Spain's Kit Digital programme has been subsidising SME digitalisation with NextGenerationEU funds since 2022. In 2024 and 2025, new Artificial Intelligence categories were added — a change that allows companies with three or more employees to fund local AI infrastructure, covering a significant share of implementation costs.
This guide explains what the voucher covers, which categories are relevant for local AI, how much can be subsidised, and what the actual application process looks like.
What is Kit Digital?
Kit Digital is a direct subsidy from the Spanish government, administered by Red.es and funded through the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan with NextGenerationEU money. It is a grant — not a loan — that covers the cost of digital solutions contracted from an accredited Agente Digitalizador (authorised digital partner).
The company receives a digital voucher (Bono Digital) which is redeemed by signing a Digital Solution Provision Agreement with the partner. The partner delivers the project and claims the subsidised amount directly from Red.es.
Voucher amounts by company size
- Segment I (10–50 employees): up to €29,000
- Segment II (3–9 employees): up to €12,000
- Segment III (0–2 employees and freelancers): up to €3,000
The subsidy covers 100 % of solution costs up to the applicable cap. Any excess is borne by the company.
Eligible Categories for Artificial Intelligence
The Kit Digital solution catalogue is organised into categories. The most relevant for AI implementations are:
Category 14: AI-Powered Customer Management
Solutions using AI for automated customer interaction, query classification, conversational assistants, and sentiment analysis. Subsidisable up to €4,000 (Segment II) or €10,000 (Segment I).
Category 15: Business Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence
AI-enhanced BI tools: intelligent dashboards, predictive analytics, automatic extraction of indicators from documents and operational data. This category is specifically designed for solutions that go beyond classical BI by incorporating language models or advanced analytical techniques.
Category 16: AI-Powered Process Management
Automation of internal workflows: document classification and routing, automatic report generation, AI-assisted operational decision support. Covers integrations with ERP, CRM, and intranet systems.
Category 8: Virtual Office
Covers digital productivity tools that may include AI assistants for teamwork, document drafting, and knowledge search — particularly where the solution runs entirely on company-owned infrastructure.
Local AI vs. Cloud SaaS: The Meaningful Difference
Most AI products competing in the market are cloud SaaS: ChatGPT Enterprise, Microsoft Copilot, Google Workspace AI. These tools are in principle eligible under Kit Digital if they meet the technical requirements of the relevant category.
However, local AI offers important advantages that Kit Digital also funds:
Data protection and GDPR. With an on-premise solution, company data — contracts, customer communications, HR documents — never leaves your infrastructure. There are no API calls to external services, no data processing agreements with US providers or hyperscalers. For companies handling sensitive data, this eliminates an entire category of regulatory risk.
Predictable costs. Cloud AI services charge per user or per token generated. As usage grows, monthly costs grow with it. A local AI stack on owned hardware has fixed infrastructure costs — the hardware depreciates, and the open-source models it runs carry no usage fees.
EU AI Act. The European AI regulation requires operators (deployers) to document their AI system, classify risk, maintain logs, and train users. A local solution simplifies compliance because the operator has direct control over all system components.
The Four-Step Application Process
1. Self-diagnosis test. The company completes the digital maturity test on Acelera Pyme. This is a mandatory prerequisite.
2. Voucher application. The company submits its application through the Red.es electronic registry within the open call window. A digital certificate or Cl@ve login is required. Processing typically takes 4 to 8 weeks.
3. Agreement with the digital partner. Once the voucher is granted, the company selects an accredited Agente Digitalizador and signs the provision agreement. The partner delivers the project as agreed.
4. Justification and payment. When the solution is live, the partner submits the justification documentation. Red.es reviews and pays the subsidised amount directly to the partner. The company makes no payment to the partner for the subsidised portion.
What a kAIra Implementation with Kit Digital Includes
kAIra is Freshlab Iberia's local AI platform: an on-premise server running open-source language models (Llama, Qwen, Gemma, DeepSeek) directly on company infrastructure, with no data transmitted to any cloud.
A standard Kit Digital implementation includes:
- Mac Studio hardware with Apple Silicon (M2/M3 Ultra, 192 GB unified memory) — capable of running 70-billion-parameter models at production speeds
- kAIra configured for the company's use cases: document search with RAG, internal assistant, contract analysis, communication drafts
- Integration with existing systems where applicable (SharePoint, Google Drive, ERP)
- Training for the team: using the assistant, interpreting responses, prompt best practices
- EU AI Act compliance documentation included: risk classification, model data sheets, operator registry, operating manual
The first 12 months of maintenance are included in the solution price — a mandatory requirement under Kit Digital rules. From month 13, maintenance is optional and contracted separately.
Ongoing Maintenance Plans from Month 13
Basic — €200/month. Software updates (kAIra and LLM models), security patches, TLS certificate renewal, quarterly remote check. Suitable for teams with internal IT capacity who just need to ensure the system stays current.
Premium — €1,000/month. Everything in Basic plus technical support by email and phone, guaranteed 48-business-hour response time, minor configuration adjustments, and proactive remote monitoring.
Consulting — €3,500/month (Pack Estrella). Everything in Premium plus 20 monthly hours of consulting or custom development: new tools or modules tailored to the business, additional ERP/CRM integrations, ongoing team training, quarterly strategic reviews, and priority on the Freshlab schedule. For companies that want kAIra to evolve alongside their business.
Unused consulting hours do not roll over to the following month.
Freshlab's Current Accreditation Status
Freshlab Iberia S.L.U. has submitted its application for recognition as an Agente Digitalizador. At the time this article is published, the application is under review by Red.es.
This means we are not yet able to sign Digital Solution Provision Agreements under the programme. Once the approval is received, we will update this information and be ready to start Kit Digital projects.
If you are an SME and want to explore local AI implementation — with or without Kit Digital funding — you can contact us now for a no-obligation diagnostic call.
Compatibility with Other Funding Programmes
Kit Digital can be combined with other public subsidies, as long as the same expense is not double-funded. Relevant complementary sources:
- BAFA Digital Jetzt (Germany): For companies with operations or subsidiaries in Germany, this BMWK programme funds investments in digitalisation and AI.
- InvestEU / EIB: EU funds channelled through the European Investment Bank to national development banks for SME digitalisation.
- Autonomous communities: Several Spanish regions have their own programmes that can complement the national Kit Digital.
Verify compatibility for your specific situation with your tax advisor or get in touch with us before submitting applications.
For more on Kit Digital with Freshlab, see our dedicated page at /kit-digital.html or contact us directly.