Industrial development of today is changing the notion of publishing, and therefore it sets complex demands on printing companies. In this technological race, the Croatian printing industry lags behind the solutions of the more developed countries of the European Union (EU). The lack of technology transfer is accompanied by a lack of knowledge transfer. The education system cannot keep up with the pace imposed by the Industrial Revolution 4.0. It is necessary to modernize the production, adapt business processes and carry out continuous improvements. The education of both management and staff will reduce the gap between the technological solutions of today and the processes used in domestic printing. Large financial investments are often needed, but they are often beyond the reach of small businesses. Furthermore, some investments are only profitable in the long run, which complicates the investment decision and widens the gap between modern companies and small businesses. Recognizing this problem, the EU subsidizes entrepreneurs through various programs, to strengthen the competitiveness of their businesses. Croatia has open access to funds, but all indicators show that the funds withdrawn are far below planned. This paper gives an overview of the situation in the printing industry of the leading EU countries, compared to Croatia. Statistics on the withdrawal of funds from European funds have been analyzed, and some of the reasons for underutilization are given. Finally, through the example of a small printing company, a possible process of modernization and reengineering with EU co-financing is described.