7) of the Decision establishing the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030 requires the Commission to provide guidance and support to Member States in the preparation of their national roadmaps, in order to foster a consistent and comparable approach across the EU and to facilitate the preparation of their national roadmaps. This guidance aims to set out a suggested common structure for national roadmaps and, in particular, the common elements that all national roadmaps should include.
The next sections provide:






—


An overview of the scope and general principles for the definition of the national roadmaps (Part II, Chapter 1).










—


The expected content of the national roadmaps (Part II, Chapter 2). Chapter 2 is structured along the sections that will need to be included in the national roadmaps. A template that the Member States are invited to use when submitting their national roadmaps is annexed to this document (Annex I).




3.   Timeline

Pursuant to Article 7 of the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030, the national roadmaps must be submitted to the Commission at the latest 9 months after the Decision has entered into force, i.e. by 9 October 2023.
Within 5 months of the publication of the second Report on the State of the Digital Decade and every second year thereafter, adjustments to the national roadmaps should be submitted as applicable.

PART II: SCOPE, GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND CONTENT OF THE NATIONAL ROADMAPS

1.   Scope and General Principles

The national roadmaps should take a strategic and comprehensive approach to digital transformation, aligning the EU’s approach and vision with the national context and helping address the general objectives and targets set in the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030 in an integrated manner taking into account their interdependencies.
While Member States should consider their starting points, specificities and areas of specialisation, they should establish national roadmaps with the intention of delivering on the commonly agreed general objectives and digital targets by 2030, set out respectively in Articles 3 and 4 of the Decision on the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030.
In particular, Member States should set their national targets and national trajectories with the aim of contributing to the achievement of all the targets set out in Article 4.
The national roadmaps should include policies, measures and actions – all with the expected impact and timings outlined – that can enable each Member State to contribute to the achievement of EU level general objectives and digital targets, in particular to deliver on its national trajectories. When a Member State indicates these policies, measures and actions, it is also invited to report on the actions carried out to promote the European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles for the Digital Decade (4).
Where regional roadmaps are also established, the Member States may align and integrate them with the national roadmaps to ensure that the general objectives and digital targets are pursued throughout their territory. Even where regional roadmaps are not established, Member States should refer to the regional dimension in the text when appropriate (e.g. connectivity in rural areas).
The national roadmaps will constitute a crucial tool for the coordination and consistency of the relevant digital policies at Member States level and subsequently at EU level. In addition, the national roadmaps should be feeding in to the European Semester particularly on reforms that are contributing to a successful digital transformation by 2030. More specifically, roadmaps should take into consideration the latest Country Specific Recommendations issued in the context of the European Semester and make reference to the National Reform Programmes as relevant. Conversely, the European Semester and the Recovery and Resilience Plans (RRPs) are expected to contribute to the delivery of the National Digital Decade Roadmaps. Moreover, the roadmaps should be consistent with and build upon existing measures, such as those outlined in the RRPs, joint projects such as the Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) or Joint Undertakings (JU), Horizon Europe Missions and Partnerships as well as other national digital strategies including, for instance, measures to implement the Connectivity Toolbox or the National Broadband Plans, digitalisation strategies in National CAP Strategic Plans or national strategies on Artificial Intelligence, data and cloudinteroperability; or other relevant national roadmaps or plans relevant for digital transformation such as those under the Energy Union, with which they should build synergies and ensure consistency.
The national roadmaps should cover the period until the end of 2030. They should be prepared after consulting private and public stakeholders from the respective Member States, duly taking into account their feedback. Member States should update their national roadmaps every 2 years and adjust them as needed (e.g. propose new policies, measures and actions; amend the description of policies, measures and actions and/or of the national trajectories to reflect the actual progress made). In particular, Member States are encouraged to propose new policies, measures and actions in view of the findings that include recommended actions in the Annual Report on the State of the Digital Decade. Furthermore, they should duly justify when findings to address significant gaps and shortages are not followed by specific adjustments. If a Member State considers that no action is required and that its national roadmap does not require updating, it must justify its reasons to the Commission.
To ensure comparability and fair and consistent reporting, Member States are strongly encouraged to follow the template and indications provided in this guidance when drawing up their national roadmaps. In addition, this would facilitate dialogue and exchanges at EU level as well as identify synergies. To this end, it is particularly important that the national trajectories are set by means of using he key performance indicators (KPIs) established at EU level and are in line with the EU-level projected trajectories. The Commission will develop these EU-level projected trajectories in collaboration with the Member States, in accordance with Article 5(3) of the of the Decision on the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030. .
The overall suggested length of the national roadmaps, excluding annexes, is 50 to 70 pages.
2.   Content of the National Roadmaps

National roadmaps should include the sections and elements described below. The same structure is presented in the template in Annex I.
2.1.   
Analysis of the state of play of digital transformation in the Member State-specific context


The national roadmaps must be framed in the country-specific context, taking into account the different national starting points, resources, comparative advantages and other relevant factors. To this end, the first step should be an overall analysis covering the elements set out below:






—


State of play: where the Member State stands in relation to its digital transformation, in particular the general objectives and the digital targets to be reached by 2030, taking into account the digital rights and principles. Member States should base the analysis on facts and figures and refer to official national, EU and international statistics and describe the current situation and the trends over recent years. The national roadmaps should, wherever possible, refer to the indicators of the Digital Economy and Society Index, especially those selected as KPIs for the Digital Decade targets to describe the current situation and the trends over the last years in relation to the cardinal points set out in Article 4 of the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030 - digital skills, infrastructure including connectivity, digitalisation of businesses and digital public services, including their accessibility. The section should identify the key factors that are behind the Member State’s performance, without necessarily going into a granular analysis for each target and objective, but rather highlighting the most relevant national specificities. These can include digital ecosystems, strategic supply chains, market dynamics and key market players.










—


Challenges faced by the Member State and obstacles that hinder progress: the analysis should identify the main gaps and shortcomings in the area of digital transformation, particularly in relation to general objectives and digital targets and analyse the key factors behind them, including socio-economic factors, as well as the legislative, regulatory and policy elements. This analysis should also refer, among other things, to the Country Specific Recommendations issued under the European Semester Cycles since 2019.










—


Strengths and assets to be leveraged: this analysis should cover the existing and potential capabilities of the Member State and opportunities which affect the area of digital transformation particularly the general objectives and digital targets. When relevant, the analysis should take stock of existing strengths in specific areas (e.g. on the basis of R&D patenting activities, academic excellence, industrial ecosystems, talent pools, and strategic investments), national strategies, policy, regulatory or legislative measures that lay the foundation or are intended to increase focus in given areas, or other socio-economic trends (e.g. user behaviour, increasing demand for digitial tools from citizens and businesses).




2.2.   
National trajectories and target values to contribute to achieving EU’s digital targets


Based on the analysis of their national context, Member States should describe in their national roadmaps how they plan to contribute to achieving the digital targets set out in Article 4 of the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030. As laid down in Article 7(2)(b) of the Decision, Member States must also set in the roadmaps their national target values, defined as values that the Member States aim to achieve at national level in 2030, and the national projected trajectories that help meet each of the digital targets.
Member States should estimate the national trajectories considering, when applicable, the historical time series of the KPIs and the expected impact of their contribution, particularly through policies, measures and actions to be included in the national roadmaps (see Sections 2.4 and 2.5).
The national target values to be achieved by each Member State in 2030 should be clearly justified. These target values should take into account the Member States’ capacities to contribute to the achievement of the digital targets, the starting points, resources, comparative advantages and other relevant factors including its level of ambition. A part of the targets is set at 100 % (e.g. 100 % availability of very high capacity networks, 100 % availability of eID solutions), and as such can only be achieved if they are taken over as such by all Member States. For targets set below 100 % of a particular quantitative objective (e.g. technology adoption targets), Member States are encouraged to use their strengths and assets to provide a fair contribution to the targets collectively agreed at EU level, including by going above the EU target value when possible.
The analysis should therefore cover all the targets set out in Article 4, regardless of the Member State’s specific context.
According to the Decision on the Digital Decade Policy Programme, the national trajectories will be used as a point of reference to assess the progress made by the Member State towards meeting the targets set out in its national roadmap. In view of this, the national trajectories should follow a general approach to ensure comparability and transparent monitoring. More specifically, all national trajectories should include estimated yearly data points and be built on the basis of the EU level KPIs established through an implementing act, using the same definitions and data sources established within the act. The data used and the assumptions made, as well as the modelling approach to estimate the projected trajectories, should be clearly and transparently presented in the national roadmaps.
Additional data sources can be used for complementary analysis, to provide additional information and contextualise the progress achieved.
2.3.   
Policies, measures and actions to achieve the digital targets


As set out in Article 7(3) of the Decision on the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030, the national roadmaps should detail the implemented, adopted and planned policies, measures and actions that are intended to help achieve the targets set out in Article 4 (5). To provide a comprehensive overview, this part should be structured along each digital target.
The focus should be put on the most relevant activities in relation to each digital target. Moreover, policies, measures and actions taken into account need to be sufficiently precise (e.g. a strategy that lays out concrete action points can be included, while exploratory actions such as the commissioning of a study that identifies possible fields of action do not qualify).
The national roadmaps should specifically include strategies, investment programmes, regulatory and reform-oriented measures or other measures, as well as the other elements set out in Article 7(3). Measures at regional level, including measures targeting rural areas where relevant, as well as private investments should be reflected and integrated where possible in the national roadmaps.
Member States are also encouraged to include projects or initiatives supported by EU programmes, in particular, multi-country projects (see Section 2.6.1). In those cases, if the national roadmap is to be submitted prior to the final selection and/or funding decision, the respective measures can be taken into account and defined as such in the national roadmap.
As illlustrated in Annex I, the section on policies, measures and actions to achieve the digital targets should start with a first part (see Section 3.1 in Annex I) providing a general overview for each target. This part focuses on the overall impact of all the relevant measures on a specific target and is limited to the key information needed per target, e.g. total budget allocated, their impact on tackling the challenges specific to the Member States, or total estimated investment needed (6). The methodology used to estimate such investment needs should be clarified.
In principle, one policy, measure or action (summarised as ‘measures’ in the following sections) should be attributed to one single digital target. However, some measures can be cross-cutting and contribute to more than one target. In those cases, the budget should be split and allocated to the relevant digital targets, to maintain a realistic overview of the total budget dedicated to achieving the general objectives and the digital targets of the Digital Decade.
The second part (see Section 3.2 in Annex I) should describe the measures more in depth. For policy, measure and action that contribues directly to achieving the targets, the following should be included:






—


Short description of the measure (including the link with the digital target and target beneficiaries) and list of concrete activities implemented/planned. For each activity, the national roadmaps should provide a calendar for the timing of the overall implementation, including preparatory steps if relevant.










—


Budget allocated or planned (distinguished between national and EU sources) or human resources mobilised (if applicable).










—


Expected impact and related timing thereof.




To the extent that the elements above – in particular the timing of measures and the explicit links to the general objectives and the digital targets – are already covered in existing documents and strategies (e.g. Recovery and Resilience Plans, National Reform Programmes or Connectivity toolbox implementation reports, national digital strategies including those on specific topics such as cloud, data or artificial intelligence or those discussed in the context of the Structured Dialogue ondigital education and skills), the national roadmaps should include the information at measure-level as requested under the annexed template, but can build upon those for complementary information, while making the necessary references. Consistency with the respective existing documents and strategies should be ensured (e.g. as regards each measure’s scope, timing, and budget), unless deviations are justified and explained.
Member States are invited to develop and include new measures (beyond the measures already envisages in existing plans or strategies or already being implemented) in their national roadmaps, including multi-country projects (on multi-country projects, see also Section 2.6.1).
2.4.   
Policies, measures and actions to contribute to achieving the general objectives


In this section, Member States should give a description of the key policies, measures and actions that help achieve the objectives of Article 3 of the Decision establishing the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030, taking into account the Declaration of Digital Rights and principles. In view of avoiding repetition in the roadmap, this chapter should only refer to measures complementary to those related to the targets, which are assumed to also contribute to achieving the objectives listed in Article 3. Furthermore, this chapter should specifically cover strategies, investment programmes, regulatory and reform-oriented measures.
To help Member States fulfil this requirement, as well as to facilitate the analysis and comparability between national roadmaps, and the subsequent cooperation mechanism, it is proposed to gather the policies, measures and actions along key digital transformation dimensions as presented in Section 4 of Annex I. While being concise and focused on the key policies, measures and actions that can help achieve the objectives, the section should include a short description of each measure, including the timing and expected impact, as well as allocated or planned budget and human resources if relevant (see more details in Annex I).
Where relevant, Member States are also invited to highlight the impact of the measures carried ou or planned in support of the European Declaration on digital rights and principles for the Digital Decade or to highlight specific measures undertaken or planned to that end.
2.5.   
EU level cooperation


2.5.1.   Multi-Country projects and Joint Commitments

The Digital Decade Policy Programme emphasizes the role Multi-Country Projects (MCPs) and joint commitments play in helping achieve the general objectives and the digital targets.
The purpose of this section is for the Member States to provide an overview of existing and possible future MCPs and joint commitments that would help to achieve the general objectives and digital targets. Each Member State is invited to specify the following:






1)


Considering the initial list of areas of activity for MCPs as defined in the Annex (7) to the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030:






a.


Which Multi-Country projects included in the list of areas for MCPs identified in the Annex the Member State is committing to or plans to commit to in the future (8),with a brief description of that commitment including the budget foreseen, a brief outline of how participation in the MCP will help achieve the general objectives and digital targets, and information on the selected / planned MCP implementation mechanism;










b.


Whether the Member State identifies the need for launching new MCPs, and if so, in which area, and for which purpose.














2)


The joint commitments that this Member State is making or plans to make in the future, a brief description of the commitment with a brief outline of how it will help achieve the general objectives and the digital targets, and the other Member States that are associated.




2.5.2.   Facilitating factors at EU level

National roadmaps could also list the other elements that could help achieve the general objectives and digital targets taking into account any remaining shortcomings in the Member State’s contribution to the digital targets identified in Section 2.2, with a focus on actions that could be supported by the EU or could be best carried out in cooperation with other Member States (e.g. an initiative or a technical support instrument flagship project to tackle a digital-related challenge faced by several Member States).
2.6.   
Stakeholders involvement


The national roadmaps should be prepared and adjusted after consulting private and public stakeholders from Member States. This should specifically include consultations with representatives from small and medium-sized enterprises, social partners and civil society, as well as local and regional representatives. This type of consultation is a crucial tool for coordinating the relevant policies at Member States and subsequently at EU level. The reporting on the stakeholders’ involvement should include a summary of the consultation activities, the contributions and how these contributions have been integrated into the roadmaps.
2.7.   
Overall impact and conclusion


The objective of this section is to conclude by presenting the expected overall impact of all policies, measures (including regulatory measures) and actions that are foreseen to help achieve the general objectives and the digital targets and more generally to a successful digital transformation by 2030.
In this section, Member States are invited to provide a short overview or synthesis of the expected impact of all measures, read across digital targets, general objectives and digital rights and principles. An example of such cross-reading is offered in Annex I, Section 4, where measures can be classified under the following higher level policy objectives: digital citizenship, leadership and sovereignty, green transition.
Measures that indirectly help achieve the general objectives and digital targets can be included in this part if they are expected to have a relevant impact (e.g. regulatory measures to reduce administrative burden and create a favourable business environment, such as regulatory sandbox strategies).


(1)  Decision (EU) 2022/2481 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2022 establishing the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030 (OJ L 323, 19.12.2022, p. 4).

(2)  Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions 2030 Digital Compass: the European way for the Digital Decade (COM/2021/118 final).

(3)  European Digital Rights and Principles | Shaping Europe’s digital future (europa.eu)

(4)  According to Article 3(2), the Commission and Member States should take account of the digital principles and rights set out in the European Declaration when cooperating, with a view to achieving the general objectives set out in the Decision.

(5)  Pursuant to Art 7(3), indicated items at the date of submission of the national roadmaps or of the adjustment of those roadmaps shall comprise one or more of the following:






(a)


directly applicable Union or national law;










(b)


one or more commitments undertaken to adopt policies, measures or actions;










(c)


allocated public financial resources;










(d)


mobilised human resources ;










(e)


any other important enablers related to achieving the general objectives set out in Article 2 and the digital targets set out in Article 4.





(6)  Cf. article 7(2) and (3).

(7)  See also the Annex to the Decision establishing the Digital Decade Policy Programme.

(8)  Given the timeframe and conditions set by the MCP in question.




ANNEX I
Template for the national roadmaps
NB: The measures described below are presented as examples, to serve as inspiration for the Member States, and are not to be regarded as policies recommended by the Commission in the given context. Indicative total length of the roadmaps without annexes is 50-70 pages.

Section 1:   Analysis of the state of play of digital transformation in the Member State-specific context

Including






—


State of play of digital transformation










—


Challenges










—


Strengths and assets to be leveraged





Section 2:   National trajectories and target values to contribute to the EU’s digital targets

Including: national target values and projected yearly data points for each year until 2030.

Section 3:   Policies, measures and actions to achieve the digital targets

3.1.   General overview of measures per digital target

e.g.: target concerning digital late adopters (more than 90 % of SME with at least basic level of digital intensity)






—


National baseline value (latest available historical data point) : xx %; EU baseline value (latest available historical data point): 55 %










—


Overall timeline:













 


2023


2024


2025


2026


2027


2028


2029


2030




Measures that contribute to the target




Measure 1 –
e.g. SME funding programme – investment on digitalisation of businesses (process, structure)


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 




Measure 2 –
e.g. European Digital Innovaion Hubs – one stop-shop for SME on digitalisation


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 




Measure 3 (new measure) –
e.g. Cooperation projects: Research institutes work with SME on SME’s digital challenges and obstacles


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 




Measure 4 (new measures) –
e.g. Tax incentive for digital innovation for SMEs: Reduced taxation for digital innovation related activities in SMEs


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 














—


Budget of all the measures that can be attributed to the target (collectively, regional dimension should be reflected where possible),






—


Public investment:






—


already allocated : e.g. EUR 500 million










—


planned: e.g. EUR 100 million














—


Thereof from national sources :






—


already allocated : e.g. EUR 400 million










—


planned: e.g. 80 EUR million














—


Thereof from regional sources :






—


already allocated : e.g. EUR 50 million










—


planned: e.g. EUR 10 million














—


Thereof from EU sources:






—


already allocated : e.g. EUR 50 million










—


planned use (e.g. if funding decision is not yet taken by the EU): e.g. EUR 10 million














—


Private investment (if known): e.g. EUR 200 million






—


Initiative 1, e.g. EUR 100 million










—


Initiative 2, e.g. EUR 100 million


















—


Very short description: how and to what extent are the measures expected to address the MS-specific challenges (see point 2.1):






—


Challenge 1 – low level of digital technology adoption in SMEs

e.g. measure 1 (SME funding programme ) is expected to support the adoption and development of digital technologies in SMEs for around xxx SMEs. Considering the total number of SMEs in the Member State (around xxx) and the low percentage of SMEs with at least a basic level of digital intensity (xx %) (1)
, this measure is a good starting point, but it should complemented. Notably, complementary actions that support SMEs to identify the most relevant digitalisation needs and opportunities for their business as well as actions that support the re- and upskilling of the workforce to make best use of the digital technologies implemented with the SME funding programme could complement measure 1 to address this challenge more effectively and to allow to reach the ambitious target of xx % of SMEs with at least a basic digital intensity.











—


Estimated investment gap and possible actions to reach the national target values
The rationale/main considerations behind the estimation of such investment needs should be clarified and key elements should be described:

e.g. EUR xx million that would be used for e.g. additional measures in the field of xyz to address challenge 1 (low level of investment of SME on digital) and/or additional measures in the field of xyz (not necessarily directly related to a strength or a challenge). The needs of sectors x, y, z were taken into account.









3.2.   Description of the measures

(to be done per measure reflecting the regional dimension where possible)
Measure 1 – SME funding programme - investment on digitalisation of businesses






New measure








☐


yes










☐


no








Short description of the measure
Short description of the measure, including link with target and target beneficiaries, and list of concrete actions implemented/planned. For each activity, the national roadmap should provide a calendar for the timing of implementation, including preparatory steps if relevant:








—


Xxx










—


xxx










—


 




Content of the measure:
The SME funding programme supports SMEs of all business sectors (2) by providing a grant between EUR 10 000  and EUR 25 000  (depending on the size of the SME’s investment which can amount to up to EUR 100 000 , grant can comprise up to 25 % of total investment sum), to SMEs that invest to increase their level of digitalisation. The investments can cover the digitalisation:






—


of products: e.g. use of predictive maintenance applications










—


of services: e.g. implementation of data-based services (e.g. by using AI-based applications)










—


as well as of processes (e.g. by implementing digital distribution channels including e-commerce, or digitalising the invoicing process).




The investment needs to go beyond the purchase of standard ICT-equipment (e.g. buying a laptop, tablet or a standard operating system). Please see the detailed funding conditions here: (link to be added).
Link to the target:
The measure is focussed on SMEs that are beginning their digitalisation process and in particular supports their basic digitalisation needs. As the measure covers all business sectors which have different needs, the areas of application vary, but include many measures that are relevant for the KPI on digital late adopters (e.g. e-commerce sales). Therefore, this measure is expected to contribute directly to the achievement of the digital late adopters target.
Tentative timeline:
The programme started in July 2023 and a review of the programme conditions will take place in early Q4 2023 (revised conditions would be available as of end Q4 2023). The programme is expected to be available until at least the end of 2025.




Budget allocated or planned and, if relevant, other resources – including human resources – allocated:








—


National (please indicate if budget is allocated or planned): EUR xx million










—


EU (please indicate if budget is allocated or planned): EUR xx million










—


Human resources mobilised(if relevant considering the nature of the measure, e.g. for measure with no or very low budget allocated (3)









Expected impact and related timing:


(Examples – if similar level of detail/planning is not available, please provide information on a best effort basis)






—


e.g. 1000 SMEs receive funding and increase their level of digitalisation until the end of 2023 (i.e. XX % of the total number of SMEs)










—


e.g. an additional 2000 SME receive funding and increase their level of digitalisation until the end of 2025 (i.e. XX % of the total number of SMEs)









Section 4:   Main policies, measures and actions to contribute to the general objectives

This section should present the main actions, policies and measures, envisaged or implemented, focussing on key measures and examples of best practice, expected to help achieve the general objectives taking into account the Declaration on digital rights and principles. Measures already been reported as contributing to targets should not be repeated.
The input should be brief and concise, focussing on the most pertinent key actions, policies and measures and limit your contribution to the essential elements, including a description of the measures and their timing, the human resources and budget involved (where applicable) and the expected impact.
To help structure the description of the measures, the Member State can use the grouping proposed in the table below and possibly organise it under high level political headings, like those provided below, i.e. ‘digital citizenship’, ‘fostering leadership and sovereignty’, and ‘contributing to the green transition’.







 


General objectives


Examples of areas of possible contributions from Member States




Digital citizenship


Please refer to the objectives mentioned under Article 3(1) (a), (b), and (g)


Please describe briefly the key actions, policies and measures that help achieve the respective objectives.




Fostering leadership and sovereignty


Please refer to the objectives mentioned under Article 3(1) letters (c), (d), (e), (f), (i) and (k)


 




Contributing to the green transition


Please refer to the objectives mentioned under Article 3(1)(h) and (j).


 





Section 5:   EU level cooperation

5.1.   Multi-Country projects

Overview 1) a. – Multi-Country projects included in the list of areas of activity for MCP in the Annex of the Decision, to which the Member State is committing or plans to commit in the future






Name of the MCP


Short description of the MCP, including:






—


Explanation on how participation in this MCP will contribute to the Member State achieving the general objectives and the digital targets










—


Budget allocated or planned, other resources (if relevant)










—


MCP implementation mechanism










—


Expected impact










—


Other Member States or other entities participating (if available)








Overview 1) b. – Possible new Multi-Country projects, not yet included in the list of areas of activity for MCP in the Annex of the Decision, for which the Member State identifies a need






Area of the MCP


Short description of the purpose of the MCP, including:






—


Explanation on how participation in this MCP will contribute to the Member State achieving the general objectives and the digital targets










—


Budget that could be allocated or planned, other resources (if already available)










—


MCP implementation mechanism (if already available)










—


Expected impact










—


Other Member States or other entities participating (if already available)








Overview 2) – The joint commitments that this Member State is making or planning to make in the future






Joint commitment


Short description of the commitment, including:






—


Explanation on how this joint commitment will contribute to the Member State achieving the general objectives and the digital targets










—


Budget allocated or planned, other resources (if relevant)










—


Expected impact










—


Other Member States that are or will be participating








5.2.   Facilitating factors at EU level

In this section, Member States can suggest actions that could be supported by the EU or be best carried out in cooperation with other Member States.

Section 6:   Stakeholder feedback

This section should describe the overall activities, detailing the consultation strategy and mechanisms undertaken to involve private and public stakeholders in the preparation of the national roadmap, including a detailed description of who was consulted, a summary of the comments made and how the feedback has been taken into account.

Section 7:   Overall impact and conclusion

This section should provide a comprehensive outlook or synthesis of the Member States’ progress and action in contributing to the EU’s digital transformation. It should include:






—


A presentation of the synergies expected between measures described under different chapters (general objectives, targets, Declaration on rights and principles) and of the anticipated impacts.










—


An explanation on the extent to which their national roadmaps will contribute to the EU’s vision of digital transformation as set out in the Digital Decade, taking into account their specificities.






(1)  Indicator measured in the Digital Economy and Society Index.

(2)  SMEs as defined in the EU recommendation 2003/361

(3)  Information on human resources mobilised should be added if the human resources are the constituent part of a measure and/or there is no or very few budget planned/allocated, e.g. for a task force on creating structural incentives for companies to digitalise.