Background information

The COVID-19 emergency has undermined the financial sustainability and the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises, especially widespread in the Italian productive fabric. For this reason, the Government has increased the fund allocated to provide a non-repayable contribution to support and promote the processes of technological and digital transformation of SMEs. The measure is contained in the Law Decree no. 104, issued on 14 August 2020 (article 60, c. 4).

Content of measure

The Budget Law for the year 2019 (the Law no. 145 issued on 30 December 2018) established for the first time a measure called “Innovation Manager Voucher” or “Innovation Consultancy Voucher” (art. 1, paragraph 228).

The Voucher Innovation Manager configured as a non-repayable contribution, in the form of a voucher, for the purchase of specialised consultancy services aimed at supporting the processes of technological and digital transformation of small and medium enterprises and the modernization of management and organisational structure of the company, including access to the financial and capital markets. A dedicated fund is established at the Ministry of Economic Development with an endowment amounting to €25 million for each of the years 2019, 2020, and 2021.

The Law Decree no. 104, issued on 14 August 2020 (article 60), in the light of the effects of the pandemic on SMEs, which can benefit instead from a strengthened support for the technological and digital transformation processes to recover from the crisis, increased by €50 million the endowment for the year 2021.

The voucher covers the expenses incurred for specialist consultancy services rendered by a qualified and independent Innovation Manager temporarily employed, with a consultancy contract lasting no less than 9 months and no more than 15, in the organisational structure of the company.

The voucher corresponds to the following thresholds:

• for micro and small enterprises: 50% of the costs incurred up to a maximum of €40,000;
• medium-sized enterprises: 30% of the costs incurred up to a maximum of €25,000;
• business networks: 50% of the costs incurred up to a maximum of €80,000.

Use of measure

Not available.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	SMEs	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement as case not in social partner domain	No involvement as case not in social partner domain
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

The social partners have not been involved.

Views and reactions

The social partners have not been involved.

Sources

• 30 December 2018: Law no. 145 issued on 30 December 2018 (www.gazzettaufficiale.it)
• 14 August 2020: Law Decree no. 104 issued on 14 August 2020 (www.gazzettaufficiale.it)