Up to 70% in non-repayable grants for cloud, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. But rolling-basis calls reward those who arrive prepared.
For years, the digital transformation of Italian small and medium-sized enterprises has run into the same obstacle: cost. That barrier is now easing, as Italian regions — backed by European and chamber-of-commerce funds — are increasingly financing exactly the investments that used to be postponed: cloud infrastructure, information security, process automation, artificial intelligence.
One measure announced in recent weeks illustrates the direction this trend is taking.
Abruzzo: €10 Million from the ERDF
The Abruzzo Region has launched the call “Intervento 1.2.2 – Digitalizzazione delle PMI” (SME Digitalization), funded through the 2021-2027 Regional ERDF Programme with an allocation of €10 million. Eligible applicants include micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, sole proprietorships, and — notably — self-employed professionals with a VAT number, provided they have a registered office or operating unit within the region.
The scope of fundable investments is broad and covers the core of digital transformation: cloud and SaaS services, artificial intelligence solutions, cybersecurity and data protection, IoT, e-commerce, management software, hardware, and specialized consulting tied to the project.
Abruzzo Call — Key Facts
- Funding: non-repayable grant, from 40% to 70% of eligible expenses
- Minimum project size: €10,000
- Maximum grant: €100,000, with the possibility of a 40% advance payment
- Deadlines: applications open from 10:00 AM on September 21 to 10:00 AM on October 12, 2026
- How to apply: exclusively online, through the Abruzzo Region’s digital application portal, using SPID (Italy’s public digital identity system) credentials of the owner or legal representative. No alternative submission methods are accepted.
- Allocation: daily ranking lists until funds are exhausted — applicants who submit early, and submit well, have the advantage.
A National Trend, Not an Exception
Abruzzo is not an isolated case. From Rome to southern Italy, recent months have seen a proliferation of regional vouchers and calls for digitalization, digital skills, and efficiency improvements: a mosaic of opportunities that makes SME digital transformation not just necessary, but finally financially sustainable as well.
The underlying message is clear: digitalization is no longer a choice that can be postponed. Selling online, protecting data, migrating to the cloud, automating repetitive processes, and leveraging AI are now conditions for competitiveness — and, for once, much of the cost can be covered by public funds.
The Real Critical Factor: Being Ready
There’s one lesson that experience with rolling-basis calls teaches: funds run out quickly, and the quality of the application makes the difference. Showing up when the window opens with incomplete quotes, a generic project, or non-compliant documentation often means missing the opportunity.
A fundable digitalization project needs to be coherent and demonstrable: not a simple technology purchase, but an innovation path with measurable objectives — operational efficiency, information security, new sales channels, business continuity.
This is where a technology partner makes the difference. As a Managed Service Provider and IT consulting firm, FinGreenTech supports SMEs in defining eligible investments — from cloud infrastructure to cybersecurity, from AI solutions to management systems — building technically sound projects that meet the requirements of these calls and are ready for submission.
Want to seize this opportunity?
Contact FinGreenTech for full support with your application: requirements analysis, digitalization project design, technical quotes, and assistance at every stage, through to submission on the digital portal. The funds are there, the windows are short: early preparation is the first competitive advantage.
