Digital Agenda II: Plan by the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism for ITC and e-commerce SMEs
Among the specific plans to set the Digital Agenda for Spain, the ITC in SMEs and electronic commerce plan, published by the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism in June 2013, is worth €163.7 million and looks set to run until 2015.
Noteworthy objectives of the Plan include encouraging the adoption and use of ITC by SMEs, encouraging cloud computing solutions; supporting the growth of e-commerce; facilitating the implementation of telematic processes among companies and with the authorities (e-signature and e-billing); enhancing skills and tailor-made ITC training at SMEs and encouraging innovation in the ITC environment.
The measures set out in the Plan are organized into three core concepts:
The first of these brings together measures aimed at incentivizing use at SMEs (€150.8 million), and includes financial backing to implement technological solutions (“Connected Homes” program, with help in kind—solutions and services packages—for hotels and rural tourism accommodation); ITC promotion and supply-demand connection (web platform set up by public and private entities to provide support to and serve as a forum for ITC providers and companies; program to promote the adoption by SMEs and self-employed individuals of corporate solutions based on cloud computing and the use of high-speed broadband, and raising awareness of and providing advice for the transition to the cloud environment; creation of an ITC Public Demonstration Center for Innovation and Smart Cities, based in Malaga and the creation of a Demonstration Center in relation to innovation in tourism, based in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria,); and training and raising awareness at micro companies.
The second area takes in measures that seek to encourage the use of electronic billing (€0.6 million), taking the form of initiatives to implement a suitable legislative framework (Law on the promotion of e-billing and the creation of the invoices accounting registry in the public sector) and to promote the FACe e-billing service in Central Government (one-stop shop for sending e-bills and unification of the e-billing format across the entire AGE).
The third area includes measures to encourage electronic commerce (€12.3 million), in the form of financial backing to increase the number of businesses offering online services and products (financial assistance to procure mentoring services and implement technological e-commerce solutions), creation of a public and private working group for analysis and recommendations on electronic commerce; and increasing the supply of skilled professionals trained in an electronic commerce environment (creation of the National Reference Center in Electronic Commerce and Digital Marketing, and the “Selling Online” program to raise awareness at companies).
Garrigues Technology & Outsourcing Department
