Researchers willing to consider alternatives to traditional science career path in academia or industry can find direct hands-on information regarding scientific entrepreneurship opportunities available in the country, funding programmes and Visa or Residence permit dedicated programmes to attract and retain talend researchers interested in creating their own business in the hosting country.
Along with that, also PhD candidates, Early-stage researchers, Experienced Researchers interested in undertaking an entrepreneurial career are invited to explore this topic by browsing the Career development section in the European portal, in order to get a general overview of what scientific entrepreneurship is about, to be guided into the valorization of the research results through the self assessment tool (5-steps) and to get a better understanding of an “entrepreneurial” vocabulary. EURAXESS Centres may support researchers in understanding whether their research results or invention might be ready or appropriate to get out of the lab into the market.
The Italian Government offers two dedicated programmes to innovative entrepreneurs to attract and retain them from all over the world willing to set up an innovative company in Italy. The programmes, which are part of the Italian Startup Act, are supported by the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI).
Italia Startup Visa programme is dedicated to Non Eu citizens willing to come to Italy in order to set up their own start up/innovative company in Italy.
Application are open at any time through:
Direct application – how to send the papers to MISE’s committee in order to apply for the Italia Startup Visa
Through certified incubator - how to get the Italia Startup Visa if already supported by a certified incubator
For more information about the programmes, the application process as well as the documents required, please visit the website http://italiastartupvisa.mise.gov.it/
Contact: Italia Startup Visa Committee
Information info.italiastartupvisa@mise.gov.it
Applications italiastartupvisa@mise.gov.it
+39 06 47052503
Italia Startup Hub programme is dedicated to Non Eu citizens already settled in Italy willing to keep staying in the national territory in order to launch their own innovative business there.
Application are open at any time through:
Direct application - how to convert the residence permit of stay to the startup entrepreneur status
Through certified incubator - how to convert the residence permit of stay to the startup entrepreneur status if already supported by a certified incubator
For more information about the programmes, the application process as well as the documents required, please visit the website http://italiastartupvisa.mise.gov.it/
Contact: Italia Startup Visa Committee
Information and applications italiastartuphub@mise.gov.it
+39 06 47052503
Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy -
The Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy (MIMIT) is responsible for supporting and sustaining businesses as well as protecting the quality, innovation and excellence of Made in Italy.
INVITALIA - National Agency for Inward Investment and Economic Development
It is owned by the Italian Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy and aspires to boost Italy’s economic growth, focusing on strategic sectors for development and employment. Invitalia manages all national incentives that promote the creation of new companies and innovative startups and finances small to large projects, targeting entrepreneurs with concrete development plans, especially in innovative and high added-value sectors.
Please note that below listed programmes and incentives supported by the Italian governamental institutions may be subject to annual updates and variations. For latest update please check the website of reference.
Examples of major programmes and incentives supporting startup ecosystem
Incentive supporting the creation and growth of innovative startups with eligible expenditure and/or costs ranging from 100 thousand to 1.5 million EUR, containing at least one of the following characteristics:
• significant technological and innovative content;
• development of products, services or solutions in the field of the digital economy;
• economic valorisation of the outcomes of the public and private research (research spin off).
Beneficiaries:
- innovative startups, within the 60 months of their establishment or under establishment
- team of natural persons who want to set up an innovative startup in Italy, even if resident abroad, or foreign citizens in possession of the "Visa startup"
- foreign companies that undertake to establish at least one office on Italian territory.
How to apply: Online application through a dedicated web platform only after the registration to Invitalia. The procedure is entirely digital.
Website: SMART&START ITALIA
Measures aiming at supporting a new entrepreneurship, throughout the national territory, by the creation of competitive micro or small enterprises, with a majority or total youth or female participation, and at supporting their development through better conditions for the access to credit.
Beneficiaries: the programme is aimed at companies mainly composed of young people between 18 and 35 years of age or women of all ages. Companies must be constituted for no more than 12 months, with respect to the date of submission of the application. Even natural persons can apply, provided that they establish the company within 45 days upon the concession of the incentive.
How to apply: Online application through a dedicated web platform only after the registration to Invitalia. The procedure is entirely digital.
Webiste:Nuove imprese a tasso zero
SELFIEmployment finances the starting up of small business initiatives, promoted by young NEETS, with interest-free loans. The Fund is operated by Invitalia under the Youth Guarantee Programme, under the
supervision of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy.
The actions which may be financed relate to all areas of good production, services and commerce - also in franchising - as, for example: tourism (accommodation, catering, services) and cultural and leisure services; personal services; environmental services; ICT services; energy saving and renewable energies; manufacturing and craft business services; retail and wholesale trade; processing and marketing of agricultural products, with the exception of the cases referred to in Article 1(1)(c)(i) and 1(1)(c)(ii) of the Regulation (EU) No 1407/2013.
Beneficiaries: To access the financing, it is necessary to be: - 18- to 29-year-old young NEETs, unemployed and not undertaking VET courses, enrolled in the Youth Guarantee Programme.
How to apply: Online application through a dedicated web platform only after the registration to Invitalia. The procedure is entirely digital.
Website:Selfiemployment
BESTis an innovative cultural exchange program between Italy and the United States, which aims at stimulating the hi-tech entrepreneurial spirit among young Italian talents and the best US business practices.
Beneficiaries:Young Italian graduates and researchers with an innovative business idea, up to 35 years of age.
Website:BEST
Examples of major national policies supporting startup creation
It refers to a comprehensive legislative framework aimed at fostering the creation and growth of Italian startup ecosystem. The policy introduces a new legal definition of innovative startups envisaging a wide range of benefits concerning all steps of their vital cycle from labour provisions (possibility to compensate employees and collaborators through participative equity instruments (SFP, strumenti finanziari partecipativi) to simplifications (e.g. the new digital and free-of-charge incorporation procedure) and an access to credit (simplified and free-of-charge measure of the Guarantee Fund for SMEs) and risk capital (incentives for investments in seed and early-stage areas).
Website: Startup Act
Numerous private and public incubators and accelerators are distributed throughout all Italian regions.
Certified incubators of innovative startups represent one of the national excellences in the field of incubation and acceleration of new innovative companies with high technological value.
To find out all about the certified incubators currently registered in the special section of the National Company Register, please consult the Registro Imprese website or read more on MIMIT dedicated webpage.