Resources and Tools

In recent years, the Lazio Region has implemented various policies and support measures that make the area particularly attractive to foreign investors. These initiatives range from bureaucratic simplification and the creation of tax incentives to the promotion of special areas dedicated to innovation and research.

The goal is to create a competitive ecosystem that facilitates the inflow of capital to support the development of key sectors such as technology, sustainability, biomedical research, scientific innovation, and the digital economy.

Settlement and Development Agreements of the Lazio region

The Region aims to promote extraordinary administrative simplification measures to encourage the establishment of highly innovative and research-intensive production sites, the spread of circular and sustainable production models, the redevelopment of disused industrial areas, and investments that address corporate crisis situations.

Lazio is positioned as a strategic location for investments focused on the establishment, expansion, or improvement of production facilities or plants. It promotes the signing of settlement and development agreements between the regional government, local authorities, and entities proposing new economic initiatives, who commit to creating new jobs or retraining the existing workforce.

Productive settlement projects covered by these agreements, with a value equal to or greater than €2,000,000, are assessed through a decision-making conference convened by the Region. This conference concludes with a final decision that replaces all other opinions, approvals, and authorizations required for the project’s implementation and management.

A preliminary conference is no longer mandatory, and is only convened if deemed necessary by the Region based on the complexity of the proposed project.

For more information, visit the Lazio region website

Development Contract

For more information, visit the website of the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy.

Purpose

The Development Contract is Italy’s primary national incentive tool for supporting large-scale strategic and innovative production investment programs, including the attraction of foreign investments.

Eligible beneficiaries

The Development Contract is available to Italian and foreign companies of any size that invest in Italy. A maximum of five companies can participate in each contract, which may be implemented jointly, including through network contracts.

Eligible Programs

The Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy uses this tool to support:

Industrial development programs, including processing and marketing of agricultural products;
Tourism development programs, which may include, up to 20% of total investment, the development of commercial activities;
Environmental protection programs.

A Development Contract may include one or more investment projects and related research, development, and innovation projects.

Minimum investment

The minimum investment required is €20 million, reduced to €7.5 million for agricultural product processing and tourism projects located in inner areas or involving the recovery of disused facilities.

Incentives

Incentives may take the following forms, individually or in combination, up to a maximum of 75% of eligible expenses:

Non-repayable grants;
Soft loans.

The amount and type of incentives depend on the type of project, its location, and company size, and are finalized during the negotiation phase.

Duration

The development program must start after the application is submitted and be completed within 36 months from the date of the grant approval.

Duration Agreement

For large-scale programs involving investments of at least €50 million and considered of strategic importance, a dedicated procedure is available: the Development Agreement. This provides fast-track access to funding, shorter processing times, and greater involvement of relevant public authorities.

Simplified Logistics Zone (ZLS)

For more information, visit the Lazio Region website.

Purpose

The Simplified Logistics Zone (ZLS) was introduced under the 2018 Budget Law to boost investment in port areas of the more developed regions of Central and Northern Italy. The decree of March 4, 2024, established implementation rules, and the first zones were created on April 17, 2024.

ZLS in Lazio

The Lazio Region proposed the creation of a ZLS as part of the 2024 Strategic Development Plan, with the following goals:

Support investments by local SMEs;
Attract new operators to increase employment;
Strengthen regional and interregional value chains;
Improve logistics infrastructure and the role of ports;
Enhance Lazio’s coastal territory.

Key Measures Include:

Administrative simplification for businesses;
Improved port and customs services;
Strengthened road and rail connections;
Tax and financial incentives for companies;
Involvement of the EIB and other public finance instruments.

Eligible areas

The municipalities involved in Lazio’s ZLS include: Civitavecchia, Fiumicino, Gaeta, Rome, Santa Palomba/Pomezia, Guidonia, Orte, Fondi, Fara in Sabina, and Colleferro.

Incentives for companies in the ZLS

Companies operating within the ZLS will benefit from:

Tax credits within EU limits;
Investment incentives funded by the Region;
Bureaucratic simplification to reduce time and costs;
A possible enclosed customs-free zone, with tax and customs advantages.

InvestEU

InvestEU is the European Union program for 2021–2027 aimed at revitalizing private investment across the EU and fostering long-term competitiveness and growth.

The program consists of three pillars:

The Fund (InvestEU Fund)Provides an EU budget guarantee of approximately €26.2 billion to cover the risks of financing provided by partner institutions. The Fund supports high-value-added projects aligned with EU policy objectives that might otherwise face difficulties in accessing finance.
The Advisory HubOffers support and advisory services throughout the entire investment cycle, helping to design, structure, and implement projects.
The Portal (InvestEU Portal)Provides easily accessible data to promote projects seeking funding.

The InvestEU program has launched several initiatives in the Lazio Region to support economic growth and innovation, including European Investment Fund guarantees to Illimity Bank to improve access to finance for Italian SMEs, supporting their green and digital transition.

For more information, visit the Lazio Region website.

Invest in Lazio Grant Facility

Opening: July 2025
Aim: to support productive investiments (> 1 million euro)
Types of operation: creation of new production facilities or expansion of existing plants
Grant: from 10% to 70% of the investment, according to the following criteria:
- Location
- Type of activity
- Company size
Target: Italian and foreign SMEs