EU Funds 2026 for Digitalisation: Non‑Repayable Grants for Software Automation in Romania

Introduction: 2026 as a decisive year for funded digital transformation

For Romanian SMEs, 2026 is a decisive year. The last digitalisation projects funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) must be implemented and completed by late May 2026, while regional programmes continue to open calls dedicated to SME digitalisation. At the same time, EU‑level initiatives such as the Digital Europe Programme and the European Digital Innovation Hubs network are pushing for the adoption of AI, automation and cloud technologies across small and medium‑sized businesses.

Although Romanian SMEs still lag behind EU averages in terms of digital maturity, institutions such as the European Investment Bank highlight a “historic opportunity” to modernise business processes through targeted finance and support. In this context, EU grants for digitalisation and software automation are not just free money – they are a strategic lever for survival and growth.

1. Main sources of EU funding for digitalisation and software automation (2025–2026)

1.1. PNRR – SME Digitalisation grants (up to €100,000)

Under PNRR, thousands of Romanian SMEs have already secured grants between €20,000 and €100,000 for digitalisation projects covering software, hardware, implementation and training. The implementation deadline for many of these projects has been extended until 29 May 2026.

Eligible costs typically include:

ERP, CRM, WMS and business analytics software licences;
software automation solutions, especially RPA (Robotic Process Automation);
implementation, configuration and system integration services;
ICT hardware and infrastructure, under defined conditions;
consultancy and staff training related to the new systems.

1.2. Regional programmes

Regional programmes such as PR Vest and other regional operational programmes offer digitalisation grants between €10,000 and €100,000, with co‑financing rates between 10–30%, depending on county and company profile.

These calls typically fund:

automation of internal processes;
digitalisation of sales, logistics and production workflows;
development and integration of customised software solutions.

1.3. EU‑wide programmes (Digital Europe, EDIH and thematic calls)

At EU level, the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) provides €8.1 billion (2021–2027) to support AI, cybersecurity and advanced digital skills, while the EDIH network helps SMEs test and adopt new digital technologies, including automation and AI.

These calls are usually accessed via consortia and can be particularly interesting for Romanian software companies and more innovative SMEs.

2. Why it is smart to use grants for ***automation software*, not only for hardware**

Many SMEs still equate “digitalisation” with buying new laptops and basic accounting software. Current calls, however, explicitly support higher‑value projects focused on automation:

RPA bots & Agentic AI that automate repetitive tasks – data entry, invoice processing, reconciliations, report generation and much more;
Chatbots and Conversational AI agents that handle first‑line customer support on web, WhatsApp, Facebook or phone;
Integrated ERP–CRM–e‑commerce flows that eliminate manual copying and accelerate order‑to‑cash cycles;
Business Intelligence dashboards that provide real‑time visibility into margins, costs and cash‑flow.

Evidence from the EIB and the European Commission shows that SMEs investing in digital automation and advanced analytics significantly improve productivity and competitiveness, even in traditional sectors.

3. Typical eligible costs for software automation projects

Funding guides and state‑aid schemes for SME digitalisation explicitly list software automation as eligible expenditure:

RPA licences and automation platforms (including custom development);
AI and machine learning solutions for scoring, forecasting and recommendations;
development or adaptation of line‑of‑business software (client portals, supplier integration, etc.);
consultancy services for process analysis, architecture design and project management;
training for both end‑users and internal IT/operations staff.

This is one of the few contexts where an SME can finance a complete automation architecture – from diagnostic and design to implementation and training – with limited own contribution.

4. Five practical steps to secure non‑repayable funding for digitalisation and automation

Step 1: Start from business outcomes, not from “we want EU money”

Define clearly what you want to achieve:

shorter processing times;
more clients served with the same headcount;
better traceability and compliance.

Most programmes now require a digitalisation plan with measurable KPIs, which is also crucial for your own project governance.

Step 2: Check your eligibility and the right funding line

Review:

SME status according to EU definition;
main NACE/CAEN code and whether it is eligible;
minimum 1 year operating history and tax‑clear status;
regional specifics (e.g. different co‑financing levels by county).

Step 3: Perform a digital audit and map automation opportunities

Before drafting the application:

identify where most hours are lost (finance, logistics, sales, reporting);
determine which tasks are suitable for automation (RPA, integrations, chatbots);
map existing systems that must be integrated (ERP, CRM, legacy apps).

This audit feeds into the “Needs analysis and proposed solution” section of your funding application.

Step 4: Build the budget and select technology partners

Using the call’s funding guidelines:

separate eligible and non‑eligible costs;
allocate budget for licences, implementation, consultancy and training;
select vendors with experience in EU‑funded projects and realistic delivery capacity before May 2026.

Step 5: Submit the project and plan implementation realistically to 2026

Applications are submitted through national portals such as MySMIS2021 or the dedicated PNRR platform, depending on the scheme.

Key points:

respect call timelines (some regional calls, e.g. PR Vest, have specific windows such as 1 July–1 September 2025);
make sure the project plan allows enough time for procurement, implementation, integration and training before the contractual deadline (often mid‑ or late‑2026).

5. Common pitfalls in digitalisation and automation projects

Hardware‑only focus: investing mostly in devices, with little or no budget left for automation software and process redesign.
Generic, copy‑paste applications: proposals that do not reflect the company’s real processes risk rejection or problems at audit.
Underestimating integration complexity: ignoring the effort needed to connect new tools with existing systems and data.
No change management: end‑users are not involved, adoption is low and the project fails to deliver its promised ROI.

How ROBORA can support your funded digitalisation and automation journey

ROBORA can act both as a consulting partner for accessing non-reimbursable financing for digitalization, and as a provider of concrete software automation solutions.

We offer complete consulting services for accessing non-reimbursable financing for digitalization and software automation. Our team supports you from eligibility analysis and project definition, to the implementation of digital and automated solutions, adapted to the real needs of your business.

Through our expertise in RPA & Agentic AI, ChatBot & Conversational Agentic AI, CRM Implementation, Project Management and digital transformation, we ensure sustainable projects, correctly structured and aligned with the requirements of European programs.

👉Full details and contact: https://robora.io/en/non-refundable-funds/