From Monday 11 May 2026 until 4:00 pm on 31 May 2026, you can once again submit applications for the funding call supporting the internationalisation of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in Calabria.
The call has total funding of €5,500,000.00, and each participating business (or group of businesses) may submit a project with an eligible investment ranging from a minimum of €15,000 to a maximum of €200,000.
The maximum grant available, however, is €100,000.
Established micro, small and medium-sized enterprises are eligible for the incentives and can apply either individually or jointly, through temporary business associations, business networks or consortia.
All economic sectors are eligible, except those excluded under State aid rules (fishing and aquaculture, primary agricultural production, etc.).
Eligible activities include defining internationalisation strategies, providing specialist export services and taking part in trade fairs and events of international importance.
Activities may include, among others, drawing up export plans, access to certifications and foreign markets, the use of specialist roles such as export managers, and promotional and sales initiatives, including through digital tools.
In detail, there are three strands of eligible activities:
- Strand A: Internationalisation Project (Export Plan)
- Strand B: Specialist Export Services
- Line C: Participation in Trade Fairs and Commercial or Outreach Events
For the first strand, you will need to prepare a detailed plan setting out your reasons, objectives and international sales strategies, your business model and value proposition, your target foreign markets and an operational plan. In short, a complete, well-defined project for entering and consolidating your business internationally.
Strand B, on the other hand, covers a range of services aimed at increasing the beneficiary’s export potential, such as product, process or Authorised Economic Operator certifications; advice on trademarks, patents and other forms of international intellectual property protection; the use of a Temporary Export Manager (TEM) and/or Digital Export Manager (DEM); other consulting to find external operators or to use platforms and marketplaces; production of videos and digital communication materials (in a language other than Italian); and digital marketing consulting (advertising, websites, apps, e-commerce) aimed at exporting.
The third strand covers participation in international trade fairs and exhibitions or international-level commercial and outreach events (for start-ups and innovative SMEs only). Trade fairs held in Italy can be included only if they appear in the certified international trade fair calendar (AEFI) or meet other requirements set out in the call.
This is a very interesting call, with several areas of application designed to boost exports by Calabrian SMEs.
As a Management Consulting Firm, Studio Salatino di Salatino Domenico can support you in many of the eligible areas, in particular with consulting on and drafting the Internationalisation Project and Export Plan, including all consulting on the use of digital technologies and tools for the internationalisation of SMEs.
To request information and work with us on developing a project, you can contact us here.
This article describes the Calabria Region call for information purposes only; for full details of the call and how to apply, please refer to the official website.
