Which EIS grants for AI and software are open right now?
As of 22 October 2026, two EIS grants that can pay for business software or digital development are open: the RTE software grant and the roadmap advisory and development grant. The AI adoption grant, the roadmap grant and the RTE process automation grant are closed. Tehnopol’s RAISE programme is open until 20 November 2026.
| Grant | Status (22 Oct 2026) | Amount | Self-financing | Revenue minimum | Key condition | Official link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI adoption grant | Closed on 24 Aug 2026, 16:00 | €20,000 | 20% | €200,000 (previous year) | Results proven by a prototype or test video | eis.ee: AI adoption grant |
| RTE software implementation and integration | Open, until the €1M budget runs out | €2,000–€5,000 | 50% | €50,000 (average of 2 years) | A digital consultant (diginõustaja) is mandatory | eis.ee: RTE software implementation and integration |
| Digitalisation roadmap grant | Closed since 24 Jul 2026, 09:00 | Up to €10,000 | 30–50% | €200,000 | Paid for drawing up a digitalisation roadmap | eis.ee: Digitalisation roadmap grant |
| Roadmap advisory and development grant | Open | Up to €35,000 | 30–50% | €200,000 | You need a digitalisation roadmap | eis.ee: Roadmap advisory and development grant |
| RTE business process automation and data exchange | Closed since 4 Sep 2026, 16:00 | Up to €150,000 | Not checked | Not checked | Status not re-checked on eis.ee, see the note | None yet, see the note |
| RAISE (Tehnopol, not EIS) | Open until 20 Nov 2026 | Up to €14,000 of funded AI development support | None, it’s free | Some revenue | Growth-stage, generally up to 5 years old; 16 places | tehnopol.ee: RAISE (Tehnopol, not EIS) |
- RTE business process automation and data exchange: Status from a third-party summary dated 7 October 2026, not yet re-checked on eis.ee.
- Revenue minimums are measured differently for each grant, so check the official page.
Which grant fits my business?
It mostly depends on your revenue. Under €50,000 a year on average, no current EIS digital grant fits. From €50,000, the RTE software grant may. From €200,000, and with a digitalisation roadmap, the roadmap advisory and development grant (up to €35,000) may fit as well.
- Under €50,000
- No current EIS digital grant fits, as of 22 October 2026. Look at RAISE if your company is growth-stage and generally up to five years old, or fund a small first step yourself.
- €50,000 to €200,000
- The RTE software grant: €2,000–€5,000 towards new business software or an integration, if you meet its other conditions.
- €200,000 or more
- With a digitalisation roadmap, the roadmap advisory and development grant, up to €35,000. The RTE software grant may fit too.
As of 22 October 2026, two other EIS grants are open: Arendusosak (up to €35,000, for R&D and prototypes, not routine internal software) and Innovatsiooniosak (up to €7,500). Neither is aimed at adopting AI or business software.
What does the EIS software grant pay for?
The RTE grant for software implementation and integration pays €2,000 to €5,000 towards new business software: a one-off licence or joining fee, integration development and the digital consultant. You pay at least half the cost yourself. As of 22 October 2026, it takes applications on a rolling basis until its €1 million budget runs out.
In Estonian, it’s the tarkvara kasutusele võtmise või liidestamise toetus. It opened on 2 March 2026 and is paid as a fixed sum.
What it covers
- A one-off software licence purchase or joining fee
- Developing the integration with your other systems
- The digital consultant’s fee, up to 50% of the grant
What it doesn’t cover
- Upgrading software you already use
- Hardware
- VAT
Monthly subscriptions beyond the one-off cost aren’t listed as eligible.
Who can apply
- Registered in Estonia. Your company is in the Estonian Commercial Register.
- Revenue. At least €50,000 average sales revenue over your last two financial years.
- Training. Someone at the company has completed the free course “Ettevõtte digitaliseerimise koolitus”.
- E-invoicing. You use e-invoices (e-arve) by the end of the project.
- De minimis. The grant counts as de minimis aid (VTA), which is capped at €300,000 over three years.
- A digital consultant. Involving a diginõustaja is mandatory. They must have done at least three similar advisory projects in the four years before yours.
- One at a time. You can have only one RTE grant at a time.
How big does the project need to be?
Because the grant covers half the cost, a project needs to cost about €4,000 or more to reach the minimum grant, and about €10,000 or more for the maximum. The exact rules are in the grant regulation.
- Project of about €4,000
- A grant of about €2,000, the minimum
- Project of about €10,000 or more
- A grant of about €5,000, the maximum
How to apply, step by step
Take the training course
Someone at the company completes the free digitalisation course.
Get a digital consultant’s quote
Find a consultant with the required experience and get their quote.
Apply in E-toetus, in Estonian
Submit the application in EIS’s E-toetus environment before the work starts.
Run the project
Set up the software or integration, and use e-invoicing by the end.
Report to EIS
Report on the finished project.
What happened to the EIS AI grant?
EIS’s grant for adopting artificial intelligence opened on 24 August 2026 and closed the same day at 16:00, because applications exceeded its €2 million budget. As of 22 October 2026, EIS has not announced a new round.
In Estonian: tehisaru kasutuselevõtu toetus. What it offered:
- Grant
- €20,000 per project
- Self-financing
- 20%
- Budget
- €2 million in total
- Revenue
- At least €200,000 in the previous year
- Project length
- Up to 9 months
- Proof of results
- A prototype or a test video
- Applications
- In Estonian
If you were planning around it, the RTE software grant is the closest open option. AI tools may qualify there if they’re new business software or an integration.
What is RAISE, and who can apply?
RAISE is a free AI programme led by Tehnopol for growth-stage SMEs in Estonia, Latvia, Finland and Sweden. Sixteen selected companies get mentoring and up to €14,000 of funded AI development support with a matched provider. Applications close on 20 November 2026.
- Cost to you
- Free
- What you get
- Mentoring, and up to €14,000 of funded AI development support with a matched provider
- Places
- 16 companies across Estonia, Latvia, Finland and Sweden
- Who it’s for
- Growth-stage SMEs, generally up to five years old, with market presence and some revenue
- Deadline
- 20 November 2026
What should I check before applying for an EIS grant?
Check five things first: your revenue, your de minimis balance, e-invoicing, the training course, and that no work has started. If one of them fails, you may not qualify, or some of your costs may not count.
- Revenue. At least €50,000 on average for the software grant, or €200,000 for the larger grants.
- De minimis balance. Your de minimis aid over three years, including the new grant, stays under €300,000.
- E-invoicing. You’ll use e-invoices by the end of the project.
- Training course. Someone at the company has completed the free digitalisation course.
- Nothing started yet. Generally, apply first and don’t sign binding orders before you submit. Check the regulation for your grant.
Where does Seestemic fit in?
We set up AI teammates that take repetitive jobs off a small business’s plate. Many useful AI teammates cost less than a grant process.
Our founding pilot is €500 one-time for our first 5 clients (normally from €1,500). See what an AI teammate does. We don’t apply for grants on anyone’s behalf; your company applies itself. In a free 30-minute review, we’ll tell you honestly whether a grant is worth it for your case.
Frequently asked questions
Is the EIS AI adoption grant still open?
No. EIS closed the grant for adopting artificial intelligence on 24 August 2026 at 16:00, because applications exceeded its €2 million budget. It offered €20,000 per project with 20% self-financing for companies with at least €200,000 revenue. As of 22 October 2026, EIS has not announced a new round.
What EIS grant can a small business use for software or AI in 2026?
As of 22 October 2026, the main option is EIS’s RTE grant for software implementation and integration. It’s open on a rolling basis until its €1 million budget runs out, pays €2,000–€5,000 with 50% self-financing, and needs at least €50,000 average revenue over the last two years. AI tools may qualify if they’re new business software or an integration.
Do I need a digital consultant for the EIS software grant?
Yes. Involving a digital consultant (diginõustaja) is mandatory. The consultant must have done at least three similar advisory projects in the four years before your project. Their fee can be covered, but it can make up at most 50% of the grant.
What else do I need to qualify for the RTE software grant?
You need to be in the Estonian Commercial Register, have at least €50,000 average revenue over two years, and have someone who has completed the free “Ettevõtte digitaliseerimise koolitus” course. You also need to use e-invoicing by the end of the project and stay under the €300,000 de minimis limit.
Does the EIS grant cover software licences?
The RTE software grant covers a one-off licence purchase or joining fee, plus integration development and the digital consultant. It doesn’t cover upgrading software you already use, hardware, or VAT. Monthly subscriptions beyond the one-off cost aren’t listed as eligible.
What if my revenue is under €50,000?
Then none of EIS’s current digital grants fit, as of 22 October 2026. Options are RAISE (if your company is growth-stage and generally up to five years old) or starting small with your own budget. A small AI setup often costs less than the paperwork of a grant.
What is RAISE and when is the deadline?
RAISE is a free Tehnopol-led AI programme for growth-stage SMEs in Estonia, Latvia, Finland and Sweden. Sixteen selected companies get mentoring and up to €14,000 of funded AI development support with a matched provider. Applications close on 20 November 2026.
Can I start the work before applying?
Generally, no. Apply first and don’t sign binding orders before you submit, or the costs may become ineligible. Check the grant regulation for your measure.
Can Seestemic apply for the grant for me?
No. The company applies itself, in Estonian, through EIS’s E-toetus environment. Seestemic can help you work out whether AI is worth doing at all, in a free 30-minute review.
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For official answers about EIS grants, contact EIS customer service at klienditeenindus@eis.ee or +372 627 9700.
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