WIREDGOV

The European Commission is publishing a blueprint to help micro-enterprises and small businesses in Europe’s regions grow by using digital technologies. To ensure funding allocated to SMEs to enhance their e-commerce and ICT capacities is spent quickly and in full, innovation vouchers worth up to €10,000 will be made available for purchasing and learning to make use of digital (ICT) services. Such ICT innovation voucher schemes are being piloted in the Spanish Regions of Murcia and Extremadura.

European Commission Vice-President Neelie Kroes said: "Small businesses using digital services grow twice as fast, export twice as much, and create twice as many new jobs. Everyone should benefit the way Murcia and Extremadura are benefiting in Spain.”

Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn said: "Giving access to digital technologies is one of the many ways that Regional Policy can help small businesses be more competitive. For 2014-20 the digital agenda and support for SMEs are key priorities for structural funds. SMEs are the lifeblood of Europe's economies and the source of future jobs in our cities and regions."

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