Sustainable Investments 4.0, Call for Proposals 2025

The Ministry of Business and Made in Italy has defined, with a specific directorial provision , the methods for opening the facilitation desk and the procedures for submitting applications within the scope of Sustainable Investments 4.0.

The measure aims to support the technological and digital transformation, competitiveness and sustainable growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the regions of Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, Puglia, Sicily and Sardinia.

The Invitalia online counter , the body managing the measure on behalf of the Ministry, will officially open on 20 May 2025. The application submission process will be divided into the following phases:

• filling out the application , starting from 10.00 on 30 April 2025;
• submission of the application for access to the benefits, starting from 10.00 on 20 May 2025.

Eligible expenses

The expenses strictly functional to the implementation of the investment programs referred to in Article 6 of the Ministerial Decree of 22 November 2024, relating to the purchase of new tangible and intangible assets , as defined in Articles 2423 and following of the Civil Code, which concern:

• machinery, plants and equipment
• masonry works, within the limits of 40% of the total eligible costs
• computer programs and licenses related to the use of the material goods referred to in letter a)
• acquisition of environmental certifications.

The measure also allows, pursuant to and within the limits of Article 18 of the GBER Regulation, expenses for consultancy services. Specifically, the following are allowed:

• expenses for advanced specialist consultancy services relating to the application of one or more of the enabling technologies referred to in Annex 1 of the Ministerial Decree of 22 November 2024 within the limits of 5 percent of the amount of eligible expenses relating to the goods referred to in paragraph 1, letters a) and c) of the aforementioned decree
• expenses relating to consultancy services aimed at defining the energy diagnosis referred to in Legislative Decree 4 July 2014, n. 102 relating to the production unit subject to energy efficiency measures within the limits of 3 percent of the total amount of eligible expenses for the programs referred to in Article 6, paragraph 2, letter b) of the Ministerial Decree of 22 November 2024 only.

The measure, with a financial allocation of 300,488,426.61 euros .

The incentives will be granted as a priority to initiatives that will significantly contribute to the achievement of the climate and environmental objectives set by the EU and to those aimed at supporting the company's transition towards a circular, sustainable and energy efficient economy model.

The enabling technologies underlying the funding requests are, among others:

• advanced manufacturing solutions,
• additive manufacturing,
• augmented reality,
• simulation,
• horizontal and vertical integration,
• Internet of Things,
• Industrial Internet,
• cloud,
• cybersecurity,
• big data and analytics,
• Artificial intelligence,
• blockchain , in line with the Transition Plan 4.0.

The incentives, while maintaining the overall coverage of eligible expenses equal to 75% , will be provided in the form of a contribution towards the cost of equipment and subsidized financing, with a prevalence of the subsidized financing (40% of expenses) over the contribution towards the cost of equipment (35% of expenses), without distinctions based on the size of the company.