Innovation Agreements (Accordi per l'Innovazione)

Innovation Agreements (Accordi per l'Innovazione)

Offers Italian manufacturing and service firms partnerships to build industrial innovation projects across regions.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

Accordi per l'Innovazione 2025 is a major Italian state-aid programme administered by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT), channelling a total of EUR 1,080,084,144 into industrial research and experimental development projects. Of this, EUR 879,084,144 is allocated to the thematic areas in Allegato 2 of the Ministerial Decree of 4 September 2025 (manufacturing and digital/telecommunications sectors), while EUR 201,000,000 covers the areas in Allegato 3, which additionally admits service enterprises. Projects must have eligible costs of EUR 5 million to EUR 40 million, run between 18 and 36 months, and start after the date of the incentive application. The aid takes the form of a direct grant and, if requested, a subsidised loan capped at 20% of eligible costs (enterprises only). Grant intensity is 45% for small enterprises, 35% for medium, and 25% for large; a 15-percentage-point bonus applies if the project involves effective collaboration with SMEs, is entirely carried out in less-developed regions, or involves a research organisation bearing at least 10% of costs. Research organisations receive 50% on industrial research and 25% on experimental development.

Eligible applicants are enterprises of any size with at least two approved financial statements, engaged in industrial or craft activities, and research centres. Service enterprises may only participate in Allegato 3 areas. Up to five co-proponents are allowed, including combinations of enterprises and research organisations. The submission window was open from 10:00 on 14 January 2026 to 18:00 on 18 February 2026 via the MCC platform at fondocrescitasostenibile.mcc.it. Initial rankings were approved by Directorial Decree on 6 March 2026 and updated on 13 May 2026 following the allocation of additional resources under the Ministerial Decree of 1 April 2026.

The process is governed by a formal Innovation Agreement (Accordo per l'Innovazione) concluded between MIMIT, the applicants, and any co-financing regional administrations. Following ranking approval, MCC conducts administrative, financial, and technical due diligence. To maximise scoring, proposals should demonstrate genuine technological novelty, financial sustainability, and — where possible — collaboration with SMEs or research bodies or location in less-developed regions to trigger the +15 pp bonus.