Which type of funding is right for you?
EU direct funding, national and regional funds, subsidised finance and international cooperation: who manages them, who they are for and what kind of support they offer.
| 01EU Direct Funding | 02Structural & Territorial Funds | 03Business Funding & Incentives | 04International Cooperation & Development | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managed by | The European Commission and its executive agencies (e.g. EISMEA, CINEA, REA), with no national intermediaries. | Member States and Regions, through Managing Authorities, under shared management with the EU. | Ministries (e.g. MIMIT, MUR), Invitalia, Regions and other managing bodies. | The European Commission (NDICI – Global Europe), Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI), AICS and international organisations. |
| Who it is for | Companies, universities, research organisations, public authorities and NGOs across Europe, often in transnational consortia. | Companies, research organisations, public authorities and other bodies in the area covered by the programme. | Mainly companies, SMEs and start-ups, sometimes together with research organisations. | NGOs, local authorities, universities, companies and international organisations. |
| Type of support | Non-repayable grants, usually covering a significant share of costs. | Grants, vouchers and loans, often with co-financing by the beneficiary. | Non-repayable grants, subsidised loans, tax credits and guarantees. | Grants and contracts for projects carried out in partner countries. |
| How to access | Competitive calls at European level, evaluated by independent experts. | National or regional calls linked to the area's development priorities. | Calls, first-come first-served schemes or automatic mechanisms such as tax credits. | International calls for proposals and tenders. |
EU Direct Funding
- Managed by
- The European Commission and its executive agencies (e.g. EISMEA, CINEA, REA), with no national intermediaries.
- Who it is for
- Companies, universities, research organisations, public authorities and NGOs across Europe, often in transnational consortia.
- Type of support
- Non-repayable grants, usually covering a significant share of costs.
- How to access
- Competitive calls at European level, evaluated by independent experts.
Structural & Territorial Funds
- Managed by
- Member States and Regions, through Managing Authorities, under shared management with the EU.
- Who it is for
- Companies, research organisations, public authorities and other bodies in the area covered by the programme.
- Type of support
- Grants, vouchers and loans, often with co-financing by the beneficiary.
- How to access
- National or regional calls linked to the area's development priorities.
Business Funding & Incentives
- Managed by
- Ministries (e.g. MIMIT, MUR), Invitalia, Regions and other managing bodies.
- Who it is for
- Mainly companies, SMEs and start-ups, sometimes together with research organisations.
- Type of support
- Non-repayable grants, subsidised loans, tax credits and guarantees.
- How to access
- Calls, first-come first-served schemes or automatic mechanisms such as tax credits.
International Cooperation & Development
- Managed by
- The European Commission (NDICI – Global Europe), Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI), AICS and international organisations.
- Who it is for
- NGOs, local authorities, universities, companies and international organisations.
- Type of support
- Grants and contracts for projects carried out in partner countries.
- How to access
- International calls for proposals and tenders.
EU Direct Funding
What they are
Funding managed directly by the European Commission or its agencies and awarded through competitive EU-level calls. Projects are almost always transnational and submitted by consortia of partners from several countries.
Who they are for
Companies, SMEs and start-ups, universities, research centres, public authorities, NGOs and other organisations, depending on the programme.
Competitive European projects: opportunity scouting, consortium building, proposal writing, budgeting, submission and implementation.
Horizon Europe at a glance
- Budget
- Approximately €95.5 billion for 2021-2027.
- Who can take part
- Companies, SMEs and start-ups, universities, research centres, public authorities and other organisations.
- Partnership
- Most collaborative calls require at least three independent entities from three different Member States or associated countries, at least one of which from an EU Member State.
- Funding rates
- Up to 100% of eligible costs for Research and Innovation Actions; normally 70% for Innovation Actions for profit-making entities (100% for non-profits).
Indicative information: precise rules depend on the individual call and work programme.
Programmes and official pages
The EU’s main research and innovation programme: collaborative projects among companies, universities and research centres.
Official website ↗EICEuropean Innovation Council: grants and investments for start-ups and SMEs with high-potential innovative technologies.
Official website ↗LIFEEU programme for the environment, climate action, nature and biodiversity, and the clean energy transition.
Official website ↗Digital EuropeFunds the deployment and uptake of digital technologies: artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, supercomputing and digital skills.
Official website ↗Erasmus+EU programme for education, training, youth and sport: mobility and cooperation partnerships.
Official website ↗CERVCitizens, Equality, Rights and Values: supports civil society, democratic participation and equality.
Official website ↗Creative EuropeSupport for Europe’s cultural and creative sectors, including audiovisual and media.
Official website ↗Connecting Europe FacilityInvestments in European transport, energy and digital infrastructure networks.
Official website ↗Structural & Territorial Funds
What they are
Resources from the EU Cohesion Policy managed by Member States and Regions in their own territory through regional and national calls. They aim to reduce gaps between territories and to support innovation, competitiveness, skills and cooperation.
Who they are for
Local businesses, local authorities, research bodies, third-sector organisations and, for Interreg, partnerships among different regions and countries.
EU Cohesion Policy and territorial programmes, including national and regional calls for research, innovation, competitiveness, digitalisation, sustainability and skills.
Programmes and official pages
European Regional Development Fund: innovation, business competitiveness, and the green and digital transition of regions.
Official website ↗FSE+ / ESF+European Social Fund Plus: employment, education, training and social inclusion.
Official website ↗InterregEuropean territorial cooperation: projects among neighbouring regions and countries or within the same geographic area.
Official website ↗Programmi Nazionali e RegionaliNational and regional Cohesion Policy 2021-2027 programmes run by the State and Regions; information on the portal of the Italian Department for Cohesion Policies.
Official website ↗Business Funding & Incentives
What they are
National grants, subsidised finance and tax incentives for investment, research and development, innovation and growth. Applications go to Italian bodies (ministries, agencies) and often do not require an international partnership.
Who they are for
Mainly Italian companies and SMEs, but also start-ups, research centres and business networks, depending on the measure.
For companies, we identify grants, subsidised finance, tax incentives and other public schemes for research, innovation, digital transformation, productive investment and growth.
Programmes and official pages
Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy: national incentives for business investment, innovation and growth.
Official website ↗MURMinistry of University and Research: calls for research and development, including company–university collaboration.
Official website ↗InvitaliaNational development agency: incentives for new businesses, start-ups and productive investments.
Official website ↗PNRRNational Recovery and Resilience Plan: measures and calls for digital, green transition, innovation and competitiveness.
Official website ↗FSCDevelopment and Cohesion Fund: national resources to reduce economic and social imbalances between territories.
Official website ↗Transizione 4.0 & 5.0Tax credits for investments in digital capital goods and energy efficiency.
Official website ↗Incentivi agli Investimenti e FiscaliOverview of the national and tax incentives available to businesses.
Official website ↗International Cooperation & Development
What they are
Programmes dedicated to development cooperation and partnerships with third countries, funded by the European Union and Italian institutions. They combine development, sustainability and social impact objectives.
Who they are for
NGOs and civil society organisations, public bodies, universities, companies and agencies active in international cooperation projects.
International cooperation and development initiatives: partnership building, project design, implementation and impact assessment.
Programmes and official pages
EU instrument for neighbourhood, development and international cooperation.
Official website ↗Global GatewayEU strategy for sustainable, high-quality infrastructure investments worldwide.
Official website ↗AICSItalian Agency for Development Cooperation: calls for organisations and companies.
Official website ↗MAECIMinistry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation: cooperation and internationalisation initiatives.
Official website ↗Programmi di Cooperazione InternazionaleEuropean Commission funding opportunities for international partnerships.
Official website ↗Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between direct EU funds and national or regional funds?
Direct funds are managed by the European Commission or its agencies and awarded through competitive EU calls, usually to transnational consortia. National and regional funds are managed by ministries, agencies and Regions, with calls for local players and often without foreign partners.
Is an international partnership always required?
No. It is typical of collaborative EU programmes, while for many national and regional incentives an application can be submitted by a single company or a local network.
How much does funding cover?
It depends on the instrument: grants, subsidised loans or tax credits, with different percentages depending on the call, type of activity and beneficiary size.
When is it worth contacting a consultant?
Before choosing a call, when assessing the project idea and building the partnership: this is when eligibility, strategy and proposal quality are decided.
Looking for the right funding opportunity or building your next European project?
Our team is available for a free, no-obligation first consultation: together we will look at which opportunities fit your project and how to approach them.