We can strengthen the international competitiveness of your business, supporting its digital and ecological transition and consolidating the capital.

New: from 7 August 2025, the measure will also be extended to non-exporting companies belonging to a supply chain.

To all businesses with an international focus, and in particular Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, for investments and strengthening financial stability.

This financing is also for:

• to non-exporting enterprises belonging to a production chain*;
• energy-intensive exporting companies or those that have undertaken certified energy efficiency measures (including those in the process of obtaining an energy audit);
• to companies with interests in the Western Balkans and companies located in areas affected by the floods that occurred from 1 May 2023 onwards;

*measure pursuant to Decree Law 95/2025 on the economy

Duration of the financing: 6 years, of which a 2-year grace period.

A subsidised loan with up to 50% of the total approved amount that may be used to support investments in the Digital and/or Ecological Transition. The remaining 50% may be used instead to consolidate the business’s capital.

Plus, this may be increased up to:

• 70% of the amount approved for businesses whose energy costs have increased by 100%, and that have an export turnover of at least 20% when applying for the loan.
• 80% of the amount approved for Businesses with Interests in the Western Balkans;
• 90% of the amount approved for:
  • Businesses located in areas affected by flooding as from 1 May 2023 identified in Annex 1 of Italian Decree Law 61/2023 and flooding as from 2 November 2023 identified in Annex A of Italian Decree Law 145/2023.
  • Energy-intensive companies or companies that have undertaken certified energy efficiency programmes may allocate this amount, or part thereof, to increasing the share capital of their subsidiaries and providing shareholder loans.

Maximum amount that may be financed: the maximum amount that may be applied for is equal to the lesser of:

• 35% of average revenues resulting from the last two Financial Statements (line item A1 of the income statement);
• €500,000 for Micro Businesses; €2,500,000 for SMEs and innovative SMEs; €5,000,000 for Other businesses
• 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 4/394/2023) available at the bottom of the page.

For applications submitted by 31 December 2026 by energy-intensive companies or companies that have undertaken certified energy efficiency measures, it is also possible to request exemption from providing guarantees** and a non-repayable grant of up to 20%.

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 1 of Law No. 207 of 30 December 2024

• From 9 a.m. on 7 August 2025, it will be possible to access the Portal to complete and submit funding applications relating to the “Digital or Ecological Transition” instrument.
• From 6 p.m. on 6 August until 9 a.m. on 7 August, the Portal will be offline for updating in preparation for opening, and no operations will be possible.
• From 9 a.m. on 16 September 2025, it will be possible to access the Portal to complete and submit funding applications relating to (i) the new instrument “Strategic support for the Indian market”, (ii) the new dedicated conditions for ‘Competitiveness of Italian companies and supply chains in Central or South America’ and ‘Strengthening African markets’, (iii) the new dedicated conditions for strategic markets for ‘Market entry’, ‘Certifications and consulting’, ‘Trade fairs and events’, ‘E-commerce’, ‘Temporary managers’.
• From 6 p.m. on 15 September until 9 a.m. on 16 September, the Portal will be offline for updating in preparation for opening, and no operations will be possible.

Filling out the request

• For the purpose of filling out the application, it is necessary to (i) attach all the necessary Documentation as per the Circular, (ii) indicate the information of the legal representative, (iii) indicate the information of the beneficial owner of the requesting Enterprise, (iv) upload the contract for opening the dedicated current account, (v) Articles of Association of the enterprise. All documents must be digitally signed.
• In any case, the submission of the application does not imply the right to the deliberation/grant of the intervention, which remains subject to the completeness of the application, the existence of the access requirements, the successful completion of the SIMEST preliminary investigation and the actual availability of financial resources, as well as the positive deliberation by the Facilities Committee.