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Non-repayable grants covering up to 80% of eligible costs to support research, development and experimentation. An opportunity also of interest to innovative startups in the water sector.
Lombardy Region supports the development of innovative businesses through the “Measure for the Technological Development of Innovative Startups”, an initiative aimed at technology-intensive companies in their early stages of growth. With a total budget of over €15.6 million, the measure aims to promote technological progress among startups, supporting them from the development of initial prototypes through to the validation of their solutions. This opportunity may also be of interest to companies operating in the water and environmental sector, where research, digitalization and emerging technologies play an increasingly important role in improving resource management and infrastructure efficiency.
Research and experimentation for the development of new technologies
The funding scheme aims to support innovative startups in advancing their level of technological maturity, as defined by the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) framework. The initiative funds research and development, prototyping, testing and technical validation activities, with the aim of transforming solutions still in the experimental phase into technologies capable of demonstrating their effectiveness in real-world applications. This process may be particularly relevant to the water sector, where technological development creates new opportunities to address the challenges of sustainable water management. From intelligent systems for water network monitoring to leak detection technologies, digital solutions for optimizing treatment processes and advanced sensor systems, there are numerous areas in which startups can contribute to innovation in the sector. These examples represent only some of the potential applications of interest to the water industry. The funding scheme is not specifically dedicated to water technologies, and project eligibility must be assessed according to the conditions established in the official call.
Non-repayable grants covering up to 80% of eligible costs
The measure provides financial support through non-repayable grants covering up to 80% of eligible costs, subject to the following maximum amounts:
- Up to €1 million for eligible innovative startups.
- Up to €1.5 million for innovative startups implementing their projects at an operational site located in the specific assisted areas identified in the call. The total funding allocation amounts to €15,637,408.95. Within this budget, €7 million is reserved for innovative projects in the energy sector, intended for the development of technological solutions primarily and directly aimed at improving energy resilience, efficiency or self-sufficiency.
Innovation and new opportunities for the water sector
The development of innovative technologies is a strategic factor in supporting the transformation of the water sector. Digitalization, infrastructure monitoring, energy efficiency and resource management optimization are among the areas in which new technological solutions can contribute to the water industry. In this context, funding instruments supporting research and experimentation can represent an opportunity for startups engaged in developing new applications, facilitating the transfer of innovation to the market.
Who can apply for funding
The funding scheme is aimed at innovative micro and small enterprises that meet the requirements established by Lombardy Region. In particular, eligible applicants include startups that have been duly established, are actively operating and have been registered with the Italian Business Register for no more than 36 months. Specific conditions also apply to companies that have been established, registered and active for no more than 60 months, provided that the proposed technology has a maturity level of TRL 6 or below, with appropriate justification provided in the application. Companies must also be registered in the special section of the Italian Business Register dedicated to innovative startups, in accordance with the requirements and conditions set out in the official call. Another requirement is the presence of an operational site in Lombardy, or a commitment to establish one within the deadlines specified in the call. Applications will be assessed through a competitive ranking procedure, based on formal eligibility and the technical quality of the projects submitted.
How and when to apply
Applications opened at 10:00 a.m. on 28 September 2026 and may be submitted until 3:00 p.m. on 25 November 2026, exclusively through Lombardy Region's Bandi e Servizi online platform. To apply, companies must consult the full text of the official call, verify the eligibility requirements and prepare the necessary documentation. Interested companies can find further information about the measure, check the eligibility criteria, consult the official documentation published by Lombardy Region and prepare the required application materials.
