Disclaimer: This English translation is provided for informational purposes only. In the event of any discrepancy, inconsistency, or difference in interpretation between this translation and the original Italian version, the original Italian version shall prevail.

Overall Description

Voucher 3I – Investing in Innovation (Investire in Innovazione) is an incentive for innovative start-ups and micro-enterprises that finances the purchase of specialist consultancy services related to patenting. It is promoted by the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) and managed by Invitalia.

The objective is to help eligible companies register patents for industrial inventions, thereby protecting and enhancing the value of their innovation processes in Italy and abroad. The support is provided through vouchers for services delivered by selected intellectual-property professionals.

Funding Amount

• The amount of funding depends on the specialist service selected:
  • €1,000 + VAT for verification of patentability and prior-art searches;
  • €3,000 + VAT for drafting and filing a patent application with the Italian Patent and Trademark Office;
  • €4,000 + VAT for filing a patent application abroad claiming priority from an earlier Italian patent application.
• Each innovative start-up or micro-enterprise may submit only one funding application covering one of these three services. The incentive is granted under the de minimis State-aid regime.
• The total funding available is €9 million.
• The service is effectively provided at no cost to the beneficiary: the service provider invoices Invitalia directly, and Invitalia reimburses the voucher amount.

Submission Deadlines

• No fixed submissions deadline.
• The incentive is currently active, and applications may be submitted on a rolling basis until the available resources are exhausted.

Submission Conditions

Applications must be submitted exclusively online through Invitalia's dedicated platform. Applicants require:

• A digital identity (SPID, CNS or CIE);
• A digital signature;
• A PEC (certified electronic mail) address.

The application must include a self-declaration pursuant to Articles 46 and 47 of Presidential Decree No. 445/2000 and a consultancy agreement between the applicant and the selected service provider. The consultancy agreement must be digitally signed by both the consultant and the applicant's legal representative.

The selected service must be provided in full within 120 days from the date on which Invitalia notifies the award of the voucher; otherwise, the incentive may be revoked.

Eligible Types of Businesses

The incentive is specifically available to:

• Innovative start-ups;
• Micro-enterprises.

An innovative start-up must meet the applicable statutory requirements, including being established for no more than 60 months, having annual production value not exceeding €5 million from its second year of activity, not distributing profits, and having as its exclusive or predominant corporate purpose the development, production and commercialisation of innovative products or services with high technological value. Additional innovation-related requirements concerning R&D expenditure, qualified personnel or intellectual property also apply.

A micro-enterprise is defined as an enterprise employing fewer than 10 persons and having annual turnover and/or an annual balance-sheet total not exceeding €2 million.

Eligible Countries

• Italy.
• For innovative start-ups, the registered office may also be located in another EU Member State or a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA), provided that the company has a production site or branch in Italy.