[REVISION HISTORY]

Italian SME digitalization and entrepreneurship funding

Updated 8 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-19 19:04 UTC → 2026-10-27 13:41 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Italian government and regional authorities continue to implement funding initiatives to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in digital and ecological innovation. Building on the “Voucher Doppia Transizione” programme, the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) has launched the “Cloud & Cybersecurity Voucher” program. Supported by a total fund of €150 million from the 2014-2020 Development and Cohesion Fund, the initiative provides non-repayable grants covering up to 50% of eligible expenses, with a maximum individual contribution of €20,000 and a minimum required expenditure of €4,000. To qualify, applicants must have a connectivity contract with a minimum download speed of 30 Mbps. Notably, €71 million of this fund is specifically reserved for the Mezzogiorno regions, including Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, Puglia, Sardinia, and Sicily. Applications are scheduled for pre-filling starting October 20, 2026, with the official submission window running from November 10, 2026, to January 20, 2027, on a “first-come, first-served basis”. In the Lazio region, local authorities have also allocated €15 million for a digitalization voucher program targeting micro, small, and medium enterprises for projects involving e-commerce, cloud migration, and digital workplace solutions. Innovation and entrepreneurship efforts have expanded through other MIMIT-managed programs. The Smart&Start Italia program has facilitated €65.8 million in private venture capital for startups over four ~~years, utilizing a debt conversion mechanism to turn subsidized loans into grants upon attracting private investment. Additionally, the~~ years. The ‘Scoperta Imprenditoriale II’ program saw high initial demand, with 337 applications submitted on its first day, requesting €635.4 million in subsidies for R&D projects. Other entrepreneurship incentives include Resto al Sud ~~2.0,~~ 2.0 and Autoimpiego ~~Centro-Nord,~~ Centro-Nord. As of August 2026, these measures have seen 1,828 approved applications, resulting in €116 million in disbursements and €138 million in total activated investments. Additionally, the Integrated Self-Employment Plan ~~(PIA), the latter of which~~ (PIA) has approved over 3,200 projects, activating €260 million in investments.

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