Italy’s Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy has made €505,801,524.89 available for the “Scoperta imprenditoriale II” programme. The scheme, governed by a ministerial decree of 19 May 2026, funds industrial research and experimental development. The budget is not money already awarded to firms.

Projects must be carried out in the less developed Mezzogiorno regions: Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, Puglia, Sardinia and Sicily. They must align with the National Smart Specialisation Strategy or identify new technological trajectories. This is not a call open to the whole of Italy.

An eligible project must be worth between €1 million and €5 million, and last between 18 and 36 months. Projects must be carried out collaboratively: either jointly, with at most three proponents, or by an SME with external research services of at least 10% of costs. It is not a call for a lone firm with no collaboration.

The guided application form is available on the Sustainable Growth Fund platform from 24 September 2026. Electronic filing opens on 7 October 2026, between 10:00 and 18:00 on working days, at fondocrescitasostenibile.mcc.it. Pre-completion must not be confused with the opening of the counter.

The existence of a budget does not guarantee funding. Projects will be assessed. For accurate reporting, the total of more than €505 million is distinct from the amount that can go to a single project.

Interested companies should check the decrees, the ministry FAQs and any later updates before filing. The timetable on the MIMIT page remains the reference, not a press summary.

Image: Farubino, Sassi of Matera, 6 September 2011, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons. A Basilicata landscape in an eligible region, not a funded project. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: Scoperta Imprenditoriale 2026 — Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy.