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Digitalization in medium-sized businesses: Securing the future with AI and new funding!
The Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Osnabrück has been supporting SMEs in digital transformation and AI integration since 2022 until 2026.
Digitalization in medium-sized businesses: Securing the future with AI and new funding!
There is news in Ried and the surrounding area that will make small and medium-sized companies sit up and take notice: The Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Lingen.Münster.Osnabrück has started its work for a digital future. The center has been supporting companies with digital transformation since October 2022. This will be done through a comprehensive package of support services that will continue until December 2026. Funding for the project amounts to a proud amount 2,750,000 euros, increased by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE).
The center's offerings are wide-ranging: from free information events and workshops to technology checks and personal discussions. Over the past three years, over 14,000 business representatives have participated in over 800 projects, underscoring the importance of the center to the regional economy. Particularly noteworthy is the focus on artificial intelligence (AI), which is considered a future-oriented growth engine for medium-sized companies.
Artificial intelligence as a growth engine
Why AI? Loud Studies The use of AI promises significant advantages: companies can reduce their costs by up to 17% while increasing sales by 14%. So-called quick wins such as predictive maintenance and chatbots, which promise immediate productivity gains, are particularly helpful.
The pressure to keep up with international competitors is growing. 43% of small and medium-sized companies in Germany see the shortage of skilled workers as the main reason for implementing AI in their companies. This clearly shows how important it is to automate routine tasks and relieve teams.
New funding opportunities for digitalization
Especially in times when companies face financial hurdles in digitalization, support through new federal loan programs comes into play. Since July 1, 2025 there are under KfW funding programs Loans available for digitalization and innovation. These loans are offered through house banks at reduced rates, meaning that many companies with annual sales of up to 500 million euros can receive targeted funding.
An additional plus: KfW offers the newly introduced digital check to support companies in evaluating their digitalization status. In combination with the new funding opportunities, it will be easier for medium-sized businesses to master the transformation into a digital future.
- Highlights der Förderung:
- ERP-Förderkredite für Digitalisierung und Innovation
- Haftungsfreistellung von 50 % bei Krediten
- Integration des KfW Digitalisierungs-Checks
The future of SMEs looks bright and it is time to seize the opportunities. With a lot of support from local initiatives and government funding, companies in the Ried region can now boldly tackle their digital transformation. There is still something to do and the tools are there - it is important to use them!