EmbrAIsme is an Interreg Europe project co-financed by the Austrian Federal Chancellery which aims to encourage uptake of AI by SMEs, in particular by raising awareness of AI and the importance of AI skills, facilitating access to funding and building tools to ease the compliance burden of SMEs.
Name in original language
embrAIsme - Improving Conditions and Policies for SMEs to Embrace AI
Initiative overview
The Interreg Europe project embrAIsme, led by Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws), fosters collaboration between partners from Finland, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Slovenia to enhance SME support for AI adoption. Running for four years from April 2024, the project is co-financed by the Federal Chancellery of Austria and aims to accelerate AI integration in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by addressing cultural resistance in SMEs, skill gaps, regulatory challenges, and limited funding access.AI offers vast potential for productivity, innovation, and competitiveness, yet many SMEs struggle with adoption due to internal resistance, lack of expertise, and uncertainty about AI's value. Structural barriers such as funding constraints, regulatory complexity, skill shortages, and insufficient infrastructure further hinder progress. embrAIsme seeks to create an enabling environment for AI adoption by improving policies, providing financial incentives, clarifying regulations, and raising awareness.The project focuses on six core intervention areas: Government Initiatives and Support, Access to Finance, Legal and Ethical Issues, Human Capital & Skills, Infrastructure and Technology Access, and Collaborative Networks and Ecosystems. Through study visits, workshops with AI experts and a strong focus on networking, policy recommendations will be provided to specific policy instruments to improve concepts and frameworks of funding opportunities and regulatory guidance needed for AI integration. By fostering knowledge-sharing, leadership engagement, and hands-on training, the initiative ensures SMEs across diverse regions benefit from AI-driven advancements.As AI adoption grows, the project will play a key role in maintaining SME competitiveness in an increasingly digital economy. Initial findings highlight cultural resistance in SMEs as a major challenge, prompting a stronger focus on leadership engagement, best-practice case studies, and AI-readiness initiatives. By continuously refining its strategies based on stakeholder insights, embrAIsme ensures that European SMEs are well-equipped to leverage AI for sustainable growth and innovation.
Name of responsible organisation (in English)
Austrian Promotional Bank (AWS); Federal Chancellery of Austria; Directorate General for Digitalisation and E-Government
