Collaboration for Innovation – Sardinia Region

Purpose and objectives

The call supports business collaborations in the implementation of innovation projects aimed at increasing skills and introducing process, product, organizational, and market innovations.

Financial resources

The total budget allocated to business collaborations is 3,000,000 euros.

Beneficiaries

Applications may be submitted by collaborations consisting of Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises, in the form of a network entity, equipped with a common body with representation powers and legal personality.

Collaborations must be composed of at least 3 companies and each company may participate in only one aggregation. The project must produce results that benefit all participating companies.

Participation is also permitted for Network entities not yet established at the time of application. In this case, the companies must submit a letter of intent and commit to formally establishing the network within 60 days of notification of the evaluation results.

Eligible activities

Funding is available for Innovation projects carried out jointly by the companies in the aggregation, aimed at introducing product, process, organizational, and market innovations.

Eligible sectors

For aggregations, economic activities belonging primarily to the following sectors are eligible:

• manufacturing;
• construction;
• transportation and warehousing;
• publishing and content production;
• telecommunications, programming, and IT consulting;
• professional, scientific, and technical activities;
• arts, entertainment, and recreation.

Project budget

The project must have a financial scale between:

150,000 euros and 300,000 euros.

Eligible expenses

Expenses are eligible for:

• personnel, up to a maximum of 15% of the costs related to services and goods;
• consulting and innovation support services;
• tangible and intangible assets necessary for project implementation, such as machinery, equipment, instrumentation, software, patents, licenses, and know-how;
• overhead costs, recognized at a rate of 7% of direct costs.

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Form and intensity of aid

The grant is provided in the form of a non-repayable grant equal to 100% of eligible expenses.

The aid is granted in compliance with the De Minimis regime.

Project duration

Projects must be completed within a maximum of 18 months and, in any case, no later than March 31, 2029.

Selection procedure

The procedure is an open-window evaluation.

Application submission

The final deadline is November 30, 2026. IMPLEMENTING PROVISION IMPLEMENTING PROVISION

Territorial scope

Sardinia Region.

How can Export Concept help you?

Export Concept supports business clusters in verifying eligibility requirements, in the establishment and structuring of the Network entity, in defining the Innovation Project and work plan, in identifying eligible expenses and suppliers, and in preparing the application. We also support the network in project management, disbursement requests, and expense reporting until the completion of the project.

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