SIMEST digital transition: soft loans for the software of exporters

How it works

The line is part of the Fondo 394 run by SIMEST. You apply on the SIMEST portal, applications are handled in order of arrival and the subsidies committee decides.

• from EUR 10,000 up to 35% of average revenue over the last two financial statements, with a maximum of EUR 500,000 for micro firms, EUR 2.5 million for SMEs and EUR 5 million for other businesses;
• 6 years, 2 of them before repayments start, with half-yearly instalments;
• soft rate: on 5 November 2026 SIMEST shows 0.371%, 10% of the EU reference rate;
• a 25% advance, then a second tranche and the balance on reported costs;
• guarantees from zero to 40% depending on the scoring class;
• at least 50% goes to digital or green investments, the rest can strengthen the company's capital.

What counts on the IT side

The circular names integrating and digitally developing business processes, digital organisational and management models, technology equipment, software and digital content, disaster recovery and business continuity, cybersecurity, big data and cloud. Costs can be incurred in Italy too.

AI has its own annex: custom model development, integration with ERP, CRM and MES, pay-as-you-go cloud, security of AI systems. Since 21 September 2026 it has a EUR 200 million reserve.

Costs tied to the sales network and exports, running costs, ongoing consulting and advertising are excluded.

Compared with the e-commerce line

SIMEST's e-commerce line pays for a shop to sell abroad. This one pays for the work inside the company: the management software, links between departments, backups. Websites and e-commerce aren't named here.

Subscriptions, hosting and monthly support may be read as running costs, so a project with a start and an end works better.

What I do

• custom business software to replace Excel and old programs;
• integrations between management software, warehouse, production and shop;
• backups and recovery on separate servers;
• AI automations where they save hours, with a person checking the doubtful cases.

I give you an itemised quote before the application, and I invoice only after the CUP.

What I don't do

I don't file the application or check the scoring. This page summarises the line's circular updated on 15 September 2026, its annexes and the SIMEST page, as read on 5 November 2026. The SIMEST circular in force is the reference.

Frequently asked questions

Is it a grant?

For most businesses no: it's a loan to repay. A grant share of up to 10%, at most EUR 100,000, goes only to some SMEs: in the South, youth-led or women-led, innovative, with at least 20% average exports, with certifications, in areas hit by exceptional weather, with interests in the United States or putting everything into AI. For applications by 31 December 2026, energy-intensive firms and firms hit by the Persian Gulf crisis can reach 20%.

Who can apply?

Businesses with at least two full-year financial statements and at least 10% of turnover from exports in the last year, or 10% of turnover with Italian clients who export at least 3%. Energy-intensive firms need only 3%. Banking, finance, insurance, fishing and primary farming are excluded, and natural disaster insurance is required.

When can work start?

After SIMEST has sent the outcome with the CUP project code: nothing spent before counts. You spend from the CUP until 24 months after signing, plus a 6-month extension. Every invoice must carry the CUP and be paid from the dedicated account.

Can you be the supplier?

Yes: SIMEST has no lists or location rules, and the supplier's declaration also works for someone with just a VAT number. I invoice development and software. Consulting has its own rules: whoever prepares the application can't be linked to the suppliers, and for some consulting SIMEST asks for two years of consulting activity in the business register.

Read more

• The service: Custom business web apps
• More pages like this: Italian grants and incentives for IT