The Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) has launched Entrepreneurial Discovery II (Scoperta Imprenditoriale II), a new funding programme designed to support industrial research and experimental development projects in Southern Italy’s less-developed regions.
The programme provides more than €505 million to promote innovation, strengthen industrial competitiveness and accelerate the development of strategic technologies. Official information is available on the MIMIT website: Entrepreneurial Discovery II (2026) – MIMIT.
The call is open to companies of all sizes, research centres and collaborative partnerships willing to develop research and innovation activities in Southern Italy. Eligible projects must have a total value ranging from €1 million to €5 million, last between 18 and 36 months, and be developed through collaborative partnerships.
The funding scheme combines soft loans and non-repayable grants, with a strong focus on SMEs. In fact, 60% of the available budget is reserved for SMEs and business networks, while an additional share is specifically allocated to micro and small enterprises. Eligible technological areas include:
Applications will open on 7 October 2026, while the online platform for completing the application process will become available on 24 September 2026. Further details can be found in the official call documentation.
EIT Manufacturing South can provide hands-on support throughout the entire application process.
Our team can help you:
In Italy’s fashion and design heartland, a new player is challenging the way we think about waste. CDC Studio, an innovation hub based in San Miniato (Pisa), is pioneering technologies […]
EIT Manufacturing South S.r.l.
Bastioni di Porta Nuova, 21 - 20121 Milan, Italy
VAT & Fiscal Code 11214340967
Register for our newsletter
