Brazil-Italy-Europe Observatory  ·  🇧🇷 🇮🇹 🇪🇺

Opportunities Map Brazil-Italy-Europe
A fortnightly benchmark of tenders and funding in Italy for Brazilian start-ups and SMEs

Period: 01 to 31 July 2026 Published: 1 July 2026 Previous edition: 15 June 2026

🔄 What has changed since the edition of 15/06/2026

This edition updates the picture set out on 15 June. Six European calls closed during the period (BioNetZero, GreenMantis, EIT Urban Mobility, EU-LAC Digital Accelerator, LIFE Circular Economy and the EUIPO IP Voucher, all with deadlines between 15 and 30 June). Against that, three new national instruments were identified in this round of research (Contratto di Sviluppo, ExTender/TED and Scoperta Imprenditoriale II), and the eligibility picture for Brazilian companies was refined: it is confirmed that Italian and European public tenders (TED) remain, as a rule, closed to suppliers from countries without a WTO GPA reciprocity agreement, Brazil among them, except through an EU subsidiary or a consortium with a European partner. The pillars that remain valid and a priority for Brazilian companies are still Smart&Start Italia (soft landing with an Italian base) and the EIC Accelerator (cut-off of 8 July, requiring establishment in the EU by the time of the full proposal).

❌ Closed since 15/06

BioNetZero Eurocluster (18/06) · GreenMantis Eurocluster (23/06) · EIT Urban Mobility (15/06) · EU-LAC Digital Accelerator (30/06) · LIFE Circular Economy (June) · EUIPO IP Voucher, first window (30/06)

✅ Still open

EIC Accelerator (cut-off 08/07) · Smart&Start Italia (rolling) · SIMEST Fondo 394 (rolling until 31/12) · Eureka Network bilateral (08/07) · CDP Venture Capital, Personae (rolling) · Adriatic Innovation Call (July)

🆕 New in this edition

Contratto di Sviluppo (Invitalia/MIMIT) · ExTender/TED, international public tenders · Scoperta Imprenditoriale II (MIMIT) · A GPA eligibility warning on public tenders

📊 Opportunities at a glance

✅ Direct Brazilian access ⚠️ Through an EU corporate structure 🔗 Through an EU partner in the consortium 🏢 Through an Italian subsidiary 🤝 Self-funded (associated partner) 🆕 New in this edition
Programme Description Category Type of support Deadline Amount Organisation Info Access for Brazilian companies
🌱 Sustainability initiatives
EIC Accelerator, Horizon Europe
 Blended finance (grant plus equity) for deep-tech start-ups with radical innovations in technology, climate, health and manufacturing 🌱 SustainableDeep-tech product or technology Blended finance
(grant plus equity)		 08/07/2026⚠️ 7 days Grant up to €2.5m
plus equity €0.5m to €15m		 EIC / European Commission ↗ link ⚠️ Through an EU structure
EIC Transition
 A grant to take innovative technologies from the laboratory to real application (TRL 3→5/6), building on EIC Pathfinder or ERC results 🌱 SustainableProduct or technology Grant
(100%, non-repayable)		 Mid-September 2026 Up to €2.5m EIC / European Commission ↗ link ⚠️ Through an EU structure
Eureka Network Projects, bilateral
 Funding for transnational industrial R&D on market-oriented products, in consortium with partners from Eureka countries 🌱 SustainableProduct or technology (R&D) Grant
(through the national agency)		 08/07/2026 40-50% of
industrial costs		 Eureka Network / MIMIT (IT) ↗ link 🤝 Self-funded
CDP Venture Capital, Personae
 Acceleration and investment for social impact start-ups (welfare, health, care), open to international applicants with a base in Italy 🌱 SustainableImpact service or platform Equity investment
plus acceleration		 Rolling €100,000
plus a four-month programme		 CDP Venture Capital / Fondo Nazionale Innovazione ↗ link ✅ Yes, with an Italian base
Adriatic Innovation Call
 A call for projects on digital transition, circular economy and social impact in the Abruzzo region, with on-site incubation 🌱 SustainableProduct or service Incubation
plus a cash prize		 July 2026Under way Prize plus facilities
(amount not disclosed)		 Fondazione Pescarabruzzo / Innovation Hub ↗ link ✅ Yes, with an Italian company
📋 General opportunities
Eurostars Call 11
 Funding for international industrial R&D led by an innovative SME from a Eureka country, with partners from at least two countries 📋 GeneralProduct or technology (R&D) Grant
(through the national agency)		 Opens 09/07 · Deadline 10/09/2026 40-50% of
industrial costs		 Eureka Network / Eurostars ↗ link 🤝 Self-funded
Smart&Start Italia
 Zero-interest finance for technology business plans from start-ups, open to foreign companies that establish a base in Italy 📋 GeneralTech product, service or platform Repayable loan
(zero interest) plus a partial grant		 Rolling
(sportello open)		 €100k to €1.5m Invitalia / MIMIT ↗ link ✅ Yes, with an Italian base
SIMEST, Fondo 394
 Subsidised finance for Italian SMEs (or subsidiaries) for internationalisation and the digital and green transitions 📋 GeneralService or product Repayable loan
(rate of about 0.319%) plus a partial grant		 Rolling
(until 31/12/2026)		 €500k to €2m SIMEST / CDP Group ↗ link 🏢 Through an Italian subsidiary
Contratto di Sviluppo 🆕 NEW
 Finance for large productive investment programmes (industry, agri-industry, tourism, environment), including the Net Zero and semiconductor windows 📋 GeneralProductive investment Repayable loan
plus a partial grant		 Rolling
(semiconductor window since April 2026)		 Minimum investment
€20 million		 Invitalia / MIMIT ↗ link 🏢 Through a permanent Italian entity
ExTender / TED, international tenders 🆕 NEW
 Italian and European public tender notices (works, goods, services) published through the ICE diplomatic network and the electronic supplement to the Official Journal of the EU 📋 GeneralPublic tender Public tender (appalto) Rolling
(new notices daily)		 Varies by notice Ministero degli Affari Esteri (ExTender) / TED-EU ↗ link 🏢 Through an EU subsidiary or consortium

📂 Open opportunities in detail

1. Smart&Start Italia, Invitalia

Rolling (sportello open)
Repayable loan (zero interest) plus a partial grant
Invitalia / MIMIT
€100.000 - €1.500.000
Sportello open, closes when funds run out
Eligible sectors
Advanced technology, AI, blockchain, IoT, digital economy, sustainability, health, manufacturing, agri-food: any sector with strong technology content
Eligibility requirements
Innovative start-ups incorporated less than 60 months ago; foreign companies are eligible provided they open an operating base in Italy before the first disbursement; foreign nationals holding a Startup Visa or Startup Hub permit are also accepted.
How to join
The business plan is submitted through Invitalia's digital platform. Applications are assessed in the order received. → invitalia.it/smartstart
No changes since 15/06: it remains the most structured way into the soft landing in Italy. The company has to incorporate an Italian legal entity (an Srl, for example) before the first disbursement, but can apply beforehand. Cover of up to 90% of the expenditure (a mix of grant and zero-interest loan). An extra grant for projects in the Mezzogiorno.

2. EIC Accelerator, Horizon Europe

⏰ 08/07/2026 (Step 2)
Blended finance (grant plus equity)
EIC / European Commission
€634 million (2026): €414m on the Open strand plus €220m on Challenges
Grant up to €2.5m plus equity of €0.5m to €15m
Eligible sectors
Deep tech, AI, biotech, health, energy, advanced manufacturing: any sector with radical innovation (TRL 5/6)
Eligibility requirements
Start-ups and SMEs established in an EU member state or an associated country. Companies from non-associated third countries (Brazil among them) may submit the short proposal (Stage 1) as a Brazilian company, but must evidence genuine establishment in an EU member state or associated country at the time the full proposal is submitted (Stage 2).
⚠️ 2026 update: the requirement for genuine establishment in the EU before the full proposal is confirmed, which is consistent with the restriction already flagged on 15/06 concerning non-EU control structures ("Delaware flips"). Take specialist legal advice before proceeding.
Strategy for Brazilian companies: (1) submit Stage 1 as a Brazilian company, which is allowed; (2) set up a permanent entity (an Srl, a subsidiary or a holding company under genuine European control) in Italy or another EU country before Stage 2; (3) the next cut-offs after 08/07 are 2 September and 4 November 2026.

3. Contratto di Sviluppo, Invitalia / MIMIT 🆕 NEW IN THIS EDITION

Window open (no closing date announced)
Repayable loan plus a grant
Invitalia, on behalf of MIMIT
€550 million (general budget for 2026); the semiconductor window is tied to a fund of €3.292 billion
Minimum investment of €20 million
Eligible sectors
Industry, agri-industry, tourism, environmental protection; specific thematic windows: Net Zero, semiconductors (open since late April 2026), strategic supply chains
Eligibility requirements
Open to foreign companies with an investment programme on Italian territory, provided they set up a permanent establishment or a controlled company in Italy
How to join
→ invitalia.it/contratto-di-sviluppo
For Brazilian companies: relevant only to medium and large Brazilian companies able to invest €20 million or more, out of reach for early-stage start-ups but of interest for industrial plants, agri-industry or manufacturing joint ventures in Italy.

4. Eureka Network Projects, bilateral

⏰ 08/07/2026
Grant / funding for international industrial R&D
Eureka Network / MIMIT (Italian side)
40-50% of the partner's industrial costs
Bilateral window: 08/07/2026 (the Investment Readiness window of 12/06 has already closed)
Eligibility requirements
An innovative SME leading from a Eureka country; at least two entities from two Eureka countries; Brazil is not a Eureka member, so Brazilian partners take part as self-funded associates
How to join
→ eurekanetwork.org
For Brazilian companies: Brazilian partners join as third-country partners (self-funded). The strategic value lies in joint technological validation and in access to the European R&D ecosystem.

5. ExTender / TED, international public tenders 🆕 NEW IN THIS EDITION

Rolling (new notices daily)
Public tender (appalto)
Ministero degli Affari Esteri (the ICE and embassy network) through ExTender; TED, the electronic supplement to the Official Journal of the EU
All: works, goods and services procured by Italian and European public bodies
Varies by notice
Eligibility requirements
Companies from countries with no reciprocity agreement with the EU under the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), Brazil among them, cannot as a rule bid directly in European public tenders above the EU thresholds, except through a subsidiary incorporated in the EU or as a subcontractor or consortium partner led by a European company
How to join
→ extender.esteri.it · → ted.europa.eu
⚠️ Eligibility warning: unlike the funding instruments, public tenders are as a rule not open to Brazilian suppliers directly. Look for a legal presence in the EU, or a partnership as a technical subcontractor, before targeting this channel.

6. CDP Venture Capital, Personae Accelerator (welfare and impact)

Rolling
Equity investment plus acceleration
CDP Venture Capital SGR / Fondo Nazionale Innovazione
€100,000 (initial investment) plus a four-month programme
Rolling applications (check the active cycles)
Eligible sectors
Welfare, health, social impact, assistive technologies, education, elderly care
Eligibility requirements
Italian start-ups and international ones that undertake to establish a registered office in Italy
How to join
→ cdpventurecapital.it
For Brazilian companies: open to international start-ups willing to incorporate an Italian entity. Brazil has a growing ecosystem in healthtech, edtech and social impact, sectors directly aligned with the programme.

7. SIMEST, Fondo 394 (for Italian subsidiaries of Brazilian groups)

Rolling until 31/12/2026
Subsidised loan (rate of about 0.319% in January 2026) plus a partial grant
SIMEST S.p.A. (CDP Group)
Fondo 394 (PNRR); Misura Stati Uniti: a dedicated ceiling of €200 million
€500.000 - €2.000.000
Eligible sectors
Internationalisation, digital transition, green transition, international trade fairs, e-commerce
Eligibility requirements
Italian SMEs and mid-caps, or Italian subsidiaries of foreign groups; at least two sets of accounts filed
How to join
→ simest.it
For Brazilian companies: directly applicable to Italian subsidiaries of Brazilian groups that are already incorporated. A grant element of up to 25% for companies in the south, female-led or young; new for 2026 is the specific facility for companies with interests in the United States.

🔭 Expected opportunities (opening soon)

1. Eurostars Call 11, Eureka Network

Opens: 09/07 | Deadline: 10/09/2026
Grant for international industrial R&D (in consortium)
Eureka Network / MIMIT (Italian side)
40-50% of the Eureka partner's industrial costs
9 July 2026 , in 8 days
Eligibility requirements
A consortium led by an innovative SME from a Eureka country; at least two entities from two Eureka countries; partners from non-Eureka countries (such as Brazil) can take part on a self-funded basis
How to join
→ Eurostars Call 11, Eureka Network
For Brazilian companies: Brazilian partners can join the consortium without receiving European public funding. The advantage lies in access to the ecosystem, validation with European partners and the potential to raise venture capital.

2. EIC Transition, next cut-off

Mid-September 2026
Grant (100%, non-repayable)
EIC / European Commission
Up to €2.5 million
Eligible sectors
Deep tech in the transition phase (TRL 3→5/6); projects building on EIC Pathfinder or ERC Proof of Concept results
How to join
→ eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-transition
For Brazilian companies: the same European establishment requirement as the EIC Accelerator. July and August are the key months for pulling consortia together and writing proposals for the September cut-off.

3. Adriatic Innovation Call, PescarAbruzzo Innovation Hub

July 2026 (under way)
Call for start-ups / incubation and prize
Fondazione Pescarabruzzo, PescarAbruzzo Innovation Hub
Cash prize plus facilities (amount not disclosed)
Eligible sectors
Digital transition, circular economy, social inclusion, research valorisation
How to join
→ pescarabruzzoinnovationhub.it
For Brazilian companies: an interesting opportunity for Brazilian founders willing to relocate to Italy and set up a project in the Abruzzo region.

4. Scoperta Imprenditoriale II, MIMIT 🆕 NEW IN THIS EDITION

Eligibility for foreign applicants to be confirmed
Grant funding for regional innovation projects (S3)
MIMIT
Approximately €505.8 million, with 60% reserved for SMEs and business networks
How to join
→ mimit.gov.it/scoperta-imprenditoriale-2026
⚠️ Eligibility for foreign companies is not yet confirmed in the public documents available. Watch for the full text of the bando when it is published before investing time in an application.