Grants for the development of innovative start-ups – ERDF Call for Proposals No. 1/2023

This is a non-repayable grant under the new ERDF Programme 2021–2027, aimed at supporting the launch of innovative start-ups withinthe province.

The text of the Notice is contained in Resolution No. 983 of 1 June 2023, and Section 11 ‘Changes to eligibility criteria’ (and the resulting obligations) was amended by Resolution No. 1843 of 6 October 2023, both of which are available in the ‘Documents’ section of this page. FAQs are also available .

Eligible initiatives

To be eligible for the grant, applicants must submit a project for the launch of an innovative start-up, even if it has not yet been incorporated at the time of application:

• based on one or more innovative solutions with high technological value to be developed, produced and sold on the market, which meets market demand to such an extent that the project is scalable even on international markets, and which falls within an area of specialisation set out in the Provincial Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3);
• with a team possessing the appropriate technical and managerial skills to launch the project – even if this involves bringing in additional expertise and partners available on the market – and which, from the moment the project is submitted, ensures an adequate commitment to its development in terms of technological input and manpower;
• withan operational unitbased within the province.

The project must be carried out and based within the territory of the Autonomous Province of Trento and must be completed within 18 months of the date on which the assessing body notifies the decision to grant the subsidy.

Please refer to point 6of the Notice for the assessment criteria and to point 9of the Noticefor the project timetable (NEW extension:Provincial Council Resolution No. 1848 dated 28 November 2025). 

Eligible expenditure and grant amount

The maximum eligible expenditurefor each project is500,000 euros andthegrant amounts to 70 per cent of the project-related expenditure, provided that such expenditure is eligible under the rules set out in this Notice; theminimum expenditure mustbeat least 50,000 euros.

For further information on the categories of eligible expenditure, please refer to Annex 1 of the Notice.

In return for the grant received, the company must comply with a series of obligations, as set out in Annexes 5 and 6 of the Notice.

A summary ofthemainreporting obligationsapplicable to beneficiaries of the 2021–2027 ERDF Programme calls for proposals can be found atthefollowinglink.

Timetable

The Project must commence on the day followingthe date of submission of the application. The start of the project is defined as the issue of the first supporting document for expenditure relating to the project by a supplier (date of the invoice or equivalent documentation). A project that has been physically completed, even if the relevant payments have not yet been made, is not eligible for funding.

The project must be completed within 18 months of the date on which the assessing body notifies the applicant of the decision to grant the funding. Expense receipts must be dated no later than the project completion date.  

NEW! ByProvincial Council Resolution No. 1848 of 28 November 2025, the deadline for project completion has beenextended(point 9 of the Notice). This extension is grantedonly upon submission of a reasoned requestby thebeneficiariesto Trentino Sviluppo S.p.a.,bythe original deadline set for the project’s completion.

For further information and details on how to apply,click here.

The following are eligible to apply for a grant:

• a) small and micro-enterprises registered in the Register of Companies of the Province of Trento, which have their registered office and place of business within the territory of the Province of Trento or which have an active operational unit (listed as a local unit in the Chamber of Commerce extract) within the province;
• b) small and micro-enterprises with their registered office and place of business outside the territory of the Autonomous Province of Trento; 

• c) one or more natural persons, or one or more natural persons together with a legal person (in accordance with the requirements for an independent enterprise)     

Furthermore, at the time of submitting the application, enterprises must:       

1. if already incorporated, not have been registered in the Register of Companies at the relevant Chamber of Commerce prior to 1 January 2021;
2. be registered in the specific special section dedicated to innovative start-ups in the Register of Companies at the Chamber of Commerce with jurisdictionover the territory;
3. be a micro or small enterprise, in accordance with Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 651/2014;
4. be an independent enterprise, as defined by European legislation;
5. not be subject to insolvency proceedings;
6. not be in difficulty, as defined in Regulation (EU) No 651/2014. 

Assessment criteria

Grant applications will be assessed through an evaluation procedure, and projects will be awarded scores in accordance with the criteria set out in point 6 of the Call for Proposals (general eligibility criteria, specific eligibility criteria, evaluation criteria and award criteria).

The assessing body is Trentino Sviluppo Spa.

Once the preliminary assessment has been completed, a ranking list will be approved. 

Application submission and deadlines

It is no longer possible to submit an application: applications could be submitted from 27 July 2023 until 12:00 on 27 November 2023.

To submit an application, you must have adigital identity system(SPID) or anelectronic identity card (CIE).

Below, you can access the platform to report expenditure relating to the subsidised scheme. Full operational instructions for reporting the investment via the online platform are available in the relevant manual in the ‘Documents’ section.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR THE PLATFORM

Any technical issues relating to the use of the platform must be reported by email toassistenzafesrtn@performer.it, specifying your name, the company’s tax code, telephone number and the application reference number (if available).
Technical support is availablefrom Monday to Friday, from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm(excluding public holidays).

Please refer to the timetable set out in point 9 of the Notice.

NEW! ByProvincial Council Resolution No. 1848 dated 28 November 2025, the deadline for the completion of the project (point 9 of the Notice) has beenextended. This extension is grantedexclusively upon the submission of a reasoned requestby thebeneficiariesto Trentino Sviluppo S.p.A. by the original deadline set for the completion of the project.

For further information and details on how to apply,click here.