Sardinia accelerates startups and allocates €500,000 innovation vouchers to SMEs

The Autonomous Region of Sardinia hosted the Sardinia Days 2026 in Cagliari, where 17 local startups presented their projects before a panel that selected five finalists—Private Labs, Pluribus One, MetaCell, Zephorum and Infraware—to compete at the Swiss Days in Zurich from 14‑18 September. The event was co‑organized with the Italian Chamber of Commerce for Switzerland, ICE Bern and Kickstart Innovation. Samuele Porsia, ICE director in Bern, said the initiative demonstrates the vitality of Italy’s innovation ecosystem and the potential of Sardinian startups in competitive markets.

Separately, the Camera di Commercio di Sassari increased funding for its "Voucher Doppia Transizione 2026" programme to €500,000. The vouchers cover up to 70% of eligible costs (maximum €10,000) for micro, small and medium enterprises investing in digital technologies, AI, cybersecurity, energy efficiency and related training. Companies with a legal‑rating or gender‑parity certification receive an additional €500 bonus. Applications must be submitted online by 21 September.