Italy allocates 505 million euros for R&D in southern regions

The Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy has established the operational terms for the ‘Scoperta imprenditoriale II (2026)’ initiative. This program allocates over 505 million euros to support research and development projects across the southern regions of Italy, including Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, Puglia, Sardegna, and Sicilia.

The funding aims to drive industrial research and experimental development for product, process, and service innovation. Projects must align with fundamental enabling technologies or the National Strategy for Smart Specialization (SNSI).

Financial support will follow a mixed structure combining subsidized loans with non-repayable grants. Non-repayable grants vary by entity size: up to 40% for small businesses, 35% for medium enterprises, 30% for large companies, and up to 60% for research organizations. Pre-filling of applications begins on September 24, 2026, with the official submission window opening on October 7, 2026.