Aid for testing and experimentation infrastructure - ERDF Notice No 1/2026

The notice supports the construction in Trentino of new private testing and experimentation infrastructures aimed at testing innovative solutions and applications of interdisciplinary approaches with strong links between strategic sectors and enabling technologies.

The aid granted under the ERDF 2021-2027 Programme and under Provincial Law No. 6/2023 "Interventi a sostegno del sistema economico trentino" is governed by the Notice and by the provisions of a general nature common to all the measures.

What it finances

Projects for the construction of new private testing and experimentation infrastructures in Trentino are subsidised.

The subsidised infrastructures must be used for testing and experimentation activities aimed at developing new or improved products, processes and services and testing and updating technologies to achieve progress in industrial research and experimental development.

Use must be open to multiple users and granted in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner.

Applications are examined by means of an evaluation procedure.

Incentive

The incentive measure is calculated on the expenditure considered eligible and is determined in relation to the size of the enterprise as follows

• micro and small enterprise: 45%;
• medium enterprise: 35%;
• large enterprise: 25%.

The incentive is granted under an exemption scheme pursuant to Commission Regulation (EU) 651/2014 of 17 June 2014.

Minimum and maximum expenditure limit

The minimum eligible expenditure must be greater than or equal to €200,000.

The maximum eligible expenditure limit is EUR 6 million.

Eligible projects must

• be carried out within an operating unit located in the territory of the Province of Trento;
• be completed within 12 months from the date the grant was awarded, without prejudice to any extension for a period not exceeding 6 months
• be started after the date of submission of the application for the incentive.
• In order to be eligible for funding under this Notice, the proposed investment must be consistent with the aims and technological trajectories of the Autonomous Province of Trento's Intelligent Specialisation Strategy (approved by Decision of the Provincial Executive No. 2297 of 23 December 2021)

Further obligations are set forth in the notice and in the general provisions common to all interventions. Among these are the obligations to maintain the operating unit on the provincial territory, and to be regular with social security and welfare institutions.

Enterprises of any size that meet the requirements set out in the Notice (check list of ineligible ATECO codes) and in the general provisions common to all measures.

The application may be submitted online as of

• from 10.00 a.m. on 15 April 2026

• incentive application (to be completed in SIFESR)
• project fiche (to be completed in SIFESR)
• declaration of dimensional parameters
• business plan
• positive evaluation by a credit institution or leasing company as per point 3, paragraph 7 of the general provisions common to all interventions
• proxy (if any)
• privacy policy

Preliminary investigation activities begin the day after the date of submission of the application.

The decision to grant the incentive is adopted within 120 days starting from the day following the submission of the application, without prejudice to suspensions pursuant to the provincial law on administrative activity.

The incentive is liquidated by the investigating body following the reporting of the expenses incurred by the enterprise requesting the incentive and the acquisition of the declaration certifying compliance with the expired obligations and constraints to which the enterprise is subject.

An interim report may be submitted upon reaching an amount of expenditure, including indirect costs, at least equal to 50% of the amount admitted.