The MIMIT ecently announced the approval of two decrees providing 108 million euros in funding for the program "Smart&Start Italia", an initiative that aims to support the creation and growth of innovative startups in our country.
The aim of this measure is to promote entrepreneurial projects in the digital economy, artificial intelligence, blockchain and Internet of Things. The incentive, managed by Invitalia on behalf of the ministry, is intended for small innovative startups that have been established for no more than 60 months. It is open both to groups of people who wish to start an innovative startup and to foreign companies that intend to establish at least one office in Italy. In addition, projects can be carried out in collaboration with research organizations, incubators, business accelerators and Digital Innovation Hubs.
The decrees signed by the ministry include the allocation of 8 million euros from the "Fund for Sustainable Growth" for investments by innovative startups located in various regions, including Valle d'Aosta, Piedmont, Lombardy, Liguria, Veneto, Trentino Alto Adige, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio, Marche and Abruzzo. In addition, have been allocated 100 million euros from the National Program "Research, Innovation and Competitiveness for the Green and Digital Transition 2021-2027" to support innovative business initiatives in the regions of Molise, Campania, Puglia, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily and Sardinia.
The Ministry commented on the importance of this funding for the Smart&Start program, emphasizing support for the growth of startups and innovative entrepreneurial activities by young people under 35 and women, with a special focus on southern Italian regions.
