Sustainable data centers and a broader digital kit for SMEs
The government is preparing to implement substantial modifications to a multimillion-euro aid program that leverages European funds to boost small and medium-sized enterprises through digitization. The administration has finalized new calls under the digital kit program, expanding eligibility to larger companies for the first time and funding projects that integrate artificial intelligence into everyday business operations. These developments were outlined by the Minister of Digital Transformation, Jose Luis Escrivá, during a session in the Congress of Deputies. (Source: Ministry of Digital Transformation)
The ministry has decided that at least one of the new aid calls will be issued privately, targeting mid-sized firms with 50 to 250 employees within the SME category and focusing on AI-enabled projects. Previously, all calls primarily directed aid to microenterprises with 0 to 3 employees and small firms with up to 50 employees, with a narrower emphasis on digitalization initiatives. (Source: Ministry of Digital Transformation)
The Digital Kit, a program dedicated to advancing SME digitalization, holds a total budget of around 3,000 million euros, sourced from European Recovery funds and aligned with the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. To date, aid distribution has reached about 1.449 billion euros, covering a broad spectrum of beneficiaries, including thousands of SMEs and self-employed workers. The latest figures presented to the Congress by Escrivá show substantial reach and ongoing implementation. (Source: Ministry of Digital Transformation)
Sustainable data centers
Escrivá also disclosed that the ministry is exploring a new regulatory framework designed to ensure data centers operate with greater sustainability. The regulatory work is still in the early stages, as authorities assess what kind of rules are needed to guide this rapidly expanding sector in Spain. (Source: Ministry of Digital Transformation)
Authorities emphasize that Spain aims to position itself as a key hub in Southern Europe, a goal pursued through ensuring the sustainability of facilities that consume large amounts of electricity for servers, cooling systems, and related infrastructure, as well as significant water usage. (Source: Ministry of Digital Transformation)
Escrivá argued that the proposed regulation would not only govern site selection but also set requirements to guarantee robust sustainability indicators tied to electricity and water consumption. Digital Transformation will begin a coordinated effort with other relevant ministries to establish sector-wide guidelines at a moment when demand for new processing centers continues to rise. (Source: Ministry of Digital Transformation)