The investment program aims for enterprises of any size engaged in industrial, agro-industrial, handicraft, industry service, and research center activities
Applications can also be submitted jointly through a special online procedure starting Nov. 17, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The incentive race is on, but in “green.” Starting at 10 a.m. on Nov. 17, the call opens for applications to access incentives to support research, development, and innovation projects to foster the ecological and circular transition as part of Italy’s Green new deal. Here is who can get them and how.
Eligible projects
The Ministry of Economic Development’s investment program aims at companies of any size that carry out industrial, agro-industrial, artisan, industry service, and research center activities. Eligible projects must comply with the objectives of Italy’s Green new deal, with a focus on six areas: decarbonization of the economy; circular economy; reduction of plastic use and replacement of plastics with alternative materials; urban regeneration; sustainable tourism; and adaptation and mitigation of climate change risks.
Industrial research and experimental development activities must aim to emerge new products, processes, or services or improve existing products, processes, or services. On the other hand, industrialization investments, which are the sole preserve of small and medium-sized enterprises, must be highly innovative and sustainable and aim to diversify production or radically transform the entire production process. In addition, eligible projects must:
- be developed in one or more local units located in Italy;
- count on eligible expenses and costs between €3 million and €40 million;
- Have a duration between 12 and 36 months;
- have started later than applying for access to the incentives.
How to get the incentives
Applications can also be submitted jointly through a special online procedure starting Nov. 17, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. From Nov. 4, however, it will be possible to begin pre-filling the application by accrediting the restricted area on the Sustainable Growth Fund website. But with a distinction:
- companies that submit programs with an amount between 3 million and 10 million euros, for a maximum of three participating companies, will be able to access the incentives through a counter procedure;
- enterprises presenting programs between 10 million and 40 million euros, for a maximum of five participating companies, will be able to access the incentives through a negotiation procedure.
“We support Italian companies in decarbonization and industrial reconversion investments by aiming to achieve an ecological transition guided by common sense and not ideology,” says Economic Development Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti. “The green transformation of production processes is a strategic goal to be pursued and achieved, especially in this period where the effects of the conflict in Ukraine, from high energy prices to the lack of raw materials, jeopardize the productive sustainability of our industry. He concludes that it is essential to take “a pragmatic and constructive approach to protect our businesses and find solutions that can ensure a balance in environmental, social and economic terms.”
