Piedmont SME Digitalization Voucher 2026: What It Really Funds and How to Apply

The SME Digitalization Voucher 2026 is the call from the Piedmont Region and Unioncamere Piemonte that funds, as non-repayable grants, the digital transformation projects of Piedmont businesses. It is in its third edition, has a budget of 19.2 million euros (18 million from the regional ERDF 2021-2027 programme and 1.2 million from the Chambers of Commerce) and opens applications on October 22, 2026. Before counting on the grant, though, there is something to know: websites are not among the eligible areas, and advertising spending is excluded.

As of October 1, 2026 the Region's page shows the call in its pre-information phase, but the text is already published: the measure was approved by Regional Government Resolution no. 17-2688 of June 15, 2026 and Directorate Decision no. 328 of July 20, 2026, and Unioncamere Piemonte's FAQ were updated on September 28.

The call in numbers

The bonuses cover the legality rating, a significant share of women or young people in the company's capital, the gender equality certification and innovative startup or innovative SME status. Grants are paid without withholding tax.

Who can take part

The call is aimed at micro, small and medium-sized enterprises under the European definition, which also includes professional activities. The main requirements:

• registered office or operating unit in Piedmont, business active and productive
• an eligible ATECO code
• regular DURC and, for those required to register in the Business Register, the Chamber of Commerce annual fee up to date over the last three years (more than 100 euros unpaid and the application is rejected)
• the SELFI4.0 self-assessment test completed in the last 12 months, with the report digitally signed
• no non-repayable grant received from the 2023 and 2024 SME digitalization voucher calls
• only one application per business

How to tell whether you are a micro, small or medium business

Size determines the grant percentage, and it is calculated with European criteria:

The headcount is mandatory; for the financial side it is enough to meet either turnover or balance sheet total (for medium businesses the limits are 50 million in turnover or 43 million in balance sheet). For businesses that are partner or linked enterprises of others, specific rules apply, explained in the European SME definition guide referred to by the call.

What it funds

Eligible expenses are of three kinds: equipment and services (including devices and connectivity), consulting and training. Consulting and training together cannot exceed 30% of the project. All of them must serve "mainly and primarily" to introduce at least one of these technologies:

• cloud and advanced computing
• cybersecurity and business continuity
• artificial intelligence: image recognition for quality control, language processing and document automation, predictive AI for maintenance or demand, generative AI applied to business processes
• data analytics (big data) tied to production or management processes
• integrated management systems (ERP, MES, PLM, SCM) and tracking systems
• CRM, meaning customer relationship management
• Internet of Things and sensors
• augmented reality, virtual reality and 3D reconstructions
• 3D printing, advanced robotics, high-performance computing
• blockchain, fintech systems such as electronic data interchange (EDI)
• geolocation for logistics and fleets
• systems for the in-store customer experience
• e-commerce, but only if linked exclusively to another technology on the list

What falls outside: websites, advertising and promotion

Websites do not appear on the list of eligible areas. For e-commerce the call is explicit: it is eligible only if "linked exclusively to another technology on the list". The text gives no examples, so when in doubt it is worth writing to Unioncamere Piemonte before committing money.

The following are expressly excluded:

• advertising expenses, including on mass media and social media
• consulting for "mere commercial or advertising promotion" and tax, accounting and legal consulting
• staff, work done in-house, internal orders or orders placed with companies that have corporate ties with the final beneficiary, and overheads
• smartphones, used or leased goods, consumables
• low-value goods and services, where the total supply is under 500 euros (excluding VAT)
• VAT if deductible, and the mere replacement of PCs or tablets unless they are indispensable to a project on one of the eligible technologies
• certifications (ISO, EMAS) and services to obtain mandatory requirements

Fees, licences and subscriptions are eligible for a maximum of two years.

Which suppliers to choose

For equipment and services only, such as software and licences, the call sets no specific requirements for the supplier (the declaration on the "do no significant harm" principle, DNSH, is required). For consulting and training, instead, the supplier must fall into precise categories: digital innovation hubs, competence centres, science parks and research centres, certified incubators, FabLabs, Innovation Managers on Unioncamere's list or certified under UNI 11814, experts on the Ministry of Enterprises' register, Higher Technical Institutes. Alternatively, a supplier active for at least one year that shows through a self-declaration at least three similar services for different clients in the last three years.

A supplier cannot be linked to, or have ownership structures coinciding with, the business applying for the voucher.

How to apply

1. Complete the SELFI4.0 test and sign the report digitally.
2. Ask suppliers for quotes and state in the application, for each expense, the reference technology area, the supplier's company name and VAT number.
3. Prepare the annexes: application form (with a 16 euro revenue stamp), expense declaration with the quotes, DNSH declaration and, if needed, the supplier's self-declaration or a delegation.
4. Sign everything digitally (CAdES format, .p7m files) and upload the file on ReStart: by the legal representative or an appointed intermediary.
5. Submit from October 22 at 11:00: chronological order counts, and preloading from October 12 gives no advantage.

Applications are examined in order of arrival. Unioncamere can suspend the window if requests exceed 120% of the resources and close it when funds run out; applications left out go on a waiting list and are processed if resources free up.

After the application

• Review within 120 days of the window closing, with possible requests for additional documents by certified email (10 days to reply).
• Award with the assignment of the CUP code, which must appear on all invoices.
• Reporting within 6 months of the award, in a single submission and online.
• Payment within 60 days of sending the report.

To keep the grant two conditions apply: having spent between 70% and 100% of the approved amount (below 70% the application is revoked in full) and staying above the minimum voucher of 4,000 or 5,000 euros. Payments must be traceable and made by the business: a cash payment, even partial, makes the entire expense ineligible. Some obligations remain after payment: keep the expense documents for 10 years, keep the purchased assets for at least 3 years and do not relocate the site of the project for 5 years from reporting, on pain of repaying the grant.

The most common mistakes to avoid

• Buying before applying: earlier expenses don't count.
• Submitting a project that involves none of the listed technologies: the call requires at least one technology from article 5.
• Forgetting SELFI4.0 or taking it more than 12 months earlier.
• Forgetting that anyone who received the voucher in 2023 or 2024 is excluded.
• Paying in cash or from an account that isn't the business's.
• Invoices without the CUP (or without the application code, before the CUP is assigned) or made out to someone other than the beneficiary.
• Choosing a consultant without the requirements of article 6 of the call.

What it means for your business

The call funds the adoption of advanced digital technologies from those listed in article 5: for example integrated management systems, CRM, cybersecurity, cloud, data analytics or artificial intelligence solutions applied to business processes. Advertising and mere commercial promotion expenses stay outside, and websites do not appear among the eligible areas.

If you are evaluating a digital project and don't know whether it qualifies, the right step is to put on the table what you want to buy and tie it to one of the technologies on the list before October 22. For binding details the full text of the call and Unioncamere Piemonte's FAQ prevail (bandi@pie.camcom.it); this article is informational and does not replace advice on your case.

If you need to talk through a digital project for your business, write to us.