Development contracts

Support for major investments

The Development Contract is an incentive scheme that supports large-scale investments in the industrial, agri-industrial, tourism and environmental protection sectors.

A Fast Track procedure is available for the Development Agreement, aimed at strategic, large-scale projects with a significant impact on the production system, involving eligible investments of at least €50 million.

With the publication of the Decree of the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy on November 6, 2024, several changes were introduced to the regulation of Development Contracts. The most significant updates include a more precise definition of tourism development programs, a revision of the incentives for the agri-industrial sector for investment programs exceeding €50 million, and an update to the list of eligible technologies for R&D projects.

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Development contracts in short

Intended Audience Intended Audience

The Development Contract is open to Italian and foreign companies of all sizes.

Total budget Total budget

This program is backed by substantial funding, recently replenished with a specific focus on supporting strategic investments and Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

Funding type Funding type

The Development Contract provides the following financial incentives, which can also be combined: non-repayable grants for capital expenditures, non-repayable grants for expenses, subsidized loans and interest subsidies.

Project type Project type

The Development Program can be industrial, tourism-related, or environmental in nature, and includes one or more interconnected investment, R&D&I projects. It may also include infrastructure of public interest. For strategic investments (at least €50 million), a Development Agreement is provided, ensuring priority access to funding, shorter processing times and greater involvement of public authorities

Cooperation Cooperation

The Development Contract can also be carried out by multiple entities, with a maximum of 5 participating companies

Deadlines Deadlines

Applications will be evaluated in the order in which they are received. It is possible to apply for Development Contracts at any time of the year, through dedicated incentive application portals.

Themes of Debvelopment contracts

The Development Program covered by the Contract may be

  • Industry
  • Tourism
  • Enviromental protection

Is your project eligible for funding?

A project must involve a minimum investment of €20 million, which is reduced to €7.5 million for projects focused on the processing of agricultural products and for tourism projects located in the country’s inner areas or involving the redevelopment of disused facilities.

In the case of the Mini Development Contract, investments range from €5 million to €20 million and are open to companies of all sizes located in the regions of Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, Puglia, Sardinia and Sicily. This incentive supports investments aimed at developing or producing critical technologies in areas identified by the European STEP Regulation, such as digital and deep tech technologies, clean and resource-efficient technologies and biotechnologies.

How will PNO Innovation help you with the Development Contract application?

Are you looking for incentive schemes dedicated to supporting large-scale, strategic, and innovative investment programs?
PNO’s experts work daily—with competence and in-depth knowledge—on the development of project proposals for national funding in the sectors targeted by this incentive.

A few of our experts

Start your Development Contract application

Are you interested in submitting a project in the field of innovation, research and technological development?
Would you like to learn more about PNO’s services?

Contact us to receive more information about this opportunity, the types of eligible actions and projects and to discover how our expertise can help lead your project to success.

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