The Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy has defined the timeline and application procedures for the new call dedicated to Innovation Agreements, aimed at financing high–technological-impact industrial research and experimental development projects. Applications may be submitted online from January 14, 2026 (10:00 a.m.) to February 18, 2026 (6:00 p.m.) through the Sustainable Growth Fund platform managed by Mediocredito Centrale.
The total funding amounts to €731 million and is allocated to initiatives in the strategic areas identified by the Ministerial Decree of September 4, 2025: automotive and transport competitiveness, robotics, semiconductors, and advanced materials (€530 million), as well as quantum technologies, telecommunications, submarine cables, and virtual and augmented reality (€201 million).
The 34% of the resources is reserved for projects fully implemented in the regions of Southern Italy.
Eligible applicants
Enterprises carrying out industrial or transport activities pursuant to Article 2195 of the Italian Civil Code (including craft businesses and ancillary companies), as well as research centers, are eligible to apply for the incentives.
Projects may also be submitted jointly by up to five co-applicants, with a lead applicant identified among the enterprises or research centers.
Each applicant may submit only one application as a single beneficiary or as lead partner, but may participate as a co-applicant in multiple initiatives, within the limit of 60% of its turnover. Research organizations may take part in multiple projects through different autonomous organizational units.
Projects and technological areas
Eligible projects include industrial research and experimental development activities aimed at the creation of new products, processes, or services, or at the significant improvement of existing solutions.
The initiatives must fall within one or more of the technological areas set out in the Ministerial Decree of September 4, 2025.
The eligible project areas include:
- Automotive and industrial competitiveness in the transport sector, broadly defined, including road, rail, aeronautical and naval vehicles, special-purpose vehicles, logistics, and advanced mobility systems.
- Robotics and intelligent systems, including advanced automation solutions, mechatronics, and autonomous systems.
- Semiconductors and advanced electronics, from design through to integration into industrial processes.
- Advanced materials and technologies for new industrial applications.
- Quantum technologies, including devices, algorithms, and enabling architectures.
- Telecommunication networks and digital infrastructures, including secure, high-performance networks and advanced connectivity solutions.
- Submarine cables and advanced transmission systems.
- Virtual and augmented reality applied to production processes, training, simulation, and design.
Projects must be carried out at one or more local units located within the national territory and must demonstrate a significant technological impact consistent with the objectives of the measure.
Eligible costs
Eligible expenses include research and development costs incurred at the production units where the project is carried out. In particular, the eligible costs include:
- Technical staff, researchers, and other support personnel directly involved in research and development activities;
- Newly purchased tools and equipment, limited to the depreciation share corresponding to their use during the project period;
- Contract research and specialized consulting services, including services provided by research organizations and third-party companies;
- Acquisition of knowledge and rights, including research results, patents, licenses, know-how, and other intangible assets instrumental to the development activities;
- Prototypes and pilot products, in accordance with the conditions applicable to industrial research and experimental development;
- General overhead costs, recognized on a flat-rate basis in accordance with the criteria set out in the Director’s Decree;
- Materials and components used for testing, validation, and experimental activities.
Double funding of the same expenses is not permitted under any circumstances.
Aid intensity
The incentives are granted in the form of direct grants, and for enterprises also as soft loans of up to 20%.
The maximum grant intensities are as follows:
- 45% for small companies
- 35% for medium-sized companies
- 25% for large companies
Research organizations may receive funding exclusively in the form of grants: 50% for industrial research and 25% for experimental development.
An additional 15 percentage points is granted in cases of effective collaboration with SMEs or research organizations, or for projects fully carried out in less developed regions.
The application
For the application to be deemed eligible, it must be complete in all its parts and include:
- Technical data sheet
- Project development plan
- Collaboration agreement (for collaborative projects)
The Managing Authority carries out the evaluation of the projects ranked in eligible positions on the list, assessing:
- The technical and financial soundness and eligibility of the applicant;
- Consistency of the project with the objectives and regulatory framework;
- Technical and economic–financial feasibility;
- Technical quality and impact of the research and development activities;
- Relevance and appropriateness of the proposed costs.
In the event of a positive outcome, the Innovation Agreement is executed and subsequently followed by the issuance of the grant award decree.
The Innovation Agreement is entered into by the Ministry, the project proponents, and any co-funding public authorities that have joined a Framework Agreement.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted exclusively online, from 10:00 a.m. on January 14, 2026 to 6:00 p.m. on February 18, 2026, through the Managing Authority’s platform: https://fondocrescitasostenibile.mcc.it
Submission through any other means will result in the application being deemed inadmissible. Proposals are admitted to the evaluation phase based on their position in the two ranking lists established under Article 9 of the Ministerial Decree of September 4, 2025.
Ranking and evaluation
The evaluation process follows two ranking lists based on economic and financial soundness indicators. The order of submission does not affect the ranking. In the event of a tie, priority is given to the project with the lower eligible cost. Collaborations with research organizations are considered only if they account for at least 10% of the eligible project cost.
More information:
- Read the full announcement on the MIMIT website: https://www.mimit.gov.it/it/notizie-stampa/accordi-per-linnovazione-2026
- Consult the dedicated FAQ page: https://www.mimit.gov.it/it/incentivi/accordi-per-linnovazione
To enquire:
- For information on application submission and technical support: info_domandefcs@mcc.it
- For information on project implementation and reporting: info_fcs@mcc.it
- For regulatory inquiries: accordi.innovazione@mise.gov.it
Does your company have a project idea to submit and need a partner? You’re in the right place.
Quin is a strategic and execution-focused consulting firm providing technology-driven solutions in Operations & Supply Chain Management and Business Performance Management, and can work alongside your company in delivering your digital transformation project within the framework of the Innovation Agreements 2026.
| ✅ WHAT WE CAN SUPPORT YOU WITH | ❌ WHAT WE CANNOT SUPPORT YOU WITH |
| We support the technical, digital, and organizational definition of innovation projects. | We do not provide consulting support for drafting or completing the funding application. |
| We support companies in the development of the solutions to be implemented within the project. | We do not assess eligibility requirements for funding calls. |
| We contribute to the operational design and planning of transformation activities. | We do not manage the administrative or documentation procedures of the funding call. |
| We provide specialized expertise and an end-to-end approach to deliver the project. | We do not provide support for the submission, upload, or transmission of applications. |
| We work alongside the company in the concrete implementation of the funded project. | We do not provide regulatory or interpretative advice on incentive schemes. |
For the aspects we do not handle directly – specifically those related to funding calls and public notices – such as eligibility verification, application preparation, and documentation management – we work with specialized partners who can support companies throughout the entire application process.
