Calls and contributions, Nationals
Women‘s business fund
07/07/2022
The Women‘s Enterprise Fund is the Ministry of Economic Development‘s incentive that supports the establishment, development and consolidation of women-led businesses through non-repayable grants and subsidized financing. The measure has a total budget of about 200 million euros allocated to the sectors of industry, handicrafts, agricultural product processing, services, trade and tourism.
In this first phase, the Fund provides for the opening of online branches and the activation of actions to accompany, train and enhance the entrepreneurial culture of women.
The concessions will be granted for investment programs in the sectors of industry, crafts, processing of agricultural products, services, trade and tourism.
The measure is part of the package of interventions promoted by the Ministry in support of female enterprises, indicated as priorities in the PNRR mission "Inclusion and cohesion" which made available a total financial endowment of 400 million euros.
Finally, with forthcoming ministerial measures, the other measures already initiated as ON Enterprises (Beyond New Businesses at zero rate) will be refinanced, to support the creation of small and medium-sized enterprises and self-employed businesses, and Smart & Start, to support startups and innovative SMEs.
New business, or business established less than 12 months ago
If a freelancer wants to set up a new business, or the business has been established for less than 12 months, investment projects of up to 250,000 euros can be submitted. The Fund provides a non-repayable grant that varies according to the size of the project:
for projects up to 100,000 euros, the subsidy covers up to 80% of expenses (or up to 90% for unemployed women) within a maximum of 50,000 euros;
for projects up to 250 thousand euros, the subsidy covers 50% of the costs, up to a maximum of 125 thousand euros.
A total of 47 million euros are available for this line of intervention, of which 38.8 million from PNRR resources and 8.2 million from funds allocated by the 2021 budget law.
Company active for more than 12 months
If, on the other hand, you have a business that has been active for more than 12 months, you can submit investment projects of up to 400,000 euros to develop new businesses or to expand existing businesses. In this case, the Fund provides for a mix of non-repayable grants and zero-interest loans, with coverage of up to 80% of eligible expenses, for a maximum of 320 thousand euros, to be repaid over eight years.
Total resources of 146.8 million euros are available for this line of intervention, of which 121.2 million from PNRR resources and 25.6 million of funds allocated by the 2021 budget law.
In both cases, a minimum value of the investment project is not required, which must be completed in 24 months. Expense plans can predict investment expenses and labor costs. Expenses for working capital are also eligible, within a maximum of 20% of the eligible expenditure program (or 25% for companies over 36 months). The contribution to working capital is granted entirely as a non-repayable grant only for companies over 36 months old.
Applicants may also request, at the time of completing the application, the technical-management assistance service which includes:
tutoring - during the project implementation phase - to accompany companies in using the facilities, support them in preparing requests for funding or other project documentation, and transfer specialist skills, through online or face-to-face meetings that will be planned together with the tutor.
a 2 thousand euro voucher to be used to cover 50% of the cost incurred by companies for the purchase of marketing or strategic communication services with a minimum value of 4 thousand euro.
