The digi-mobile initiative

Supporting businesses in developing and using innovative applications on smart mobile communication devices and tablet computers.

The initiative Supporting businesses in the use of innovative applications on smart mobile communication devices and tablet computers, known as digi-mobile, aims to help small and medium-sized businesses benefit from international momentum and reach new audiences by providing new digital capabilities and high-value services through smartphones.

The initiative primarily supports the use of innovative applications on mobile communication devices and tablet PCs by existing businesses operating in Greece. Its aim is to provide supported businesses, as far as possible, with:

— Lower operating costs and improved productivity through applications on smart mobile devices that facilitate employee mobility and allow immediate access to business data from anywhere.

— A comprehensive approach to existing customers and new audiences, using smart mobile devices and tablets to provide personalised, targeted information.

— Opportunities for outward-looking growth and improvements in sales and services through smart mobile devices.

In addition to significant added value for Greek businesses, the initiative will help strengthen domestic scientific expertise in a high-growth, high-value sector at the forefront of the digital economy.

Operational programme

Digital Convergence Operational Programme
Co-financing rate
70% (European Regional Development Fund — ERDF)
Type of aid

Financial support — subsidy
Geographical coverage

All of Greece
Areas of interest
Services — Trade; IT — Telecommunications; Research — Technology — Innovation
Who can apply

Very small and small businesses in all sectors carrying out economic activity in Greece may submit proposals, subject to the exclusions described in the initiative's guides. In particular, businesses operating in:

— tourism
— culture
— food services
— wholesale trade
— health
— entertainment
— the environment
— transport
— logistics
— services generally
— IT and telecommunications

Terms and conditions

Proposals may be submitted by individual existing businesses, not associations or joint ventures, ...

Proposals may be submitted by individual existing private-law businesses, not associations or joint ventures, legally operating in Greece, which have completed at least one financial year by the date they submit their application.

A business is considered eligible for funding when all the following conditions are met:

— It has completed at least one financial year.
— Its sector is not among the initiative's excluded activities, based on the de minimis rule and demarcation criteria for ERDF, EAFRD and EFF funding.
— During the preceding three years, it has not received grants under state-aid programmes and initiatives falling under the de minimis rule exceeding 200,000.
— It is not an undertaking in difficulty as defined in Article 2, paragraph 2, points 9, 10 and 11 of European Commission Guidelines 2004/C/244/02.
— It belongs to the very small or small enterprise category.
— It keeps category B or C accounting books. Joint ventures, civil non-profit companies and those engaged exclusively in liberal professions are excluded.
— It operates legally and maintains all legally required operating licences.

What is funded

Selected beneficiaries will receive grants to develop, acquire and use innovative digital-service applications through smartphones: native mobile apps, web mobile apps or web mobile portals. These may be B2C, B2B or B2E applications. Services must use advanced technologies and innovative applications on smart mobile communication devices and tablet PCs.

Applications must be implemented on at least one smart-device platform: Nokia Symbian, Google Android, Apple iOS, RIM BlackBerry OS, Microsoft Windows Phone/Mobile, Windows 7 for tablets, Palm/HP WebOS, Samsung Bada, Nokia Maemo or MeeGo. Only software procurement costs and/or Software as a Service software services are subsidised.

Supported applications must be downloadable and run on the mobile device, either online or offline.

Alternatively, mobile portals may be developed provided that:

— They offer a complete working environment that necessarily recognises the mobile device type/operating system and adapts to its characteristics. They must operate on at least one platform or group of mobile devices, such as Nokia Symbian, Google Android, Apple iOS, RIM BlackBerry OS, Microsoft Windows Phone, Linux, Palm/HP WebOS, Samsung Bada, Nokia Maemo or MeeGo, regardless of whether their use is B2B, B2E or B2C.
— They provide interaction with mobile-device users rather than one-way information delivery. Static content presentations and online business brochures do not qualify as web mobile portal applications.

Examples of value-added services may cover health, entrepreneurship, the environment, culture, entertainment, tourism, culture, transport and food services. Development of services targeting niche markets is encouraged.

Budget

€15,000,000

Submission period

From 30 January 2012 until the budget is exhausted.

The application system will be available for interested parties to complete electronic applications from Monday 19 December at 12:00.

The opening date for business proposals depends on the region in which the business is established, according to this schedule:

— Central Greece and South Aegean: Monday 30 January 2012 at 14:00.
— Central Macedonia and Western Macedonia: Wednesday 1 February 2012 at 14:00.
— Digital Convergence programme regions — Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Epirus, Thessaly, Ionian Islands, Western Greece, Peloponnese, North Aegean and Crete: Thursday 2 February 2012 at 14:00.
— Attica: Tuesday 14 February 2012 at 14:00.