Certification and advisory services

We can strengthen the international competitiveness of your business, assisting with the expenses for advisory services on investing for sustainable growth in international markets.

What’s new: since 25 July 2024, special conditions to assist Italian businesses in Africa*.

All businesses, in particular Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.

The loans will support investments to develop projects for:

• specialist advisory services and feasibility studies for the international expansion of businesses or for digital innovation and technological product innovation with a view to the international expansion of a business’s activities;
• obtaining product certification to protect intellectual property rights, and sustainability and technological innovation certification.

Up until 31.12.2025, if you apply for a loan to develop specialist advisory services/feasibility studies/certification/patents for development in Africa, you can also benefit from special conditions and new expenses that can be financed for the professional training of African staff, both in loco and in Italy, and for any costs related to their travelling expenses, entry and stay in Italy.

Duration of the financing: 4 years, of which a 2-year grace period.

Maximum amount that may be financed: the maximum amount of Subsidised Financing that a Business may apply for is equal to the lesser of:

• 20% of average revenues resulting from the last two Financial Statements (line item A1 of the income statement);
• €500,000;
• Minimum amount equal to €10,000

Maximum grant: up to 10% of the amount of the Subsidised Loan applied for, and in any case up to a maximum amount of €100,000, which is disbursed as an incentive to Applicants if they meet the requirements indicated in the reference documentation (Operating circular 7/394/2023) available at the bottom of the page.

The co-funded grant up to 10% is also extended to businesses that have applied for a loan for a project that focuses on Africa, that may be increased to 20% – up to a maximum of €200,000 – for Italian businesses based in Southern Italian regions.

If the project is in Africa, it is also possible to request exemption from providing guarantees**

View the Contract Proposal template >>. Note: the Contract Proposal will be sent by SIMEST only after approval by the Financial Support Committee; the contract must be signed for acceptance and sent to SIMEST exclusively from the Portal.

 * measure pursuant to Article 10 of Italian Decree Law 89/2024
** measure pursuant to Article 15 of Italian Decree Law 113/2024 and subject to its conversion into law

How to use the portal to submit loan applications

• From 09.00 hours on 25 July 2024, businesses can access the Portal to compile and submit loan applications for the new instrument “Potenziamento dei mercati africani” (“Strengthening African markets”), and for the new conditions dedicated to Africa of the instruments “Inserimento mercati” (“Entry on markets”), “Certificazioni e consulenze” (“Certification and advisory services”), “Fiere ed Eventi” (“Trade fairs and events”), “E-commerce” and “Temporary Manager”.
• From 18.00 hours on 24 July until 09.00 hours on 25 July, the Portal will be offline for updates, in view of the opening, and it will not be possible to use it.

See how to access the Portal

Compiling the application

• To compile the application, you must (i) attach all necessary documentation, as indicated in the Circular, (ii) give details of the legal representative, (iii) give details of the beneficial owner of the Applicant company, (iv) upload the contract of the dedicated current account, (v) upload the articles of association of the company. All documents must be digitally signed.
• In any case, submitting an application will not entitle the applicant to have the financing approved/granted. Approval/granting is subject to the application being complete, access requirements being met, the successful completion of SIMEST’s application review and the actual availability of financial resources, as well as approval from the Financial Support Committee.