Smart&Start Italia
Invitalia (Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy) · Zero-interest loan + grant
VariesZero-interest loan covering 80% of eligible costs (90% if all-women/under-36 team or a PhD returning from abroad); startups in Centre-South Italy also get a 30% non-repayable grant
Italy's main incentive for new high-tech innovative startups: interest-free financing plus a grant component in Southern regions.
Key terms
- Small innovative startups registered ≤60 months in the special section of the Business Register
- Also open to teams of individuals, foreign citizens with Italy Startup Visa, and foreign companies opening an Italian site
- Main aid is a loan (must be repaid) — grant portion only in Centre-South regions
- Open 'sportello' (first-come, no deadline); evaluation within 60 days
Eligibility
- Where
- Italy
- Stages
- idea, pre-seed, seed
- Max company age
- 5 years
- Needs VC/accelerator backing
- No
- Needs partner referral code
- No
- Must be incorporated
- No
- AI focus required
- No
- Students / researchers
- Not eligible
- Nonprofits
- Not eligible
Also required
- New regulation from Sept 2026 pending implementing circular — check current rules
How to apply
Apply via Invitalia's personal area online with the required business plan documents.
- Benefit
- mixed
- Equity-free
- Yes
- Decision time
- —
- Credit validity
- —
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Status
- Open
Verified 2026-10-22 · source