Grants for AI and Automation for Companies in 2026 — How to Fund Digital Transformation

2026 is one of the best moments to invest in artificial intelligence and automation — and not only for technological reasons. It's also the period in which the bulk of the EU 2021–2027 financial perspective comes to a close, so the supply of digitalization funding for companies is high. This article explains which grants for AI and automation are available, how the co-financing mechanism works, and what to keep in mind before you apply.

Note: the information below is general and indicative. Conditions, budgets and application windows change — before applying, always check the current rules of the specific call or contact us for an individual assessment.

Why 2026 is a good moment

2026 closes a significant part of the EU budget for 2021–2027, which translates into numerous calls for proposals and high availability of funds for businesses. At the same time, artificial intelligence has become one of the priority funding directions — programs increasingly name AI, automation and digital transformation as eligible investment goals.

For companies, the logic is simple: the implementation cost you currently treat as a barrier may, in large part, be covered by co-financing.

The most important programs for companies

Below are the directions worth your attention. The right choice depends on company size, location and the nature of the project.

FENG — European Funds for a Modern Economy

FENG is the flagship program supporting innovation, R&D and digitalization, aimed primarily at the SME sector. It holds a budget on the order of several billion euros for entrepreneurs and covers, among other things, the deployment of modern digital technologies.

The SMART Path (within FENG)

This is a modular program that lets you "tailor" a project to your needs — combining R&D, innovation deployment, digitalization and team upskilling within a single application. The first 2026 calls were typically planned for the early months of the year for individual companies, with further rounds during the year.

PARP programs for AI and digitalization

The Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP) distributes part of the funds dedicated to SME digital transformation. The 2025/2026 season brought announcements of calls focused on AI deployments and raising companies' "digital maturity."

EDIH — European Digital Innovation Hubs

EDIHs offer companies a free digital-competence audit, advisory services and support in testing solutions. This is a good first step: such an audit can be a valuable attachment that strengthens an application to FENG/PARP programs.

European Funds for Eastern Poland (FEPW)

For companies and startups in the Eastern Poland macroregion, dedicated instruments support the development of innovative products and technologies, including AI-based solutions.

How much you can get and how co-financing works

The level of co-financing varies by program, company size and region — in some calls it reaches several dozen percent of eligible costs. Two rules matter most here, and companies often forget them:

Reimbursement-based nature. In most cases you first incur the cost, submit settlement documentation (invoices, proof of payment, acceptance protocols), and only then receive a refund of part of the cost. Some calls provide advances.
The VAT question. For active VAT payers, VAT is usually a non-eligible cost — co-financing is calculated on the net amount. The rules of each specific call always clarify this.

Who can apply

Most SME programs rely on the EU definition of small and medium-sized enterprises: fewer than 250 employees and turnover or balance-sheet total within set limits. The detailed criteria (registered office, industry, type of cost) depend on the specific call.

How to prepare an application — step by step

Define the project. Specify exactly what you want to deploy (e.g. an AI agent, process automation, a SaaS platform) and what problem it solves.
Estimate eligible costs. Prepare a realistic project budget.
Match the program. Align the call with your company size, location and the nature of the investment.
Gather documentation. EDIH audit, innovation description, result indicators.
Submit within the application window and plan delivery according to the schedule.

How N3O System helps

Our advantage is combining two things that are usually separate: technical implementation (AI agents, automation, SaaS, web systems) and support in securing funding. As a result, the project you submit for co-financing is designed from the start to be technically feasible and aligned with program requirements. You'll find more in our Growth Capital section.

Want to check whether your AI or automation project qualifies for funding? Write to us at systems@n3osystem.io — we'll help assess the options and design the implementation.