What Businesses Need to Know About the “Digital SME AI” Program
Since April 1, 2026, Bremen has offered a new funding program for small and medium-sized enterprises: Through the “Digital SME AI” program, the Senator for Economic Affairs, Ports, and Transformation supports SMEs, micro-enterprises, and self-employed individuals in digitizing their business processes.
Projects in the fields of digitalization, artificial intelligence, automation, and cybersecurity are eligible for grants of up to 17,000 euros. For SMEs in Bremen and Bremerhaven, the new program thus offers a concrete opportunity to implement digital projects more quickly and in a more structured manner.
Startups can also benefit from this funding. In such cases, an initial consultation with the State of Bremen’s digital advisors is required. This consultation is intended to help clarify the technological and data protection feasibility of the project at an early stage. This is a particularly important factor for startups in the fields of smart manufacturing or AI applications.
What the grant program specifically supports
For small and medium-sized businesses, digital transformation often doesn’t start with large-scale projects, but with clear questions arising from day-to-day operations: Where can processes be simplified? What data can be put to better use? Which manual tasks can be automated? And how can IT security be improved at a reasonable cost?
Even small-scale digitization initiatives can make processes more stable, efficient, and cost-effective.
The program is designed for companies that want to implement or expand digital solutions in their operations. These include, for example:
- the use of AI for analyzing, planning, or supporting processes
- the automation of recurring processes
- Measures to Improve Cybersecurity
Where to apply
Applications are submitted through BAB – Die Förderbank and BIS Bremerhaven.
If additional capital is needed beyond the grant, the senator stated that this can be covered, among other things, by the ERDF-funded BAB microloan.
How does the program fit into Bremen’s innovation ecosystem?
For SMEs in particular, it is crucial that funding not be viewed in isolation. The greatest benefits often arise when financing, technological support, training, and organizational guidance come together. The DIGITAL HUB INDUSTRY Bremen ecosystem already offers important opportunities for this.
The AI Transfer Center helps companies identify specific areas of application for artificial intelligence and prepare the initial steps for implementation. This is particularly relevant for SMEs that want to explore how AI can be effectively integrated into their existing processes.
RZ Nord is a key partner when it comes to technical infrastructure and the practical implementation of digital solutions. SMEs can turn to RZ Nord for support with questions regarding robust IT infrastructure and the integration of new digital applications into their day-to-day operations.
The Mittelstand-Digital Center Bremen-Oldenburg (MDZ) offers practical guidance, training programs, and insights into specific use cases. For SMEs, this can be a great starting point for better understanding digital technologies and developing their own projects in a more targeted manner.
The INQA Coaching Advisory Center at RKW Bremen GmbH assists companies, particularly with the organizational aspects of transformation. It helps SMEs design change processes within their organizations in such a way that new digital solutions are effectively integrated into their day-to-day operations.
It is precisely this improved network of existing resources that presents a major opportunity: Companies often need not only funding for a project, but also guidance, a sounding board, and access to the right expertise. The hub environment can serve as a connecting network in this regard.
Are you planning a project in the fields of digitalization, AI, automation, or cybersecurity and want to explore potential connections within the DHI ecosystem? If so, it’s worth reaching out to the relevant partners in our network. Feel free to contact us!
