There is an open grant in Castilla-La Mancha that covers up to 80% of what you spend on leveling up your business, and many SMEs in the region haven't even heard of it. It's called the SME Growth Voucher, it distributes 9 million euros, and it can provide you with up to €12,000 per project and €60,000 per company. The deadline is June 30, 2027, but that’s misleading: it is processed on a first-come, first-served basis and closes when the money runs out.
Let’s get straight to what you need to know.
What is the SME Growth Voucher?
It is a grant program from the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha for SMEs to hire specialized services that improve their strategic, technical, organizational, and digital capabilities. It stems from Order 116/2026, of July 28, and is part of Axis 2 of the 2024-2027 Forward Plan.
The key is in that word: services. This is not a grant for buying machinery or computers. It is money to pay for expertise that your company doesn't have in-house and needs to take the next step. Diagnostics, plans, analyses, pilots, and roadmaps.
How much can you get, and until when can you apply?
Between 60% and 80% of the eligible expenditure, depending on the score your project receives. If you score over 40 points, you get 80%; if you score below that but still meet the minimum requirements, you receive 60%.
There are two caps: €12,000 per project and €60,000 per company and call. In other words, if you propose a €15,000 project, the grant will be capped at €12,000, even if the percentage would have allowed for more.
The application period opened on September 11, 2026, and closes on June 30, 2027, but the procedure is based on simple concurrence: it is resolved as applications are received and as long as funds remain. With 9 million on the table and more than 125,000 companies in the region, do the math.
A detail that many people overlook: expenses incurred, invoiced, and paid since January 1, 2026, are eligible. If you have already hired a diagnostic or a plan this year, check if it qualifies.
What can you spend the SME Growth Voucher on?
There are four categories, and you can combine several in a single application:
- Strategic and financial planning. Strategic diagnostic, medium-term business plan, internal governance design, cost control, treasury planning.
- Sustainability. Carbon footprint, circular economy, waste management, environmental reports and certifications, ecodesign.
- Strategic internationalization. Target market selection, entry model, setting up an export department, and, pay attention to this, evaluating your digital presence for international expansion.
- Digital transformation. This is where Ocelot is most active, so we have dedicated a separate section to it.
Digital transformation: what is actually covered
Five specific areas: assessment of your company's digital maturity with a priority plan, calendar, and indicators; definition of KPIs and a dashboard to make decisions based on data rather than intuition; detection of repetitive tasks and design of automations, including initial activation to validate they work; selection of artificial intelligence use cases with limited proof-of-concept tests; and risk and security gap review with a cybersecurity improvement plan.
Serious warning: this category is excluded if your main activity is in section C of the CNAE-2025, manufacturing industry. The other three remain available to you.
What does this grant not cover?
This is where half of the expectations fall short. Excluded are VAT, hardware, perpetual licenses and proprietary software, capitalizable developments, general and structural expenses, renewals and recurring fees, and transactions with related companies. For internationalization, trade fairs, showrooms, and travel are also not included.
To be clear: this is not the Digital Kit. You aren't using this to fund a new website or software subscriptions. You are funding the strategic thinking behind them.
Who is eligible and what are the requirements?
SMEs with active economic operations and a physical workplace in Castilla-La Mancha, including associated work cooperatives, labor companies, and joint ownership entities. You must be up to date with tax and social security obligations and not be a company in crisis.
Applications are submitted online with an electronic signature via the regional government's electronic office. Only one application per company is allowed, and it must include a report detailing actions, objectives, a budget breakdown, and a timeline. If the cost exceeds the minor contract threshold, you must obtain three quotes from different providers. Projects must be completed within six months of approval. You can view the full call for applications in the National Subsidies Database.
Where does Ocelot come in?
At Ocelot, we have been authorized Digital Kit agents for years, which means we have real-world experience navigating government files, reports, and justifications. That experience is exactly what you need by your side when tackling this application.
We can be your provider for eligible activities: digital maturity diagnostics, KPI and dashboard definition, automation of repetitive tasks, AI use cases for your business, or evaluating your digital presence for international expansion. We also support you during the preparatory phase, which is where your application score is won or lost: clearly defining the scope, measurable objectives, and budget.
If you think your company qualifies, get in touch and let's look at it together. The funding is available, and it's awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the SME Growth Bonus the same as the Digital Kit?
No. The Digital Kit is a national program where Digital Agents are paid directly from the grant. The SME Growth Bonus is a regional program; the company applies for and pays for the services, and it funds advisory services rather than off-the-shelf solutions.
Can I apply for multiple categories at once?
Yes. You submit a single application per company, and you can include as many actions as you like, up to the €60,000 limit per call.
I am a freelancer; can I apply?
It depends. The grant is aimed at SMEs with a workplace in the region, including joint ownership entities and legal entities without separate legal personality that carry out economic activities. It is not a general grant for all freelancers, so it is best to review your specific case.
What is the actual deadline to apply?
In theory, until June 30, 2027. In practice, until the €9 million budget runs out, as applications are processed in the order they are received.
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