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  • 16-02-2021 17:23

EU/Presidency: Digital transition has €400M to retrain 36,000 workers


Lisbon, Feb. 16, 2021 (Lusa) - Portugal's  Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) provides for the investment of €400 million in the digital transition of companies, which will allow the retraining of 36,000 workers and support 30,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

"Among other objectives, it plans to retrain 36,000 workers, support 30,000 SMEs, set up 10 digital accelerators, reach 4,000 companies with theoretical training and consultancy focused on Industry 4.0 and issue 'vouchers' for 3,000 'start-ups'," the RRP said which the Portuguese Government put out to public consultation on Tuesday.

The investments in this area amount to €650 million, of which €400 million are for the digital transition of companies, €100 million for catalysing the digital transition of companies and €150 million for digital empowerment.

IAPMEI, I.P. is in charge of coordinating the investment in articulation with various public entities.

The creation of a network will enable the "conditions necessary for companies to develop and test new products and services and speed up the digital transition process, whether via a physical space or a virtual simulator".

The creation of a programme for the digitalisation of SMEs is also contemplated, to foster digital commerce and the support to 'start-ups', usually in the seeding phase, in the reinforcement of the existing structure.

As for catalysing companies' digital transition, investment is "made through public technological catalysing projects, aimed at reducing the use of paper through electronic invoicing, creating a safer and more reliable digital business environment through certifications and generally reducing context costs".

"The goal of 4,000 companies impacted by the dissemination of key technologies is expected to be achieved", as well as the goal of sending 1 billion electronic invoices".

In the field of companies' digital empowerment, "the creation of two interconnected training programmes, with innovative approaches and aim to fill gaps in workers and entrepreneurs' digital skills (employees and entrepreneurs) and companies", called Digital Portugal Academy, and the Digital + Employment 2025 are planned.

The government expects these programmes to reach 800,000 trainees with digital skills diagnostics, individual training plans, and online training.

MPE/ADB // ADB.

Lusa