Italy National Measures – Smart and Start Italia

SMART & START ITALIA
Objective	Smart & Start Italia supports the birth and growth of innovative startups throughout the national territory.
Target	• Small-sized innovative startups established no more than 60 months ago and registered in the special section of the Business Register dedicated to innovative startups; • Team of individuals who undertake to set up an innovative startup within 30 days of admission to the facilities; • Foreign companies that undertake to set up at least one office in Italy for foreign citizens in possession of the “startup Visa”. The requirements that qualify a company as an “innovative startup” are indicated in art. 25 of the D.L. 179/2012.
Business activities admitted	The business project must have at least one of the following characteristics: • Characterized by a strong technological and innovative content • Oriented towards the development of products, services or solutions in the field of digital economy, artificial intelligence, blockchain and the internet of things • Aimed at enhancing the results of public and private research and the return of researchers from abroad
Facilitated funding	Finances business plans with expenses between € 100,000.00 and € 1,500,000.00.
Eligible expenses	The following investment costs are eligible: a) New factory plant, machinery and equipment ; b) Hardware and software components; c) Patents, trademarks and licenses; d) Certifications, know-how and technical knowledge directly related to the production and management needs of the company; e) Licenses and rights relating to the use of industrial property rights; f) Licenses relating to the use of software; g) Design, development, customization, testing of IT architectural solutions and technological production systems; h) Specialist technological consultancy; i) Salary costs relating to employees, as well as costs relating to collaborators; j) Business incubation and acceleration services; k) Investments in marketing and web marketing; The following operating costs are eligible: 1) Raw materials; 2) Services necessary for the performance of the company’s activities; 3) Hosting and housing; 4) Use of third party assets.
Facilities	A zero-interest loan is provided without any guarantee for 80% of eligible expenses. The funding reaches 90% if the startup has a team entirely made up of people under 36 and/or women, or if among the partners there is an expert with a PhD (or equivalent) who returns from abroad. Startups based in the seismic crater of Central Italy and in the regions of Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, Puglia, Sardinia and Sicily can enjoy a grant equal to 30% of the loan and thus return only 70% of the funding received. The contribution must be repaid in 10 years starting from the 12th month following the last amount of financing received.
Managing Body	Invitalia
Deadline for submission	Until funds run out
Modality for submission	One-stop shop. There are no calls, deadlines or rankings and funding can be requested until the available resources are exhausted.
Submission	Applications can be sent exclusively online, through the Invitalia web platform. To submit the application it is necessary to have a digital identity (SPID, CNS, CIE), a digital signature and a certified mail address (PEC). The application consists of the business project to be completed online and the documentation to be attached, according to the forms on the site.
Evaluation process	Applications are evaluated in chronological order of arrival within 60 days of the submission date. The preliminary process also includes an evaluation interview to be held online.
Tutoring	Smart & Start provides, in addition to financing, a technical-managerial tutoring for innovative startups established for less than 12 months.
Further Info	https://www.invitalia.it/cosa-facciamo/creiamo-nuove-aziende/smartstart-italia