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LOUNGE CDP SIMEST ELITE

NEW EDITION 2025-2026
Access the CDP SIMEST ELITE Lounge, a programme designed for Italian companies seeking to develop their business in the domestic and foreign markets.

The Lounge promoted by CDP, SIMEST and ELITE is an exclusive programme dedicated to Italian companies with a strong focus on internationalisation that intend to undertake strategic training with the aim of developing skills and knowledge of tools useful for supporting growth plans.

How it works
The programme will begin in December 2025 and will last for 24 months. Enrolment is open until November.
The programme is structured around four areas of support for businesses:
Strengthening skills
Courses dedicated to top management, focusing on internationalisation, strategy and finance, in collaboration with the SDA Bocconi School of Management and the ELITE Network.
Development and internationalisation plans
Assessment and coaching sessions tailored to the strategic needs of each company, with the support of CDP, ELITE and SIMEST professionals for internationalisation.
Support on the capital market
Availability of debt and equity financial instruments for raising funds on the capital market and supporting business growth plans.
Networking at national and European level
Opportunities to meet entrepreneurs, partners and investors to gain greater visibility in the industrial and financial community.

NEW FOR THE 2025 EDITION

FOCUS: New initiatives for young entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs in southern Italy

The LOUNGE CDP SIMEST ELITE 2025 offers programmes dedicated to the growth of businesses in southern Italy and those led by young people or female management.
Workshops, growth tools, subsidised loans and internationalisation opportunities will accompany businesses on a strategic training programme designed to strengthen their business and expand their network of partners.

How to access the programme

The Lounge is dedicated to ambitious companies with a solid business model, a clear growth strategy and an interest in accelerating their growth path.

The programme is open on a preferential basis to companies selected by SIMEST and CDP that meet the following requirements:

  • Economic criteria: Turnover > €5 million, Operating profit > 5% of turnover and Net profit > 0
  • Qualitative criteria: high potential and excellent reputation

SIMEST offers SMEs special conditions, with additional incentives for SMEs owned by women and young people.

Contact SIMEST at marketing@simest.it or through your local SIMEST Specialist to apply and obtain further information on the programme and the specific conditions (see section below).

To access the programme, you can also contact CDP customer service and your account manager.

Dedicated conditions

SIMEST offers special conditions for SMEs, with additional incentives for female and youth-led SMEs.

To apply for these conditions, in addition to meeting the above requirements, you must:

  • Be an SME as defined by the EU* or a youth-led or female-led SME**;
  • Attach a cover letter to your application outlining the company’s development prospects, which will be evaluated by SIMEST.

If the requirements are the same, the selection criterion will be the chronological order of arrival of the applications.
To apply for access to the special conditions, send the application form on this page – completed and digitally signed – to marketing@simest.it, attaching the letter of motivation (max. 1 page).

 

*Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC of 6 May 2003 and Annex I to Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 of 17 June 2014, as amended.

** See requirements on the application form, which can be downloaded from this page.

Dedicated conditions request form