Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy Allocates €500 Million to Support Innovation in Southern Enterprises

en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (Ministero delle Imprese e del made in Italy) has announced innovation incentives for enterprises in Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, Apulia, Sardinia, and Sicily, focusing on the development of key enabling technologies. The measure, confirmed by a decree signed by Minister Adolfo Urso, is funded from previous planning surpluses totaling approximately €500 million, of which €280 million is allocated for concessional financing and €225.8 million for non-repayable grants.

Enterprises can utilize the incentives to launch and advance projects aimed at creating or achieving "significant" improvements in products, processes, or services. Priority areas include Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, Blockchain, Supercomputing, Quantum Technology, Advanced Digital Technologies, and Deep Tech.

The incentives target small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), startups, micro-enterprises, and enterprise networks (reti di imprese) in Southern Italy, allocated according to the National Smart Specialization Strategy (Strategia nazionale di specializzazione intelligente), with 60% of resources directed to SMEs and 25% to micro and small enterprises. According to the official announcement, the incentives include concessional financing covering up to 40% of eligible costs; direct expenditure subsidies of up to 40% for small enterprises, up to 35% for medium-sized enterprises, and up to 30% for large enterprises. For research institutions, direct subsidies for industrial research activities cover up to 60% of eligible expenses, and up to 40% for experimental development activities. The concessional financing term ranges from 1 to 8 years, may include a pre-amortization period of up to 3 years, and requires no guarantees.

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