Sustainable Investments 4.0

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Financial allocation

The total allocation is 447,595,808.76 euros.

25% of the resources are reserved for programs submitted by micro and small enterprises.

Beneficiaries

Applications may be submitted by Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises, including foreign companies carrying out investments in a production unit located in the eligible territories.

Eligible projects

Innovative and sustainable investment programs are eligible for funding if they aim to:

• expand the production capacity of an existing unit;
• diversify production by introducing products not previously manufactured;
• implement a fundamental change in the production process;
• establish a new production unit.

The program must involve the use of technologies linked to the Transition 4.0 Plan, and the related expenses must be predominant compared to the total eligible costs.

Eligible 4.0 technologies

The technologies covered include:

artificial intelligence; additive manufacturing; advanced manufacturing solutions; simulation; big data and analytics; Internet of Things and Industrial Internet; augmented reality; cybersecurity; blockchain; cloud; and horizontal and vertical system integration.

For evaluation purposes, at least 50% of the proposed expenses must be attributable to the eligible 4.0 technologies to meet the minimum threshold required for the quality of the proposal.

Eligible sectors

Eligible activities include manufacturing activities and specific business services.

For the manufacturing sector, Section C of the ATECO 2025 classification is eligible, subject to the exclusions provided for by European regulations.

Eligible services include, for example, computer programming and consulting, telecommunications, software, data processing and hosting, research and development, management consulting, engineering, logistics, advertising, and market research.

Program budget

Eligible expenses must be between:

750,000 euros and 5,000,000 euros

Eligible expenses

Eligible expenses primarily include:

• new machinery, systems, and equipment;
• masonry work, up to 40% of eligible costs;
• software and licenses related to the program's tangible assets;
• acquisition of environmental certifications;
• specialized consulting for the implementation of 4.0 technologies, within the established limits;
• energy audits, for energy efficiency programs and in permitted cases.

Form and intensity of aid

The incentives can cover a total of up to 75% of eligible expenses, through:

• 35% capital grant;
• 40% subsidized loan.

The subsidized loan is repaid interest-free, within a maximum period of 7 years, with semi-annual installments.

Project duration

The program may be started only after the application has been submitted.

Investments must be completed within 18 months from the notification of the grant award, with the possibility of obtaining a justified extension of up to an additional 6 months.

Selection procedure

The procedure is a rolling evaluation.

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Application submission

Applications can be submitted starting from 10:00 AM on October 6, 2026.

Territorial scope

Investments must be made in the following regions:

Sardinia, Sicily, Apulia, Calabria, Campania, Basilicata, and Molise.

How can Export Concept help you?

Export Concept assists companies in the preliminary verification of economic and size requirements, the analysis of the eligibility of investments and 4.0 technologies, the structuring of the investment plan, and the preparation of the application. We also support the company in project management, disbursement requests, and expense reporting until the completion of the investment.

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