There is a good number of companies that are entitled to the benefits of the 2023 Innovation Fund to contain energy costs, purchase new machinery or employ robots. They are all SMEs that participated in the announcement of a decree last August with a ceiling of 75 million euros. It is agriculture 4.0 which can currently count on 69 million euros already granted. 1106 questions processed, out of 1800 validated.
The Innovation Fund facilitates investments to increase the productivity of agricultural, fishing and aquaculture companies. The resources allocated concern 2023 but Ismea makes it known that it is already working on those for 2024. In the new round, all companies that did not participate in 2023 will be able to come forward. Italian widespread agriculture needs to make a skip which onesity that increases the already good level of exports and also favors a generational change. A more sustainable and less resource- and cost-intensive vision can attract young people.
Who and how can participate in the funds
Agricultural, fishing and agro-mechanical SMEs that have been active for at least two years can be admitted to the Fund. They must, however, show commitment to invest between 70 thousand and 500 thousand euros. “The intensity of the contribution varies depending on the company's sector of operation and the amount of the investment”. The financial allocation of the Fund until 2025 amounts to 225 million of Euro; 10 are reserved for the areas affected by the floods of May 2023. The investments to be made as a requirement are not limited.
The companies that have obtained the contributions will have to demonstrate the'actual purchase of the machinery by December 2024. The financial part can be assisted by Ismea itself which offers guarantees of up to 80% of the nominal value of any bank loan. To the Fund we must also add i 6,58 billion of the Pnrr which must be spent within the next two years. There is no shortage of projects and the supply chains interested in growing are ready. In essence they are the 300 projects included in the Pnrr version of Mario Draghi. The government made them its own. Now that the bureaucracy doesn't get involved.
