SIMEST supports the competitiveness of Italian companies with subsidised financing solutions dedicated to international e-commerce.
The programme promotes digitalisation and online exports, with incentives such as reduced interest rates, non-repayable grants and support for the creation of digital platforms.

What’s new:since 16 September 2025, special conditions to support the presence of Italian companies in India***.

All businesses, in particular Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.

It is intended for the implementation of a digital investment project for:

• setting up a proprietary e-commerce platform, or to improve
• or develop an existing proprietary platform
• access to a third-party platform (market place), setting up an own space/store

Furthermore, if you implement your project to market products and services intended for the African continent by 31 December 2025, or in a Central or South American country by 31 December 2026, or in India, you can benefit from special conditions.

Duration of the financing: 4 years, of which a 2-year grace period.

Maximum amount that may be financed:

• Up to €500,000 and in any case no more than 20% of average revenues resulting from the last two financial statements filed by the business for its proprietary or a third-party platform
• Minimum amount equal to €10,000

Maximum grant: up to 10% of the amount of the Subsidised Loan applied for, and in any case up to a maximum amount of €100,000.00, which is disbursed as an incentive to Applicants if they meet the requirements indicated in the reference documentation (Operating circular 6/394/2023) available at the bottom of the page.

Non-repayable co-financing of up to 10% is also extended to companies applying for financing for a project focused on Africa or Central or South America. This percentage can be increased to 20% – up to a maximum of €200,000 – in the case of Italian companies with at least one operational office in the regions of Southern Italy or Innovative Start-ups or Innovative SMEs***.

If the project is located in Africa* or Central or South America**, it is also possible to request exemption from providing guarantees.

View the Contract Proposal template >>. Note: the Contract Proposal will be sent by SIMEST only after approval by the Financial Support Committee; the contract must be signed for acceptance and sent to SIMEST exclusively from the Portal.

* measure pursuant to Article 15 of Italian Decree Law 113/2024 and subject to its conversion into law
** measure pursuant to Article 1 of Law No. 207 of 30 December 2024
*** measure pursuant to Decree Law 95/2025 on the economy

• From 9 a.m. on 7 August 2025, it will be possible to access the Portal to complete and submit funding applications relating to the “Digital or Ecological Transition” instrument.
• From 6 p.m. on 6 August until 9 a.m. on 7 August, the Portal will be offline for updating in preparation for opening, and no operations will be possible.
• From 9 a.m. on 16 September 2025, it will be possible to access the Portal to complete and submit funding applications relating to (i) the new instrument “Strategic support for the Indian market”, (ii) the new dedicated conditions for ‘Competitiveness of Italian companies and supply chains in Central or South America’ and ‘Strengthening African markets’, (iii) the new dedicated conditions for strategic markets for ‘Market entry’, ‘Certifications and consulting’, ‘Trade fairs and events’, ‘E-commerce’, ‘Temporary managers’.
• From 6 p.m. on 15 September until 9 a.m. on 16 September, the Portal will be offline for updating in preparation for opening, and no operations will be possible.

Filling out the request

• For the purpose of filling out the application, it is necessary to (i) attach all the necessary Documentation as per the Circular, (ii) indicate the information of the legal representative, (iii) indicate the information of the beneficial owner of the requesting Enterprise, (iv) upload the contract for opening the dedicated current account, (v) Articles of Association of the enterprise. All documents must be digitally signed.
• In any case, the submission of the application does not imply the right to the deliberation/grant of the intervention, which remains subject to the completeness of the application, the existence of the access requirements, the successful completion of the SIMEST preliminary investigation and the actual availability of financial resources, as well as the positive deliberation by the Facilities Committee.