Last updated on 23 September 2022 by the Ministry of Economic Development
You can access various financing schemes in Italy. Below is the list of schemes run by the Ministero dello Sviluppo economico [Ministry of Economic Development]:
Capital assets – Nuova Sabatini
This is a financing scheme designed to facilitate access to credit for businesses and to boost the competitiveness of Italy’s manufacturing sector. The measure supports investments in the purchase or leasing of machinery, equipment, plant, capital assets for manufacturing use and hardware, in addition to software and digital technology.
- Who is eligible? Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
- Who manages the scheme? Ministry of Economic Development with technical support from the Agenzia nazionale per l’attrazione degli investimenti e lo sviluppo d’impresa SpA [National Agency for Inward Investment and Economic Development] – Invitalia.
- How to apply:By following the instructions on the page Beni strumentali ("Nuova Sabatini") – Presentazione domande [Capital assets (‘Nuova Sabatini’) – Applications] (in Italian)
Incentives for businesses to expand and strengthen the social economy
This financing scheme, the result of a joint initiative between the Ministry of Economic Development, Ministero del lavoro e delle politiche sociali [Ministry of Employment and Social Policy] and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, seeks to promote the expansion and strengthening of the social economy by supporting the creation and growth of businesses that operate nationwide in the public interest and for the benefit of society.
- Who is eligible? Social enterprises, social cooperatives and related consortia, as well as cooperatives with non-profit status.
- Who manages the scheme? Ministry of Economic Development with technical support from the National Agency for Inward Investment and Economic Development – Invitalia.
- How to apply: By following the instructions on the page Agevolazioni alle imprese per la diffusione e il rafforzamento dell’economia sociale [Incentives for businesses to expand and strengthen the social economy] (in Italian)
Nuova Marcora – Creation and development of small and medium-sized cooperatives
The ‘Nuova Marcora’ scheme consists of a subsidised loan for cooperatives whose shareholders, under the Legge Marcora [Marcora Law], include the finance companies in which the Ministry of Economic Development has a stake.
- Who is eligible? Cooperatives whose shareholders, under the Marcora Law, include the financial company in which the Ministry of Economic Development has a stake (CFI Scpa).
- Who manages the scheme? CFI – Cooperazione Finanza Impresa Scpa
- How to apply: By following the instructions on the page Nascita e sviluppo di società cooperative di piccola e media dimensione (Nuova Marcora) [Creation and development of small and medium-sized cooperatives (Nuova Marcora)] (in Italian)
Guarantee fund for small and medium-sized enterprises
The guarantee fund for small and medium-sized enterprises is designed to facilitate access to funding for small and medium-sized enterprises by granting a public guarantee which supplements and often replaces the collateral provided by businesses. Thanks to the fund, businesses have a real chance of securing loans without having to provide additional security for the amounts guaranteed by the fund.
- Who is eligible? Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
- Who manages the scheme? Temporary consortia composed of: Mediocredito Centrale (lead bank), Mediocredito Italiano, Artigiancassa, MPS and BFF Bank S.p.A (già DepoBank S.p.A.)
- How to apply: By following the instructions on the page Conosci il Fondo [About the fund] (in Italian)
Businesses previously confiscated or seized from organised crime
Measure aimed at supporting development programmes that restore to the community company assets previously managed by organised crime, developing new manufacturing activities and safeguarding existing jobs. The incentive consists of a zero-rate subsidised loan for up to 100% of the eligible development scheme, for amounts of between EUR 50 000 and EUR 700 000.
- Who is eligible? Businesses of any size operating in all sectors throughout Italy and in the following situations:
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- businesses that have been seized or confiscated from organised crime;
- businesses that have purchased or leased seized or confiscated companies or their business units;
- social cooperatives awarded confiscated immovable property;
- cooperatives of employees of the confiscated business, tenants or assignees of confiscated company assets.
- Who manages the scheme? Ministry of Economic Development with technical support from the National Agency for Inward Investment and Economic Development – Invitalia.
- How to apply: You must apply online via the page Agevolazioni DGIAI [DGIAI incentives], in the section ‘Accoglienza Istanze DGIAI’ [DGIAI applications] (in Italian)
Transfer of guarantees issued by companies or guarantee institutions in liquidation
This measure is aimed at facilitating the transfer of guarantees provided by companies and guarantee institutions placed in liquidation to financially sound and fully operational credit guarantee funds, with a view to minimising the negative impact on Italian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
- Who is eligible? Credit guarantee funds listed in the register of financial intermediaries, which:
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- have applied for or obtained a grant to set up a risk reserve;
- have taken on, as guarantors, guarantees on performing loans previously issued to SMEs by companies and guarantee institutions placed in liquidation. The transfer must have taken place after 28 September 2017.
- Who manages the scheme? Ministry of Economic Development with technical support from the National Agency for Inward Investment and Economic Development – Invitalia.
- How to apply: By following the instructions on the page Subentro in garanzie rilasciate da società o enti di garanzia in liquidazione [Transfer of guarantees issued by companies or guarantee institutions in liquidation] (in Italian)
Subsidised loans for SMEs affected by non-payment
The credit fund for SMEs and professionals affected by non-payment offers zero-rate loans of up to EUR 500 000 for a maximum of 10 years for small and medium-sized enterprises and professionals facing a potential liquidity crisis due to non-payment by debtors charged with criminal offences.
- Who is eligible? SMEs and professionals.
- Who manages the scheme? Ministry of Economic Development with technical support from the National Agency for Inward Investment and Economic Development – Invitalia.
- How to apply: For their applications to be valid, SMEs must apply online at: https://agevolazionidgiai.invitalia.it – ‘Accoglienza Istanze DGIAI’ [DGIAI applications]. (in Italian)
Fund for protection of employment levels and continuation of business activities
The Fund acquires minority stakes in the venture capital of companies in economic and financial difficulties that propose a restructuring plan to ensure business continuity and safeguard employment, and finances restructuring programs also through the transfer of a business.
- Who is eligible?
- companies that have initiated a confrontation at the business crisis structure of the Ministry of Economic Development;
- companies in economic and financial difficulty: pursuant to EU guidelines (paragraph 2.2 of Communication 2014 / C 249/01) or with inadequate prospective cash flows to regularly meet planned obligations (state of difficulty not pursuant to paragraph 2.2 of Communication 2014 / C 249/01);
- companies that meet at least one of the following conditions: owners of historical brands of national interest; joint stock companies with a number of employees exceeding 250 (consolidated figure including temporary workers, apprentices and workers with part-time employment contracts, employed in local units located throughout the country); hold assets and relationships of strategic importance for the national interest, regardless of the number of employees.
- Who manages the scheme? National Agency for Inward Investment and Economic Development – Invitalia.
- How to apply: You may only apply online via the Invitalia website. Fondo Salvaguardia Imprese - presenta la tua impresa [Fund for protection of employment levels and continuation of business activities- Apply] (in Italian)
Development contracts
Incentive mechanism designed to support large-scale manufacturing, strategic and innovative investment programmes.
- Who is eligible? Italian or foreign companies of any size (in accordance with the EU regulations applicable at the time).
- Who manages the scheme? National Agency for Inward Investment and Economic Development – Invitalia, which operates under the instructions and control of the Ministry of Economic Development.
- How to apply: By following the instructions on the page Contratti di sviluppo [Development contracts] (in Italian)
DM 11 giugno 2020 - Research and development projects for the circular economy
Intervention by the “Fund for Sustainable Growth” for research and development projects in the circular economy to support research, development and testing of innovative solutions for the efficient and sustainable use of resources, with the aim of promoting the conversion of production activities towards a circular economy model in which the value of products, materials and resources is maintained for as long as possible, and the production of waste is reduced to a minimum.
- who can participate: Companies of any size that carry out industrial, agro-industrial, artisan, industrial services and research centers, which submit projects individually or jointly.
- who is responsible for managing the programs: National Agency for Investment Attraction and Business Development S.p.A. - Invitalia.
- How to apply: By following the instructions on the page dedicated to Research and development projects for the circular economy (in Italian)
Revitalisation of areas affected by industrial decline (Law 181/89)
Measure aimed at reviving industry, protecting jobs and supporting investment programmes and business development in areas affected by industrial and sectoral decline.
- Who is eligible? Businesses set up in the form of limited companies, cooperatives and consortia. Business networks that have adopted the network agreement model are also eligible.
- • Who manages the schemes? National Agency for Inward Investment and Economic Development – Invitalia.
- • How to apply: By following the instructions on the page Rilancio aree di crisi industriale (Legge 181/89) [Revitalisation of areas affected by industrial decline (Law 181/89)] (in Italian)
Smart & Start
Smart&Start Italia is a facilitation tool established by decree of the Minister of Economic Development of 24 September 2014 and subsequent amendments and additions, to promote, throughout the national territory, the conditions for the spread of new entrepreneurship and support policies for technology transfer and economic exploitation of the results of the public and private research system.
Who is eligible? Innovative startups of small size, located throughout the national territory and consisting of no more than 60 months on the date of submission of the application. Can also apply for a facility the natural persons wishing to set up an innovative startup. In this case, the formation of the company must take place within 30 days from the communication of admission to the facilities. Foreign companies that undertake to establish at least one operation headquartes in Italy can also obtain the facilities.
- Who manages the scheme? National Agency for Inward Investment and Economic Development – Invitalia.
- How to apply: By following the instructions on the page Sostegno alle startup innovative (Smart & Start Italia) [Support for innovative start-ups (Smart & Start Italia)] (in Italian)
New zero-rate businesses
This measure aims to support, throughout Italy, the creation and development of micro and small enterprises with a prevalent or total youth or female participation.
- Who is eligible? Micro and small enterprises consisting of no more 60 months on the date of submission of the application for a facility on which the company by young people between the ages of 18 and 35 or women of all ages.Natural person wishing to set up a new business may also have as long they send the documentation necessary to prove that it has been established within the time limits indicated in the notice of a admission to the facilities.
- Who manages the scheme? National Agency for Inward Investment and Economic Development – Invitalia.
- How to apply: By following the instructions on the page Misure per l’autoimprenditorialità - Nuove imprese a tasso zero [Measures for entrepreneurship – New zero-rate businesses] (in Italian)
Sustainable investments 4.0
Intervention aimed at supporting the implementation, throughout the national territory, of investment programs aimed at enabling the technological and digital transformation of the company or at favoring the transition of the manufacturing sector towards the paradigm of the circular economy, in order to overcome the contraction induced by the Covid emergency and orienting the recovery of investments towards strategic areas for the competitiveness and sustainable growth of the economic system.
- who can participate: Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, duly constituted, registered and active in the business register. For programs characterized by a particular sustainability content, specific evaluation criteria are envisaged, which allow the proposing company to obtain an additional score in the context of the evaluation of the application provided for access to the facilities.
- who is responsible for the management of the programs: Ministry of Economic Development with the technical assistance of the National Agency for the Attraction of Investments and Business Development S.p.A. - Invitalia.
- how to apply: You can follow the instructions on the page Investimenti sostenibili 4.0 (in Italian)
Digital Transformation
Facilitation to support the technological and digital transformation of the production processes of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises through the implementation of projects aimed at implementing the enabling technologies identified in the National Enterprise Plan 4.0 as well as other technologies related to digital supply chain technology solutions.
- Who is eligible? PMI which, on the date of submission of the application, operate predominantly or primarily in the manufacturing sector may benefit from the facilities and/or in that of direct services to manufacturing enterprises and/or in the tourism sector and/or in the commercial sector.
- Who manages the scheme? Ministry of Economic Development with technical support from the Agenzia nazionale per l’attrazione degli investimenti e lo sviluppo d’impresa SpA [National Agency for Inward Investment and Economic Development] – Invitalia.
- How to apply: By following the instructions on the page Digital Transformation (in Italian)
