There are now only a few days left until the opening event of the preliminary market consultation for the innovation contract “Misura Imprese Impatto – Bando Profit 4.0” (Business Impact Measure – Profit 4.0 Call for Tenders), promoted by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) in collaboration with the Agency for Digital Italy.
The public meeting, which has already attracted over 500 economic operators, will be held online on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. The event will provide an opportunity to present the initiative in more detail and gather initial feedback from the market.
To view the agenda for the day, click here.
The challenge
This is a pre-commercial public procurement (PCP) aimed at identifying innovative, sustainable, and inclusive business solutions capable of promoting economic growth, decent work, and social inclusion—in compliance with human rights, the principles of the Global Compact, and the Kampala principles.
The call for tenders has a total budget of €49.5 million and will be divided into a maximum of three phases, based on the results of market consultation. At the end of the process, the funded projects will be implemented in the countries indicated in the 2024–2026 Three-Year Planning and Guidance Document and in the Mattei Plan, with priority given to Africa.
The initiative is part of the MAECI-AICS-DTD-AgID quadrilateral agreement, “for the enhancement of Italy's role in supporting the development of digital ecosystems in partner countries, as an integral part of Italy's contribution to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with particular regard to African countries” (DT 194/2024, Annex 2).
It is also promoted by Smarter Italy, the program for the enhancement of smart public demand initiatives, implemented by the Department for Digital Transformation and AgID.
How to participate
The call for proposals is open to for-profit entities pursuant to Article 27 of Law 125/2014 and other actors such as companies, universities, research centers, civil society organizations, both Italian and European, as well as entities active in the target countries of cooperation.
To participate in the event on September 18, simply fill out the registration form.
All useful information about the initiative is published in the challenge sheet on the Appaltinnovativi.gov website.
You can also join the Smarter Italy LinkedIn group to become part of a real community of innovators, where you can exchange ideas and share experiences, and stay informed about innovation procurement initiatives in Italy and Europe.
