Liguria Region for businesses: incentives and benefits.
Measures in support of Businesses under the Liguria ERDF ROP 2021-2027
Thanks to the 2021-2027 ERDF ROP , the Liguria Region supports investments in the territory through a comprehensive plan of targeted actions aimed at fostering growth, expansion and the competitive strengthening of the production system
In particular, the current Programming has introduced measures to support businesses across several areas, including research and innovation, digitalisation, energy efficiency, renewable energy and the circular economy as well as instruments to facilitate access to credit.
ERDF Regional Programme 2021-2027 – Road Map: new opportunities for Public Bodies and businesses
The new calendar of call for proposals under the Liguria ERDF 2021-2027 has been presented; in the first part of the current year, it foresees the launch of new strategic measures aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of the Region.
Funded with a total budget of €86 million, the measures are are structured around four main areas:Productive investments, Research and Development, Finance and Energy.
This new program includes incentive instruments for:
- strengthening regional research infrastructures aimed at the technological advancement of local enterprises;
- reinforcing business networks;
- supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in implementing projects aimed at converting business activities from a linear to a circular approach;
- developing specialized skills for innovative start-ups;
- supporting projects carried out by companies organized into production supply chains;
- business capitalization (equity and quasi-equity);
- developing audiovisual projects in Liguria and supporting local productions;
- supporting investments by micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the sectors of crafts, commerce, tourism, and catering;
- supporting energy efficiency interventions for companies active in the sectors of crafts, commerce, tourism, and catering;
- access to credit for businesses in the craft sector (Craft Guarantee Fund) and the commerce sector (Cassa Commercio)
The new Road Map also includes:
- a call for proposal dedicated to supporting Regional Research and Innovation Poles in managing business aggregation activities and local development initiatives;
- a three-year experimental measure to support the development and research activities of the Polo Nazionale della Dimensione Subacquea (PNS), in favour of companies operating in the underwater and Blue Economy sectors;
- a call for proposals to support measures to improve the energy performance of Public Buildings or buildings for public use.
Measures for the Ligurian inland areas
Regione Liguria has implemented a series of specific measures to encourage the establishment of new economic activities and support existing micro-enterprises in the Ligurian inland areas.
Creation of new business activities
An experimental measure is in place to support the opening of new craft, commercial and catering businesses in inland areas, through the provision of a non-repayable grant of up to €300 per month for a period of five years to cover rent and other operating costs.
Applications can be submitted through the Genoa Chamber of Commerce.
(measure active from 15 September to 31 December 2026)
Support for existing businesses
A measure is in place to support the liquidity of micro-enterprises already operating in the craft, trade, catering services and community cooperatives sectors that carry out business activities located in non-coastal municipalities in Liguria with a population of no more than 5,000 inhabitants.
The measure provides for a one-off contribution of up to €3,600 towards operating expenses such as rent, utilities and local taxes.
Applications can be submitted through Filse's Bandi Online system.
(active until funds are exhausted)
Support for inland workshops
A measure has been introduced to support investments by small commercial businesses in the Ligurian inland areas, through the provision of a non-repayable grant equal to 40% of the eligible investment, which can be increased for businesses located in municipalities with a population of no more than 1,000 inhabitants and for businesses established by people under 35 years of age.
The non-repayable grant can be up to a maximum of €11,000.
Applications can be submitted through Filse’s Bandi Online system.
(active from 10 February to 30 April 2026)
Support measures for the revitalisation of Ligurian industrial crisis areas
For the complex industrial crisis area of the Savona province, recognised by the Ministerial Decree of 21 September 2016 and comprising 21 municipalities in the Province of Savona - anf for the non-complex crisis area, which effects 38 municipalities in the region as identified by the Director's Decree of 19 December 2016, specific national and regional interventions are planned.
These interventions consist of targeted financial support to promote productive reconversion, employment revival and entrepreneurial development, with the aim of strengthening existing businesses and, at the same time, encouraging new investments in the affected areas.
COMPLEX INDUSTRIAL CRISIS AREA OF SAVONA
The new Programme Agreement for the implementation of the industrial reconversion and redevelopment project for the complex industrial crisis area of Savona signed on 10 August 2023, confirms the revitalisation and development objectives already set out in the previous interinstitutional Programme Agreement of 30 March 2018. It provides for the allocation of € 30 million in national funding, complemented by € 20 million in regional resources, through the activation of dedicated calls under the 2021-2027 ERDF ROP.
Visit the section dedicated to the complex crisis area of Savona on the Liguria Region website.
You can also find details of the calls launched under the current ERDF Programming for Liguria's industrial crisis areas by accessing the dedicated section.
NON-COMPLEX INDUSTRIAL CRISIS AREA
To support development programmes in the territories of the non-complex industrial crisis area, the Liguria 2021-2027 ERDF ROP has established specific measures in favour of companies, aimed at incentivising investments and promoting employment.
Visit the section dedicated to the non-complex crisis area on the Liguria Region website.
You can also find details of the calls launched under the current ERDF Programming for Liguria's industrial crisis areas by accessing the dedicated section of the Liguria Region website.
The Simplified Logistics Zones of Liguria and the simplification and facilitation measures for businesses
Liguria hosts two Simplified Logistics Zones (ZLS), the Port and Inland Port of Genoa, which is already operational, and the Port and Inland Port of La Spezia, currently being activated.
The primary objective of the Simplified Logistics Zones is to promote investments functionally connected to port and logistics activities with the aim of strengthening and developing the local economy.
The ZLSs were introduced by the 2018 Italian Budget Law to encourage new investments in the more developed regions of Central and Northern Italy, extending administrative simplification measures - and, in some cases, financial incentives through tax credits - to companies operating within them as well as to new companies establishing themselves there. Moreover, within the ZLS areas, Closed (Intermodal) Customs Free Zones can be established, benefiting from all the advantages provided by the European Union Customs Code.
We invite you to visit the Liguria Region website's dedicated page on the Simplified Logistics Zones (ZLS) of Genoa and La Spezia. We invite you to visit the Liguria Region website's Here you can find detailed information on how they operate and on the administrative, tax and customs simplifications envisaged for new and existing businesses.
