{"id":2197,"date":"2026-07-06T15:50:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T15:50:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/link2america.us\/?p=2197"},"modified":"2026-07-17T13:26:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T13:26:23","slug":"simest-ice-us-market-2026-sme-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/link2america.us\/en\/simest-ice-mercato-usa-2026-guida-pmi\/","title":{"rendered":"SIMEST USA Measure 2026: complete guide for Italian SMEs \u2014 amounts, deadlines, and eligible expenses\u2026."},"content":{"rendered":"

Author:<\/strong> Link2America \u2014 U.S. Market Consultants |  Updated:<\/strong> July 2026  Reading:<\/strong> 14 minutes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Italian government is providing millions of euros to help SMEs enter the U.S. market. Few people are aware of this, and even fewer know which funding instruments to combine and which expenses are actually eligible. This guide explains everything in a practical way, with amounts, deadlines, and conditions updated as of July 2026.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Table of Contents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Why Now: The Context\u2014July 2026<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Available Tools: Overview<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. SIMEST U.S. Measure: The Most Important Tool<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. The 6 options under Fund 394: Which One Is Right for You?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. ICE Agency: What It Covers and How to Access It<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Regional Calls for Proposals: Lombardy, Lazio, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. How to combine multiple tools together<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. What happens if the U.S. company hasn't been incorporated yet?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. The Most Common Mistakes That Cause You to Lose Your Benefit<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  11. How can we help you?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    Why Now: The Context\u2014July 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    On July 1, 2026, the Steering Committee for Internationalization, chaired by the MIMIT Minister, approved the national strategic guidelines, confirming the U.S. as the leading non-European market for Made in Italy products with a +7.2% in exports in 2025<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    At the same time, the EU-U.S. agreement ratified in May introduced 15% tariffs on European products bound for the U.S.<\/strong>. This makes a strategic decision even more urgent for many Italian SMEs: whether to continue exporting while paying the tariff, or to establish a direct presence in the U.S.\u2014by manufacturing, assembling, or distributing from within the U.S. market, thereby addressing the problem at its root.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To this end, there are Italian public funds\u2014both national and regional\u2014that cover a significant portion of the entry costs. These funds are already in place and accessible, and will be available at least through the end of 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Available Tools: Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    There are three levels of public funding available to Italian SMEs looking to enter the U.S. market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Level 1 \u2014 National (SIMEST \/ Fund 394):<\/strong> The main instrument, with a credit line of 200 million allocated to the U.S., a subsidized interest rate of 0.319%, and a non-repayable grant of up to 10-20%. Administered by SIMEST, a company of the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Level 2 \u2014 ICE Agency:<\/strong> promotional services, group participation in U.S. trade shows, market analysis, and distribution support. It significantly reduces costs without providing direct subsidies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Level 3 \u2014 Regional:<\/strong> Call for proposals in Lombardy, Lazio, Emilia-Romagna, and Veneto offering non-repayable grants covering up to 50% of expenses, aimed at promoting exports to the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    These three levels can largely be combined \u2014 provided that the total does not exceed 100% of eligible costs and the de minimis ceiling of 300,000 euros over the three-year period<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    SIMEST U.S. Measure: The Most Important Tool<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    What It Is and When It Was Founded<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Dal January 14, 2026<\/strong>, SIMEST has launched an initiative designed exclusively for Italian companies with interests in the United States. It is called U.S. Measurement<\/strong> and is part of Fund 394\/81. This is not a call for proposals with a fixed deadline: applications may be submitted on an ongoing basis through the SIMEST Portal until the dedicated budget of 200 million euros<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What's Different Compared to Standard Measures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Le condizioni per le imprese con interessi negli USA sono migliori rispetto alle misure standard:<\/p>\n\n\n\n