Sustainable fashion, a new grant

The provisions of the decree of the Ministry of Economic Development of 18.12.2020, published last 08.02.2021 in the Official Gazette n. 32 are non-repayable grants for small businesses operating in the textile, fashion, and accessories industries. We talked about it with Francesca Solinas.

The purpose is to support Italian small businesses, which invest in design and creation, and promote young talents in the textile, fashion, and accessories sectors.

We intend to enhance Italian productions with high artistic and creative content to guarantee a fashion increasingly based on sustainability.

What are the requirements for obtaining the contributions?

The decree dictates a series of requirements that the beneficiary companies must possess, namely:

• not being listed and have not taken over the business of another company;
• not having been established following a merger;
• being registered and active in the Business Register of the territorially competent Chamber of Commerce for no more than five years;
• carrying out one or more of the subsidized economic activities in Italy;
• being in the full and free exercise of their rights;
• not being involuntary liquidation and not being subjected to bankruptcy proceedings for liquidation purposes;
• not being in a difficult situation as of 31 December 2019;
• complying with the provisions in force on contribution obligations;
• not having yet distributed profits.

Who is excluded from the loans?

In any case, are excluded companies which, on the date of submission of the application:

• have not returned sums due as a result of the revocation of facilitations granted by the Ministry;
• aid identified as illegal or incompatible by the European Commission has received and not reimbursed or deposited in a blocked account;
• have been addressed of a disqualification sanction;
• whose legal representatives or administrators have been convicted, with a final sentence or irrevocable criminal decree, or with a sentence applying the penalty.

Which projects are eligible to receive non-repayable grants?

Specifically, finalized projects are eligible for

• the creation of new design elements;
• the introduction in the company of production process innovations;
• the creation and use of innovative fabrics;
• the principles of the circular economy aimed at the recycling of used materials or the use of fabrics deriving from renewable sources;
• the introduction of digital innovations into the company.

What do the contributions consist of?

The facility consists of the disbursement of non-repayable grants for a maximum of 50% of eligible expenses with a limit of five million euros for the year 2020.

Eligible expenses must be, overall, not less than Euro 50,000.00 and not greater than Euro 200,000.00 and include all those functions to realize investment projects relating to the purchase of machinery, plants, equipment, patents, programs IT, and software licenses.

The projects must be started after the submission deadline for the application and completed within eighteen months from the provision date for granting the facility.

The Ministry verifies the possession and correctness of the eligibility requirements and conditions and the regularity and completeness of the subsidy applications. Then it will proceed with the preliminary activities within ninety days from the date of submission of the applications.

The Ministry may carry out checks and inspections to ascertain compliance with the obligations associated with maintaining the facility.

What are the deadlines for receiving the funded contributions?

The benefit will be disbursed in a maximum of two installments, following the presentation of specific requests by the beneficiary companies, about the costs incurred for the realization of the project.

The first share, equal to 50% of the concessions granted, can be requested after the expected expenses have been paid.

The disbursement of the balance, on the other hand, shall be delegated by the beneficiary within ninety days from the date of completion of the project, following the full support of the expenses.

You will have to wait for a subsequent decree to be published on the ministry’s website to find out the terms and methods for submitting applications.

Towards sustainable fashion and increased profits

The design and textile industry has been affected by the difficulties caused by the pandemic crisis. With a view to recovery, increasingly oriented towards sustainable fashion, the non-repayable loan provided for by the decree represents an excellent result for all small businesses that intend to make innovation, the circular economy, and recycling their trademark.

At Cikis we activate business through sustainability, defining the optimal path for fashion companies to embrace change.

Do you want to define strategic sustainability objectives for your company and design an operational plan to achieve them?

CONTACT US

Francesca Solinas

Tax advisor at the Martinez & Novebaci law firm in Milan.
She deals with national and international tax law focusing on the taxation of fashion, sport, eSports, and startups. Passionate about fashion and sustainability, she has been studying all tax issues relating to the sector from a tax planning perspective and useful tools for the generational transition within companies, such as the trust. Always attentive and updated on Italian and European tenders and funding relating to design, the circular economy, and sustainable fashion.