Application may be submitted until February 28th 2022
The Ministry of Economic Development is committed on an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) on health, in the frame of the industrial policy initiatives promoted by the Italian government together with other EU Members and the European Commission.
This ambitious initiative aims to achieve industrial independence in the strategic health sector, ensuring Italy and the European Union an integrated supply chain between companies capable of developing and producing highly innovative products: drugs, vaccines, therapies and medical devices that play a key role in preventing -and in reacting to- health crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as in fighting other diseases that require new treatments.
Investing in biotechnology, nanotechnologies, but also in the digitization of production processes and in the development of platforms enabling remote health services is a priority in order to strengthen our health system and to provide new and better treatments for many diseases.
Health is, in fact, one of the pillars of the industrial development strategy carried out by Minister Giorgetti, who has introduced new resources and tools, such as the Enea Tech and Biomedical Foundation, to support investments in research and technology transfer in our country.
Meeting EU Commissioner Breton, French Minister Le Maire and other representatives of several EU Member States, Minister Giorgetti has pointed out the need of implementing a common European action plan in order to strengthen the industrial independence of the EU in a sector of primary strategic importance.
“Italian pharmaceutical industries have the capability to become a benchmark at European level for their sector. Since the beginning of my mandate, I have given great attention to the excellence of our pharmaceutical industries. I am confident that everyone's efforts and commitment will soon bear fruit", says Minister Giorgetti.
“We want to carry out a common project of EU interest in the health sector. - continues the Minister- Covid has made evident the urgency of launching an extraordinary investment support plan; I am confident that Italian companies will be able to play a leading role thanks to their skills and competences. This IPCEI on health is a first fundamental step towards the definition of a common European strategy, in which Italy will play a very important role both at industrial level and in terms of technology transfer in such a strategic area".
Companies interested are required to apply through the procedure explained in the notice published on the website of the Ministry of Economic Development; please note that the deadline for submitting all relevant documents is February 28th 2022.
In order to be eligible, the application must include an investment project - to be implemented in Italy- that has to include, in addition to research and development activities, also an experimental phase of industrial development.
Selected project may receive financing, in derogation from the European rules on State aid, to face market and social challenges that otherwise could not be overcome. They may also receive financing through the instruments of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, as long as the activities concerned comply with both national and European legislation on environment protection.