Trentino Development Protocol

Measures to support business expansion, the green transition, and research and innovation are being implemented under the Trentino Development Protocol and the First Supplementary Agreement between the Autonomous Province of Trento, Cassa del Trentino S.p.A., banks and credit guarantee consortia. 

Businesses that take out loans (the Growth Facility, the Green Facility or the Research and Innovation Facility) with participating banks will receive a grant from the Province aimed at reducing the cost of debt.
   

Types of financing schemes

• GROWTH LINE: funding for projects that have not already been financed and/or commenced (for which, therefore, there are no expenditure documents dating prior to the date of the funding application), relating to business expansion: the acquisition of a business and/or a business unit, including as part of generational succession arrangements; the purchase of shares or equity interests, whether majority or minority; buy-outs; and mergers by incorporation. SeeAnnex 1.A of the First Supplementary Act for further details. 

• GREEN LINE: funding for investment projects relating to the ecological transition, environmental protection, the circular economy and energy efficiency as referred to in Provincial Law 6/2023, which have not already been funded and/or commenced (for which, therefore, there are no expenditure documents dating from before the date of the funding application). SeeAnnex 1.B of the First Supplementary Act for further details.

• RESEARCH AND INNOVATION LINE: funding for investment projects relating to industrial research, experimental development, and technological, process and organisational innovation as referred to in Provincial Law 6/2023, which have not already been funded and/or commenced (for which, therefore, there are no expenditure documents predating the date of the funding application). SeeAnnex 1.C of the First Supplementary Act to the Protocol for further details.

Key features of the funding schemes (Growth Scheme, Green Scheme and Research and Innovation Scheme)

• DURATION: minimum 5 – maximum 9 years, including a 1-year grace period
• GRAACE PERIOD: 1 year 
• REPAYMENT PERIOD: minimum 4 – maximum 8 years at an annual rate:
  i)variable, not exceeding the 6-month Euribor plus a maximum spread of 200 bps for 5-year terms and a maximum of 250 bps for longer terms; or ii) fixed, not exceeding the IRS for a term equal to the term of the loan, plus a maximum spread of 200 bps for terms of 5 years and a maximum of 250 bps for longer terms
• CONFIDI GUARANTEE
     

Entities participating in the Trentino Development Protocol

The organisations party to the Protocol, as supplemented by the First Addendum, and through which the three financing facilities may be accessed, are currently:

• Cassa Centrale Banca ( Banca per il Trentino Alto Adige, Cassa Rurale Alta Valsugana, Cassa Rurale Alto Garda – Rovereto, Cassa Rurale di Ledro, Cassa Rurale Vallagarina, Cassa Rurale Valsugana e Tesino, Cassa Rurale Val di Fiemme, Cassa Rurale Val di Non – Rotaliana e Giovo, Cassa Rurale Val di Sole, FPB Cassa di Fassa Primiero e Belluno, La Cassa Rurale Adamello Giudicarie Valsabbia Paganella); 
• Sparkasse;
• Volksbank;
• Raiffeisen;
• Mediocredito Trentino Alto Adige.

Cooperfidi and Confidi Trentino Imprese have also signed up to the Trentino Development Protocol and are responsible for providing guarantees on the credit facilities drawn down by businesses under the Protocol.

To view the up-to-date list of participating institutions, please visit the Cassa del Trentino S.p.A. website.   
   

Subsidy scheme

The provincial grant is aflat-rate amount of1.50%, calculated on the value of the initial loan amount under the activated credit facility.

The provincial grant ispaidannually, subject to the beneficiary having paid the interest instalment and uponsubmission of the relevant documentation. Please refer topoint 16.2 of the Notice.

Provincial grants are awarded underthe de minimis regimein accordance with Regulation (EU) No 2023/2831.

Obligations

Receipt of the grant entails the obligations set outin Article 14 of the Notice.

Small, medium-sized and large enterprises (including mid-cap companies) that are eligible for support from the Central Guarantee Fund and which, at the date of submission of the application:

i) are incorporated, registered and active in the Register of Companies , with an operational unit where the initiative is carried out, operating within the territory of the Autonomous Province of Trento, and duly registered with an ATECO code as set outin Annex 3 to the Protocol (“List of ATECO codes”)

ii) meet the requirements set out inArticle 6 ‘Eligible Beneficiaries’ of the Notice 

iii) have projects relating to Scale-up, the Green Transition or Research and Innovation, as defined in the Annexes to the First Supplementary Act, which have not already been funded and/or commenced (for which, therefore, there are NO expenditure documents dating prior to the date of the funding application).

From 12:00 on 30 June 2026, applications may also be submitted for the new Research and Innovation Programme.

Applications forall the schemes provided for in the Protocol may be submitted until 30 July 2027.

Each business may submit – via the online platform to be made available by the Province and accessible from this service page – only one application for funding (Growth Programme/Green Programme/Research and Innovation Programme) supported by the provincial grant.

To submit an application, you must have aSPID(Public Digital Identity System) account.

SUPPORT CONTACTS

For assistance for businesses regarding the online procedure or regulatory matters, please contact the freephone number 800 196 977from Monday to Friday, 8.00 am to 5.00 pm.

Submitting the application via the Platform does not constitute the entirety of the steps the company must take to secure the loan facility: the regulations governing relations between banks, credit guarantee consortia and companies require the provision of specific documentation, which will be requested from the company.

The provincial grant is awarded by the relevant provincial body (Provincial Agency for the Promotion of Economic Activities – APIAE) within 90 days of the Bank disbursing the loan. SeeArticle 18 of the Notice.