Ministry of Tourism Grant
Additional non-repayable grant
provided by the Ministry of Tourism
The Ministry of Tourism is a co-promoter of the ARGO Acceleration Program, with the aim of supporting the validation processes of innovative solutions, emerging technologies, and business models proposed by startups with high impact potential in the tourism sector.
The startups selected for the Acceleration Program – and therefore receiving the investment provided by the Program – may be eligible for an additional financial contribution provided by the Ministry of Tourism. This additional financial contribution is a non-repayable grant of up to €25,000.00 (twenty-five thousand Euros) per startup, aimed at supporting the selected startups in the validation process of the proposed project. The granting of this contribution will be limited to a maximum of 10 startups.
Regarding this additional financial contribution from the Ministry of Tourism, the following details are provided regarding the criteria and procedures for the selection of startups, the commitments for startups receiving this contribution, and the conditions and procedures for the disbursement of the contribution itself.
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Criteria for the Selection of Startups for the Ministry's Contribution
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The Ministry's additional contribution, to support the project validation activities, can only be granted to startups admitted to the Acceleration Program, whose innovative solutions align with the strategic objectives of the Ministry's Tourism Digital Hub (TDH).
The Tourism Digital Hub Program aims to create a digital hub for tourism, accessible through a dedicated multi-channel web platform that, like a virtual bridge, facilitates the connection between the needs of tourists and the vast Italian tourism ecosystem. This tool collects and aggregates data from the sector to make it available to the ecosystem in a “value to data” approach. It also aims to provide information, tools, and services to support operators within the tourism industry. The leveraging of data and centralization of tourism offerings on a single platform are aimed at improving the experience of Italian and foreign tourists in Italy, enabling them to easily plan each stage of their trip, taking advantage of services and content suitable for all types of users.
In particular, the Tourism Digital Hub has 3 strategic goals, which are articulated as follows:
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Single Portal for accessing tourism services: this allows users to search, consult, book, and receive support on accommodation, dining, experiences, itineraries, transportation services, and tour operator packages through a single platform.
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Strategic Analysis of tourism data: the data collected by the platform enables operators to offer tailor-made services and, consequently, allows Italian and international travelers to have personalized experiences before, during, and after their journey.
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Support for Operators: Services to assist with digitalization and the continuous improvement of their offerings, with particular attention to "weaker" tourism operators.
The evaluation – for the purpose of admission to the additional contribution from the Ministry – will be carried out collectively by the Ministry's representatives. This evaluation will be based on the same documentation required for applying to the Acceleration Program. In particular, the evaluation will be done by awarding a total score of up to 100 points, based on the following criteria:
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Innovation potential regarding the above-themes (up to 40 points)
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Potential for integration into broader information and/or management systems (up to 30 points)
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Scope and consistency of potential general impact in the tourism sector (up to 30 points)
For each of the three criteria (sub a], sub b], sub c]), the Commission will provide a summary evaluation using six predefined judgments (excellent, good, sufficient, insufficient, poor, not evaluable or null). Each of these judgments will automatically be assigned a numerical score, following a linear progression. If the Commission deems it necessary or appropriate, for better alignment with the evaluation results, it may assign intermediate judgments and corresponding scores (for example: Criterion sub a], judgment good/excellent, assigned score = 36).
The sum of the scores, as assigned above for the criteria under sub a], sub b], sub c] (with a maximum total of 100 points), will determine the ranking for admission to the Ministry's contribution. This ranking will be established in an official report, with the allocation of scores accompanied by a brief explanation.
The Ministry’s additional contribution will be granted in accordance with the European regulations on de minimis state aid (currently found in Commission Regulation (EU) No. 1407/2013, concerning the application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union).
The disbursement of this contribution will be subject to – in addition to the checks required under the aforementioned state aid regime – the prior submission of a self-declaration and a notarial act by the legal representative of the selected startup (pursuant to Articles 46 and 47 of Presidential Decree No. 445/2000), attesting to the startup’s possession of the following requirements:
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Ability to contract, meaning the startup is not, and has not been in the past three years, subject to sanctions or other prohibitive measures that prevent contracting with the Public Administration;​
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No insolvency or liquidation proceedings;
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No convictions, under a final ruling, for any of the offences listed in paragraph 1, Article 94 of Legislative Decree No. 36/2023, affecting the Directors with powers of representation or general attorneys;
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Compliance with social security contribution obligations (positive DURC).
This declaration is subject to legal checks, with the prescribed consequences in case of false or misleading information. For the grant to be awarded, the parties involved will sign a specific Grant Agreement, which will define the essential elements of the project covered by the Ministry’s contribution.
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Commitments for Startups Receiving the Ministry’s Additional Contribution
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Startups that receive the Ministry’s additional financial contribution must:
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Use the non-repayable contribution in the validation process of the innovative solution outlined in their Acceleration Program application, and in line with one or more of the themes described above;
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Be available for meetings with Ministry representatives to present the developments of their innovative solution and explore its potential impact on the Ministry’s Tourism Digital Hub.
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Conditions and Procedure for the Disbursement of the Ministry's Non-Repayable Grant​
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The grant being allocated is intended to support the selected startups in the execution of the project validation process, in line with the objectives set out in the Acceleration Program.
The Ministry’s non-repayable grant will be disbursed in line with the lump-sum simplification tool (i.e. for a predetermined flat amount), subject to the following conditions and timelines:
1. A first installment of €12,500 (twelve thousand five hundred Euros) will be awarded to the startups selected by the Ministry that, at the end of the third month of the Acceleration Program, present results (including progress) in line with the proposed project, particularly in relation to the validation of the innovative solution and business model, through the sharing of documents detailing the status of the validation process (e.g. elevator pitch, product deck);
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2. A second installment of €12,500 (twelve thousand five hundred Euros) will be awarded to the startups selected by the Ministry that, at the end of the Acceleration Program:
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have presented the entrepreneurial project and the validation results achieved at the Demo Day scheduled by the Program;​
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have shared with the Ministry the documents proving the proper completion of the validation process in terms of the development of the innovative solution and the proposed business model (e.g. elevator pitch, product deck), in line with the selected project’s objectives.
To receive both the first and second installments of the grant, the startup must submit a certification (pursuant to Article 47 of Presidential Decree No. 445/2000, according to a model provided by the Ministry), detailing (with supporting expenditure documents) the costs incurred in carrying out the validation process (e.g. for personnel, consulting services, tools, consumables, material and immaterial investments, operational costs). The total costs must be at least equal to the value of the grant tranche being disbursed. The startup will remain obliged to provide the Ministry (upon request) with the relevant supporting documents.
If the startup certifies expenses lower than the total value of the grant (€25,000), the contribution will be reduced accordingly. If this reduced expenditure is reported during the first installment payment, the shortfall may be compensated (in whole or in part) during the second installment.
More detailed information will be provided in the Grant Agreement.
It should be noted that, in accordance with the activities planned under the Innovation Network, the Ministry may initiate a separate selection procedure – details of which will be published on the relevant pages of the Ministry’s official website – for the awarding of an additional non-repayable grant to startups that have participated or are participating in the acceleration programs of the operators within the Innovation Network. This additional grant will support the development of innovative solutions with high potential impact for the tourism ecosystem in Italy, and synergies with the themes of the Tourism Digital Hub.