Aid to the production chain

Grants of up to 50% to support the participation of SMEs in trade fairs

An endowment of 10 million is also planned to enhance and modernise the district markets.

by Roberto Lenzi

11 September 2025

3' min read

Key points

Fair resources
Submission of applications
Competitiveness push
Funds for local markets

3' min read

Incentives for the modernisation of rural markets and non-repayable contributions (50%, up to EUR 10,000) to SMEs participating in international fairs are on the launching pad.

With the publication of the implementing decree of 26 June 2025, the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy has made the provisions of Article 33 of Law 206/2023 of 27 December (known as the 'Framework Law for Made in Italy') operative. The aim is to provide an impetus for the valorisation of national production chains through support for the trade fair sector and local markets.

The measure, which is the result of an inter-ministerial collaboration involving the Ministries of Economy and Finance, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, and Tourism, aims to remove economic barriers that often hinder the participation of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in trade fair events, while at the same time promoting the modernisation of urban spaces of exchange, tradition and cultural identity such as district markets.

Resources for trade fairs

From an operational point of view, the implementing decree allocates a total of 7.88 million to support SMEs that intend to take part in international trade fairs in Italy, providing a contribution in the form of a non-repayable voucher worth a maximum of EUR 10,000. The incentive, granted up to a maximum of 50 % of eligible expenses in compliance with the 'de minimis' Regulation, is reserved for companies that have not participated in the same event in the previous three years.

Eligible costs comprise a wide range of costs related to exhibition participation, from the hire of the exhibition space and stand fittings to transportation services, reception, plant and equipment hire, cleaning, catering services or promotion, with the exclusion of taxes and fees (except non-recoverable VAT).

Submission of applications

The voucher may be requested for one or more events and each enterprise may access the facility only once. The procedural mechanism envisages that the deadlines and procedures for submitting applications are defined by means of a specific directorial decree and that the allocation takes place on the basis of a weighted ranking according to ad hoc criteria.

Applications can be submitted (via computer procedure) from 12 noon on 7 October until 12 noon on 28 October 2025.

Voucher recipients will be able to submit their application for reimbursement exclusively via the computerised procedure, the link to which will be made available in good time on the official websites. The deadline starts the day after the publication of the voucher award decision and will close at 12 noon on 30 March 2026.

Competitiveness drive

At the same time, the decree dedicates an endowment of 1.97 million to support trade fair organisers engaged in projects for the structural coordination, innovation and hybrid or virtual organisation of events, with the aim of increasing the international competitiveness of the Italian trade fair system.

External consultancy, personnel, co-ordination and implementation costs are the eligible costs. Each organiser may apply or be part of only one application from 12 noon on 9 October until 12 noon on 30 October 2025.

Funds for local markets

The instrument also intervenes in favour of district markets, recognised as centres of economic exchange and as places of social cohesion and territorial identity.

10 million are reserved for this matter, to be allocated through the Regions, which, within 30 days of the publication of the decree, must submit a formal request for allocation. The resources will be used to finance projects for the modernisation, expansion, structural renovation and energy efficiency upgrading of markets, with priority given to those that are attractive in terms of tourism or culture.