Open Call: Digital Vouchers Programme 2026 (Malta)

The Digital Vouchers Programme 2026 provides financial support to Maltese registered legal entities to accelerate digital innovation, improve data readiness, support regulatory compliance, and encourage adoption of advanced digital technologies. The programme offers four voucher schemes with funding of up to €25,000 for projects related to data preparation, open and synthetic data, AI and digital regulatory assessments, and participation in the MDIA Technology Assessment Recognition Framework (TARF) and Sandbox.

About the Digital Vouchers Programme 2026

The Digital Vouchers Programme 2026 is a funding initiative designed to support organisations in Malta that are developing digital projects and adopting innovative technologies.

The programme is funded by Xjenza Malta and the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA) and complements the Digital Innovation Programme by expanding access to digital transformation support across different sectors.

The initiative aims to help organisations improve digital capabilities, strengthen data management practices, meet regulatory requirements, and participate in technology assessment frameworks.

Objectives of the Programme

The Digital Vouchers Programme focuses on:

Supporting digital innovation projects across sectors.
Improving organisational data readiness.
Encouraging the creation and use of open data.
Supporting the development of synthetic data solutions.
Helping organisations assess AI and digital product compliance.
Promoting participation in MDIA technology assessment programmes.
Increasing adoption of trusted digital technologies.

Who is Eligible?

The programme is open to:

Maltese registered legal entities.
Public sector organisations.
Private sector organisations.
Academic institutions.

Eligible applicants must apply as sole applicants and must be legally registered in Malta.

The programme supports organisations seeking to develop digital solutions, improve data capabilities, or assess technology compliance requirements.

Digital Voucher Categories

The programme provides four different voucher schemes.

Data Readiness Voucher

The Data Readiness Voucher supports organisations in preparing and improving their data assets for digital innovation projects.

Eligible activities may include:

Data labelling.
Data cleaning.
Data digitisation.
Data organisation and mapping.
Alignment with recognised data schemas.
Improvement of data quality standards.

Funding Support

The voucher provides:

Base grant: €14,000.
Additional top-up: €6,000 for projects in priority sectors.

Priority sectors include:

Finance.
Transport.
Health.

Maximum available funding:

Up to €20,000 per project.

Project duration:

12 months.

Build Voucher

The Build Voucher supports organisations in creating open data resources and generating synthetic datasets.

The voucher aims to improve access to quality data and encourage innovation through responsible data sharing.

Supported activities include:

Providing open datasets.
Creating synthetic data.
Developing data access solutions.
Improving data availability for innovation.

Funding Support

The voucher provides:

Base grant: €12,000.
Additional €3,000 top-up if datasets are accessible through API standard formats.
Additional €5,000 top-up for projects in priority sectors.

Priority sectors include:

Finance.
Transport.
Health.

Maximum available funding:

Up to €20,000 per project.

Regulatory Assessment Voucher

The Regulatory Assessment Voucher helps organisations understand digital technology compliance requirements.

The voucher supports assessments related to:

Whether a system qualifies as an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system.
Whether a product contains digital elements covered by the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA).
Applicable risk categories.
Required regulatory compliance measures.

Funding Support

Maximum funding available:

Up to €1,000.

This voucher helps organisations identify regulatory obligations before developing or deploying digital solutions.

TARF/MDIA Sandbox Voucher

The TARF/MDIA Sandbox Voucher supports organisations interested in joining Malta Digital Innovation Authority technology assessment programmes.

The voucher helps organisations participate in:

MDIA Technology Assessment Recognition Framework (TARF).
MDIA Sandbox programme.

The MDIA Sandbox represents the Level 1 component of TARF.

Funding Support

Maximum funding available:

Up to €25,000.

This support helps organisations test, validate, and assess innovative digital technologies within a structured framework.

Why the Digital Vouchers Programme Matters

Digital transformation requires organisations to develop strong data practices, adopt emerging technologies, and comply with evolving regulations.

The programme helps organisations by:

Reducing financial barriers for digital innovation.
Supporting responsible AI adoption.
Improving data quality and accessibility.
Encouraging technology experimentation.
Strengthening Malta’s digital innovation ecosystem.

How the Voucher Programme Works

Organisations can access support through one of the four voucher categories depending on their digital innovation needs.

The general process includes:

Identify the relevant voucher category.
Develop a digital project aligned with programme objectives.
Prepare required application information.
Submit the application as a Maltese registered legal entity.
Implement approved activities within the specified timeframe.
Complete project reporting requirements.

How to Choose the Right Voucher

Organisations should select the voucher based on their project goals.

Choose the Data Readiness Voucher if the project requires:

Data preparation.
Data cleaning.
Data quality improvement.

Choose the Build Voucher if the project focuses on:

Open data creation.
Synthetic data generation.
Data accessibility solutions.

Choose the Regulatory Assessment Voucher if the organisation needs:

AI system classification.
Digital product compliance assessment.
Regulatory guidance.

Choose the TARF/MDIA Sandbox Voucher if the organisation wants:

Technology assessment.
Sandbox participation.
Digital innovation validation.

Tips for Applicants

Applicants should:

Clearly define their digital innovation objectives.
Select the most suitable voucher category.
Explain how the project supports digital transformation.
Demonstrate the expected impact of the proposed activities.
Prepare realistic project timelines and budgets.
Ensure all legal registration requirements are met.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Applying under an unsuitable voucher category.
Providing unclear project descriptions.
Failing to explain the digital impact of the project.
Submitting incomplete organisational information.
Ignoring sector-specific eligibility requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the Digital Vouchers Programme 2026?

The Digital Vouchers Programme 2026 is a funding initiative supporting Maltese organisations in digital innovation, data readiness, regulatory compliance, and technology adoption.

2. Who can apply for the programme?

The programme is open to Maltese registered legal entities from public, private, and academic sectors.

3. How many voucher categories are available?

The programme offers four voucher categories: Data Readiness Voucher, Build Voucher, Regulatory Assessment Voucher, and TARF/MDIA Sandbox Voucher.

4. What is the maximum funding available under the programme?

Funding varies by voucher category. The highest available support is up to €25,000 under the TARF/MDIA Sandbox Voucher.

5. What does the Data Readiness Voucher support?

It supports activities such as data cleaning, labelling, digitisation, and improving data quality standards.

6. What is the purpose of the Regulatory Assessment Voucher?

It helps organisations determine AI system classification, Cyber Resilience Act applicability, and regulatory compliance requirements.

7. Can organisations from different sectors apply?

Yes. Eligible entities from public, private, and academic sectors can apply, with additional support available for priority sectors such as finance, transport, and health.

Conclusion

The Digital Vouchers Programme 2026 provides important financial support for organisations in Malta seeking to strengthen digital capabilities, improve data management, adopt innovative technologies, and meet regulatory requirements. Through targeted voucher schemes, the programme encourages responsible digital transformation and supports the growth of Malta’s innovation ecosystem.