The Innovative Machinery measure is the facility made available by the Ministry of Economic Development with the aim of supporting the implementation, in the less developed regions (Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Puglia and Sicily), of investment programs aimed at enabling the transition of the manufacturing sector towards the so-called “Intelligent Factory”.
The measure supports innovative investments that, in accordance with the national plan “Impresa 4.0” and the National Strategy for Smart Specialization, allow the interconnection between physical and digital components of the production process, raising the level of efficiency and flexibility in the conduct of economic activity, encouraging the purchase of machinery, equipment and facilities strictly functional to the implementation of investment programs, as well as computer programs and licenses related to the use of these assets.
WHO CAN SUBMIT THE APPLICATION
Micro, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can benefit from the facilitation.
IN WHICH SECTORS
All manufacturing sectors under section C of the ATECO 2007 classification of economic activities are eligible, with the exception of activities related to the following sectors:
steelmaking; coal mining; shipbuilding; synthetic fiber manufacturing; transportation and related infrastructure;
production and distribution of energy and related infrastructures.
WHAT’S FUNDING
Eligible investment programs must:
-provide for expenditures of no less than €500,000.00 and no more than €3,000,000.00;
be carried out exclusively at production units located in the territories of less developed regions;
-provide for the acquisition of systems and technologies related to the thematic area “Intelligent Factory” of the National Strategy of intelligent specialization, as listed in the annexes to the reference legislation.
-The assets covered by the investment program must be new.
The expenses related to investment programs must be:
related to tangible and intangible assets, brand new purchased from third parties;
related to assets used exclusively in the production unit that is the object of the investment program;
paid exclusively in such a way as to allow the full traceability of the operations;
in compliance with Community legislation on the eligibility of expenditure under the programs co-financed by the Structural Funds programming 2014-2020;
completed no later than 12 months from the date of the measure granting the subsidies, without prejudice to the possibility for the Ministry to grant, upon justified request of the beneficiary company, an extension of the deadline for completion of no more than 6 months.
FACILITIES
The facilities are granted for a nominal percentage calculated with respect to the eligible expenses equal to 75%.
The subsidized loan, which is not assisted by particular forms of guarantee, must be repaid by the beneficiary company without interest in a period of up to 7 years from the date of payment of the last installment of the balance of the facilities.
The mix of facilities is divided in relation to the size of the company as follows:
for micro and small enterprises, a 35 % contribution on account of plants and a 40 % subsidized loan;
for medium-sized companies, a 25% contribution to plant account and a 50% soft loan.
