Incentives for projects with prevailing industrial research – Research facilitation fund as per Legislative Decree no. 297/99. – Managing institution: Ministry of University and Scientific and Technological Research

The funding is provided by means of an interest subsidy, calculated as a percentage on the cost of the project, of 25-55% for industrial research and of 10-25% for pre-competitive research. A facilitated loan for up to 15 years, amounting to 70% of the cost of the project, is contemplated. Increased contributions for the expense can be allowed (with corresponding reductions of the facilitated loan portion or of the credit portion with interest subsidy), in relation to the company dimension and/or location, for a maximum further 25% of the project cost.

Research and development - Law 488/92. – Managing institution: Ministry of Productive Activities

Aids provided for by this law are given as capital grants. The contribution is allowed as a percentage of the eligible expense, as highlighted in the table, with possibility of increases whose cumulative value cannot exceed 25%.

Interventions for the support and competitive development of Small and Medium-sized
Enterprises of Friuli Venezia Giulia - Regional Law 04/05

Managing institution: Friulia

The regional law recognizes the important role of SMEs in the economic and social development of the territory. It promotes SMEs innovation capacity, competitiveness, production, qualification and diversification, workplaces quantity, quality and stability, income increase and safety conditions.

Aims:

1. growth in enterprise size 
2. enterprise internationalization 
3. rationalization of enterprise management and organization 
4. spin-offs and start-ups 
5. support to development policies 
6. facing situations of generational succession 
7. facing situations of need for temporary management 
8. corporate governance recapitalization or reorganization 
9. carrying out of internal organizational processes 
10. enhancement of enterprise social responsibility
11. supply of incentives for female participation 
12. creation of enterprise assets

Industrial policy tools for carrying out competitive development projects: 

• strategic advisory services or development programmes oriented towards managerial competence enhancement 
• resort to temporary managers 
• research projects, also in cooperation with universities or public/private research centres 
• resort to technological transfer mechanisms in cooperation with universities, research centres, science and technology parks, EZIT and industrial development consortia

Beneficiaries: 

• SMEs established in any form, individual or associated, having legal headquarters or at least one operative branch in the regional territory, as identified according to their size by EC provisions and by the regional set of rules for adaptation to EC provisions 
• SMEs operating in the sectors mentioned in attachment A of the set of rules approved with Decree of the Regional President no. 0316/ Pres. of 16/09/2005 are excluded if the project tabled is referred to those sectors 
• SMEs operating in the sectors mentioned in attachment B of the set of rules approved with Decree of the Regional President no. 0316/ Pres. of 16/09/2005 are excluded if the project tabled is referred to those sectors, only as far as expenses are concerned, provided for by articles 11 and 12 of the above-mentioned set of rules 
• for aid granted according to EC regulations no. 69/2001 and 70/2001 of the Commission, articles 7 and 8 of the set of rules approved with Decree of the Regional President no. 0316/Pres. state that the valid sector limits are those provided for by the same EC regulations 
• for the purposes of the related competitive development projects, enterprises that can be considered to be start-ups or spin-offs are those present in the register of companies for no longer than 18 months when the contribution request is tabled 
• contribution requests must be tabled in the office 
• processing and assessment of requests are carried out by Friulia SpA.

General regulation regarding innovation, scientific research and technological development – Regional Law 26/05 – Managing institution: Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Authority

The regional law supports development and promotion of research, diffusion of innovation and transfer of knowledge and know-how, also technological, in favour of enterprises, research and innovation centres and the system of Welfare and Public Administration system. According to the law, the following can be defined as innovation:

• renewal or enlargement of product and service range and of associated markets;
• introduction of new manufacturing, procurement, transportation and distribution methods;
• introduction of changes in management, organisation, execution of working activities and personnel training;
• basic research, i.e. research activity aimed at increasing scientific and technical knowledge, not directly related to industrial or commercial objectives;
• industrial or applied research;
• technology transfer;
• pre-competitive development activities.

• Research. technology transfer and innovation centres, with status of autonomous legal entities, promoted and financed by one or more subjects;
• transportation companies;
• public or private universities, research and technology transfer centres and institutions, innovation centres and centres for services to enterprises, having as charter mission the development of research and applied or industrial research, innovation and tchnology transfer;
• companies of professionals holding law requirements, companies supplying services to enterprises, also constituted by organisations having among their objectives the supply of services for innovation, technological transfer or pre-competitive development activities, consortia and consortium companies, including cooperatives, temporary company associations, and other public or private bodies.

The law provides for capital grants, up to the maximum amount allowed by EU regulations, for the creation of:

• applied or industrial research projects aimed to the creation of new products, production processes or services, to the significant improvement of existing products, production processes or services, to the implementation of new methods of production, procurement, transportation and distribution, and to the introduction of changes in management, organisation and execution of working activities;
• pre-competitive development activities, activities of renewal and enlargement of product and service range, implementation of new methods of production, procurement, transportation and distribution, introduction of changes in management, organisation and execution of working activities;
• projects of applied or industrial research and/or of pre-competitive development activities needing installation, enlargement and/or functioning, in the early stage of development, of laboratories and research centres having as objective industrial promotion in sectors with advanced technology and intensive or qualified employment of personnel;
• feasibility and research project studies to be presented to the State or to the European Union, in order to obtain the facilitations provided for research and development on subjects with high systemic impact for regional industrial production structures.

The Regional Administration grants contributions in advance, up to 70% of the contribution amount, only for projects considered to be of a high level by the technical advisory committee for industrial policy, upon presentation by the interested enterprises of suitable guarantee or bank or insurance company guarantee.

Special revolving fund for technological innovation - Law 46/82 – Managing institution: Ministry of Productive Activities

The financing consists in granting a facilitated loan for an amount equivalent to 60% of the cost eligible for the programme for 10 years, and a capital grant equivalent to the difference between the maximum amount allowable (25%) and the amount in Gross Subsidy Equivalent of the facilitated loan. Increased contributions on the expense can be allowed (in relation to dimension and/or location of the enterprise, specific projects within the EU framework programme for research cooperations with universities or public research institutions, etc.) for a maximum further 25% of Gross Subsidy Equivalent of the cost of the project.

To calculate the Gross Subsidy Equivalent, the amount of the facilitated financing and the capital grant allowable, the software provided in the web site of the Ministry of Productive Activities (www.minindustria.it/Dgcii/Legge_46/Leg46.htm) can be used.

Autonomous work – Legislative Decree 185/00 – Title II – Managing institution:

Sviluppo Italia Friuli Venezia Giulia

Subsidised rate financing of 50% of investments up to 15,494 euros.

Non-refundable contribution for investments, equivalent to the difference between the amount of investments deemed to be eligible and the amount of the loan with subsidised interest rate.

Non-refundable contribution for management expenses born during the first year of activity. It can never exceed the amount of 5,165 euros.

Microenterprise – Legislative Decree 185/00 – Title II – Managing institution: Sviluppo Italia Friuli Venezia Giulia

Non-refundable contribution and loan with subsidised interest rate for investments which, as a whole, cover 100% of eligible investments.

Non-refundable contribution for management expenses born during the first year of activity.

Franchising – Legislative Decree 185/00 – Title II. –Managing institution: Sviluppo Italia Friuli Venezia Giulia

Non-refundable contribution and loan with subsidised interest rate for investments which can cover 100% of eligible investments.

Non-refundable contribution for management expenses.

Young enterprises – Supply of goods and services to enterprises – Legislative Decree 185/00 – Title I – Managing institution: Sviluppo Italia Friuli Venezia Giulia

Financing for investments in the form of non-refundable contributions and mortgages with subsidised interest rate.

Financing for management in the form of non-refundable contributions, complying with the de minimis limit of 100,000 euros, to cover management expenses born during the first three years of activity.

Financing for training and/or technical assistance in the form of non-refundable contributions, complying with the de minimis limit, to cover expenses related to specific and general training (in sectors different from agriculture) and technical assistance (in agriculture) to favour the entrepreneurial growth of young people in new companies.

Young enterprises – Supply of services – Legislative Decree 185/00 – Title I – Managing institution: Sviluppo Italia
Friuli Venezia Giulia

Financing for investments in the form of non-refundable contributions and mortgages with subsidised interest rate.

Financing for management in the form of non-refundable contributions, complying with the de minimis limit of 100,000 euros, to cover management expenses born during the first three years of activity.

Financing for training, consisting in non-refundable contributions, complying with the de minimis limit, to cover expenses related to specific and general training.

Start-up of new entrepreneurship in the industrial sector – DOCUP (Single Planning Document), Objective no. 2, 2000-2006, Measure 2.5.2 – Managing institution: Sviluppo Italia Friuli Venezia Giulia

De minimis contributions equivalent to 50% of:

• eligible expenses for tutorial services needed for enterprise start-up,
• expenses related to hire technological equipment, machinery, non management-related software (excluding licenses of use), and furniture strictly related to the enterprise activity, provided to entrepreneurs, upon request, by the incubator

.

Investments fund – Regulation on the fund for incentives to investments – Managing institution: Sviluppo Italia Friuli Venezia Giulia

Maximum contribution of 45% of the overall investment amount deemed to be eligible, for companies located in Friuli Venezia Giulia incubators. Facilitations are allowed up to the maximum amount represented by the de minimis limit (at the moment equivalent to € 100,000 for a three-year period). Enterprises cannot cumulate contributions provided in the form of de minimis aid, even if granted by different subjects and for different expense items, so that the overall amount of this type of facilitations exceeds the limit of € 100,000.00 for a three-year period.

Measures supporting industrial investments in the Region – Regional Law 26/95 – Managing institution: Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region

Facilitated financing equivalent to 90% of eligible programmes for small-sized enterprises, to 80% for medium-sized enterprises and to 70% for large-sized enterprises. No financing is allowed for investments whose value net of VAT is below 206,583 euros. By purchasing obligations, the Regional Authority intends to grant the bank and Friulia-Lis Spa facilitated financial resources to be used for the activation of credit operations and financial leasing operations lasting up to five years. These operations will be allowed to companies with an interest rate encompassing both the regional financing, granted at an interest rate not exceeding 3 percent, and the bank financing, which shall be contracted according to market interest rates.

Measures for the development of mountain areas – Regional Law 35/87 – Managing institution: Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region

The regional law supports the start-up of new initiatives in industry, manufacturing craftmanship and services related to production activities, by providing capital grants up to 40% of the expense deemed to be eligible. The law provision, therefore, supports settlement of production activities and attraction of investments in disadvantaged areas.

Promotion and development of new innovative enterprises – Law 388/00 art. 106 – Managing institution: Mediocredito Centrale

Payments in advance are granted to intermediary subjects credited by the Ministry of Productive Activities, including banks, financial intermediaries and finance companies for innovation and development as per art. 2, paragraph 3 of Law no. 317, dated 5th October 1991, for the temporary acquisition of minority shares in the risk capital of innovative companies. This is made on the basis of positive estimates of the income generated by the potential investment. Payments in advance are granted for the purpose of financing development projects of applicant enterprises. Risk capital shares are acquired by underwriting newly issued shares or minority shares, for no less than 20% of share capital. Payments in advance for shares of risk capital are granted for an amount equivalent to 50% of the overall amount of shares and cannot exceed 2,065,828 Euros. Shares acquired shall be disposed of within a seven-year deadline from the acquisition date.

Interventions for Scientific Research – Law 449/97 – Managing institution: Ministry of University and Scientific and Technological Research

The facilitation consists of a tax credit, also for advance payments and compensations of Personal Income Tax/Company Income Tax/VAT, variable according to the following criteria:

• New hiring of personnel with temporary contracts: unit = €7,747; maximum amount per beneficiary = €30,987;
• New research contracts for research activities outsourced to third parties: unit = 60% of the cost; maximum amount per beneficiary = €129,115;
• New scholarships: unit = 60% of the cost; maximum amount per beneficiary = €25,823;

Repositioning of company managers – Law 266/97; Regional Law 18/05 – Managing institution: Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region

The benefit amounts to 50% of total contribution, due to Social Security Institutions for each manager and for a period of time not exceeding 12 months. The total amount of the intervention shall not exceed 100,000 Euros per company in a three-year period and, in any case, a maximum limit of 50,000 Euros per year.

Interventions for employment – Regulation on interventions for the recruitment of people involved in socially useful works and for actions of active labour policy – Managing institutions: Provinces of Gorizia, Pordenone, Trieste and Udine

• recruitment with open-ended contract of people who were involved in projects of socially useful works;
• recruitment with open-ended contract of people included in mobility lists.

Contributions can be cumulated with the incentives provided for by the laws on mobility, unless these laws explicitly exclude cumulability.

Interventions for highly-qualified subjects – Regional Law 11/2003 - Managing institutions: Provinces of Gorizia, Pordenone, Trieste and Udine

The contribution period lasts one year from the hiring date. The contribution amounts to:

• 10,000 euros for each person hired with open-ended contract
• 9.000 euros for each person hired with temporary contract

Contributions for entering and re-entering the labour market – Regional Operative Programme, Objective no. 3, 2000-2006 – Managing institutions: Provinces of Gorizia, Pordenone, Trieste and Udine

Hiring with open-ended contracts: up to 500 euros per month in case of male personnel, up to 600 euros per month in case of female personnel, up to 800 euros per month in case of disabled personnel.

Imprenderò Project – Regional Operative Programme, Objective no. 3, 2000-2006 – Axis D Measure D3, Axis E Measure E1 – Managing institution: ATI Imprenderò – Headed by Centro Regionale Servizi per la piccola e media industria S.p.A. (Regional service centre for small and medium-sized industry, Plc)

• meetings with school and vocational training operators
• organisation of individual or small group interventions to supply information, orientation and competence assessment, targeted at spin-off processes
• organisation of an integrated system of short information and training seminars on the main themes related to the development of entrepreneurial ideas and to the definition of business plans
• guidance in the phase of development of the enterprise plan and start-up of the enterprise, by means of a personalised advisory and support activity
• guidance in the phase of departure of the new enterprise from the parent company and in the phase of enterprise development, by means of a personalised advisory and support activity (first 2 years)
• counselling and auditing of competences, mainly addressed to successors and aimed at evaluating entrepreneurial attitude and profile of competences needed to generate value in specific businesses
• carrying out of individual interventions of orientation and screening of potential entrepreneurs
• carrying out of activities of entrepreneurial orientation
• allocation of financial incentives to newly-established enterprises.

D4 Project – Regional Operative Programme, Objective no. 3, 2000-2006 – Managing institution: project partner

• Research contributions
• Contributions for undergraduates, for the preparation of final dissertations of an experimental nature, to be carried out in cooperation with a company
• Financing contributions to researchers of the region for their specialisation in national or foreign research structures
• Financial facilitations, for the mobility towards regional enterprises, of researchers coming from the South of Italy and of Friuli Venezia Giulia researchers who are presently working abroad.

National revolving fund for interventions in risk capital, constituted by the 2004 Budget Law – Managing institution: Sviluppo Italia

The resources of the revolving fund can be used to acquire:

• capital shares in enterprises presenting new development programmes. Shares cannot exceed 30% of the company share capital and must be sold within 5 years from the acquisition date.

minority shares of closed mutual funds investing in enterprises. Shares in these funds shall not exceed 30% of the capital of each individual fund.

Incentives for market penetration – Regional Law 2/92 – Managing institution: Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region

Maximum contribution: €150,000.00;
Capital grants allowed up to 50% of eligible expenses.

Contributions to handicraft enterprises for participation to exhibitions and fairs – Regional Law 12/02 – Managing institution: Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region

The amount of the contribution, granted according to the de minimis formula, is of 50% of eligible expenses, net of VAT, within the following limits:

• for initiatives within the regional territory: maximum amount of contribution is 3,000 euros, minimum amount of eligible expenses is 1,000 euros
• for initiatives outside the regional territory: maximum amount of contribution is 10,000 euros, minimum amount of eligible expenses is 1,000 euros

Facilitations for attracting investments in underexploited areas – Law 311/04 – Managing institution: Sviluppo Italia

Subsidised rate loans covering up to 50% of eligible investments (lasting between 5 and 10 years; pre-amortisation not exceeding 3 years).
Non-refundable contributions, granted within the maximum limit of 20% of eligible investments (35% for small and medium-sized enterprises).
Participations to the share capital, temporary and not exceeding 15% of the capital of beneficiary companies (20% for small and medium-sized enterprises).

Participation and financing of foreign company capital – Law 19/91 – Managing institution: Finest

Participation to share capital of foreign enterprises, not exceeding 25%; 40% in case of joint SIMEST and FINEST participation; 49% in the following cases:

• in order to favour the internationalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises within the maximum limit of 260,000 euros for each participation
• in order to favour Italian investments in countries of specific strategic interest for Italy
• in order to favour the participation of Italian enterprises in privatisation processes.

Financial support for financial resources required to invest abroad (not exceeding 25% of total financial commitment – total investment – supplied to the foreign company).

Facilitation of export credits – Legislative Decree 143/98 – Managing institution: Simest

Interest contribution on loans given by Italian or foreign banks. It covers up to 85% of the supply amount; a 15% minimum share must be paid cash by the buyer. Possible expenses abroad must not exceed the limits of the cash share: should they exceed, the amount of financing eligible for the facilitation is limited to 100% of the value of goods and services of Italian origin. If included in the supply amount, the following are considered as goods of Italian origin:

• agency and brokerage fees, up to 5% of the supply
• fees given to marketing companies in relation to buyback and countertrade operations, up to 5% of the supply

subcontracting of goods and services of EU origin, within the limits set by EU regulations.