Smart & Start Italia

Smart & Start Italia, instituted by DM 24 September 2014 and revised in 2019, supports innovative startups across Italy (registered <60 months in the special section of the Italian Companies Register, classified as small). The instrument finances business plans of EUR 100,000 - 1,500,000 covering tangible and intangible fixed assets, services, and personnel, via a zero-interest loan of 80% of eligible costs (raised to 90% if the startup is wholly female- and/or under-35-led, or includes a doctoral researcher with at least 3 years stable foreign research employment in the last 6 years). For startups in the Mezzogiorno regions (Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, Puglia, Sardegna, Sicilia) only 70% of the financing must be repaid (de facto a 30% grant component). Startups under 12 months also receive technical-management tutoring services (EUR 7,500 north / EUR 15,000 south). Maximum loan term 10 years. Sportello always open. Foreign companies committing to open at least one operational HQ in Italy are also eligible. Natural persons may apply pre-incorporation provided they set up the company within 30 days of admission. Reserved PNRR resources of EUR 10M are earmarked for female-led startups (Decreto interministeriale 24 November 2021).

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.