From May 25th, Italian companies will be able to access the new Energy measure for international competitiveness. The initiative is promoted by Simest (Italian Society for Businesses Abroad) to support companies affected by the increase in energy costs following the war in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz crisis. There are 800 million euros on the table.
Who is the Simest bonus aimed at?
The plan aims in particular to support small and medium-sized businesses, with subsidized financing and a non-repayable share that can reach up to 30% for SMEs. The application window will remain open until December 31st.
The intervention is intended for exporting companies, but not only. In fact, companies that do not export directly but are part of a supply chain linked to exports and which have suffered the effects of the increase in energy costs or the contraction in revenues will also be able to access.
The energy crisis has in fact hit the production sector hard, and in particular energy-intensive companies which in recent weeks have seen energy bills soar and revenues dwindle. But the energy crisis has reverberated throughout the entire supply chain: companies have partially passed on the increased costs by increasing the prices of goods and services to customers. And goods distributed by road have become more expensive, due to high fuel costs. The Meloni Government has tried to buffer by promoting one excise duty cut after another.
How financing works
Companies that submit an application will be able to obtain a subsidized loan accompanied by a non-repayable amount. For SMEs the contribution can reach up to 30% of the requested amount, while for other companies the percentage will stop at 20%. Each company will be able to access resources of up to 1.5 million euros. The financing will have a duration of 8 years, longer than other similar measures promoted in the past, while the advance can reach up to 50% of the total amount.
And that’s not all: up to 90% of the financing can be allocated for capital strengthening operations or for loans to members.
Requirements for businesses
To access aid it will be necessary to demonstrate that you have achieved at least one of the two conditions set out in the measure:
- an increase in energy costs of at least 10%;
- a reduction in turnover of at least 10%.
The comparison must be made between the first quarter or four months of 2026 and the same period of 2025.
Where to submit the application
As mentioned, requests can be sent from 25 May until 31 December 2026. Interested parties must use the official Simest portal, where a dedicated section will be available.
Simest subsidized financing for companies
In addition to the measures just discussed, Simest brings to the table a total of 9 tailor-made solutions for investments, skills and growth abroad, from e-commerce to trade fairs and the green transition.
Dedicated reserves are envisaged for strategic markets, with allocations of 200 million euros by geography, relating to the Western Balkans, Africa, Latin America, India and the USA. The possibility of accessing the non-repayable fund is offered to innovative, young, female start-ups and SMEs from the South or with sustainability requirements, with advantageous conditions for energy-intensive companies and for companies and supply chains with interests in strategic markets and for companies affected by energy price increases and reductions in turnover due to the conflict in the Persian Gulf area.
For more information, please refer to the official website (simest.it).
