ESADE and the Association eApyme have signed an agreement to encourage digital innovation in small and medium-sized firms and the self-employed in Spain. The agreement features the development of a sectoral study on digital transformation in both groups and includes measures for supporting new models of digital transformation, training, and publication of good practices.

The study, which can already count on the participation of more than 1.2 million small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) and the self-employed in Spain who are represented by eAPyme, will analyse the use of information and communications technology and digital transformation. The aim of this report is to encourage the technological development of SMEs and the self-employed through the publication of sectorial information that facilitates decision-making and improved economic competitiveness for the more than 1,547,577 self-employed workers and 1,291,317 SMEs. These groups encompass more than 12,761,909 workers, according to data from the General Directorate of Industry and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. For the development of the report, ESADE and eApyme will launch a range of tasks in various target group sectors.

This initiative is also joined by the Spanish Federation of Food and Beverage Industries (FIAB) and, through eAPyme: the Spanish Logistics Centre (CEL); the Centre for Innovation in Logistics and Road Transport (CITET); the Spanish Confederation of Information Technology, Communications, and Electronics Companies (CONETIC); the Spanish Hotel Industry Federation (FEHR); the Hotel Technology Institute (ITH); the Spanish Craftworkers Organisation; and the two main groups representing the self-employed: the National Federation of Self-Employed Workers (ATA), and the Union of Professional and Self-Employed Workers (UPTA).

Álvaro Carrillo de Albornoz, president of eAPyme and director of the Hotel Technology Institute, stressed that: ‘digital transformation is a business reality for which many Spanish SMEs and self-employed are unprepared. However, customers and the market demand efforts to improve competitiveness’.

Enrique Verdeguer, director of ESADE Madrid, stressed the importance of this type of initiative to encourage digital innovation: ‘this agreement will help small and medium-sized firms, as well as self-employed workers, to use new technologies – and this will help drive ahead the Spanish economy’.