The Italian industrial landscape is undergoing a period of significant change. Following the success of the National Industry 4.0 Plan, which has supported thousands of companies in their digital transformation and process automation, 2025 marks the consolidation of Transition 5.0.
What’s new? The focus is no longer solely on technological innovation, but also on energy and environmental sustainability, in line with European targets for reducing consumption and decarbonisation. For companies that choose to invest in advanced robotics, automation and collaborative systems, the opportunities are enormous: they can simultaneously access tax credits, non-repayable grants and regional tenders, multiplying the economic benefits and accelerating the return on investment.
From Industry 4.0 to Transition 5.0
What is Industry 4.0?
Industry 4.0 was the great digital revolution for Italian manufacturing companies. From 2017 onwards, thanks to the tax credit for capital goods 4.0, companies were able to purchase machine tools, software and interconnected systems, obtaining significant tax breaks. Today, in 2025, this tool has not disappeared at all: the 20% tax credit for investments in capital goods 4.0 is still active. This means that a company that purchases a robotic cell to automate the loading and unloading of a CNC machine can immediately recover a significant part of the investment.
The leap to Industry 5.0
With Industry 5.0, the focus shifts to two key aspects:
- Energy efficiency: every investment must lead to a measurable reduction in consumption.
- Sustainability: optimising processes, reducing waste, improving environmental impact.
The logic is simple: innovate, yes, but with an eye to environmental responsibility. In this context, collaborative robotics solutions play a strategic role, because they reduce downtime, optimise production cycles and improve workplace safety.
How the 5.0 incentives work
The main national instrument is the Industry 5.0 tax credit, which can reach up to 45% depending on the level of energy consumption reduction achieved.
To access the benefit:
- a 3% improvement must be demonstrated at the plant level or a 5% improvement at the production line level;
- a sworn appraisal by a qualified technician is required;
- Eligible expenses include not only machinery, but also software, monitoring systems and efficiency-related consulting services.
A crucial aspect is that these incentives can, in several cases (such as that of Emilia-Romagna, which we will look at shortly), be combined with 4.0 subsidies and regional calls for proposals: a synergy that makes investing even more convenient.
Emilia-Romagna Digital Innovation Call for Proposals 2025
Among the most significant regional calls for proposals, the Digital Innovation 2025 Call for Proposals promoted by the Emilia Chamber of Commerce stands out.
Permitted technologies
- Advanced and collaborative robotics
- Human-machine interfaces
Eligible expenses
- Consultancy and training
- Purchase of tangible and intangible capital goods, including devices and connection costs
Beneficiaries
- Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises
- With operational headquarters in the provinces of Piacenza, Parma and Reggio Emilia
Facilitation
- Non-repayable grant covering 50% of eligible expenses
- Minimum investment: €5,000
- Maximum contribution: €10,000
Timing
- Expenses incurred from 1 May 2025 to 30 August 2026
- Applications may be submitted from 25/09/2025 to 21/10/2025 (unless funds are exhausted).
A concrete opportunity for those who want to modernise their plant with robotic solutions such as those developed by ROBO FEED.
Overview of the main regional calls for proposals for 2025
In addition to Emilia-Romagna, several Italian regions have activated support tools aimed at innovation and robotics:
| Bando | Region | Beneficiaries | Inv. Min/Max | Contribution | Deadlines | Procedure |
| SI 4.0 2025 Call for Proposals | Lombardy | MPMI (BG, BS, MI, MB, LO) | €25.000 – €60.000 | 50% (max €30.000) | 03/07 – 01/08/2025 | Ranking list |
| Veneto R&D Fund | Veneto | SMEs, Professionals | €50.000 – €150.000 | Up to 45% (SMEs) | While stocks last | Ranking list |
| Veneto FP Contribution | Veneto | SMEs, MidCaps, Professionals | €20.000 – €2.000.000 | Up to 30% (SMEs) | While stocks last | Over the counter |
| Digital Enterprise Call for Proposals | Tuscany | SMEs, Professionals | €10.000 – €150.000 | Up to 70% | Until funds are exhausted | Over the counter |
| Fashion Innovation Competition | Tuscany | SMEs in the fashion industry | €200.000 – €1.500.000 | Up to 80% | Until funds are exhausted | Over the counter |
These calls for proposals, combined with national incentives, create an extremely favourable environment for those who decide to invest in automation.
Real opportunities for those investing in robotics
Why should a company invest in robotics and automation today? There are at least three reasons:
- Competitiveness: reducing production costs and improving efficiency means responding better to the challenges of the global market.
- Safety: collaborative robotics solutions reduce risks for workers by automating repetitive or dangerous tasks.
- Sustainability: an optimised process consumes less energy, produces less waste and reduces environmental impact.
With incentives of up to 80% of the investment (combining grants and tax credits), the economic return is extremely rapid.
Perché scegliere ROBO FEED
ROBO FEED robotic cells are designed to integrate seamlessly into Industry 4.0 and 5.0 systems:
- They are plug & play, so they are easy to install and interconnect with CNC machines.
- They support collaborative robotics, falling within the technologies permitted by regional calls for proposals.
- They enable production cycles to be optimised, reducing downtime and energy consumption.
In other words, they represent a concrete solution for innovating production with the maximum available benefits.
Conclusions
2025 is the right year to invest in automation, robotics and Industry 5.0.
Never before have companies had access to such a mix of tools that enable them to:
- innovate processes,
- ridurre i costi,
- improve sustainability,
- access public funding and tax breaks.
Would you like to find out how to make the most of these incentives and which calls for proposals to apply for on behalf of your company?
Contact ROBO FEED for dedicated advice and turn automation into a winning investment.
FAQ
The tax credit for capital goods 4.0 remains valid, with a rate of 20% on investments in interconnected machinery and software.
Industry 5.0 integrates automation and digitalisation with energy efficiency and environmental sustainability objectives, rewarding investments that reduce consumption.
In many cases, yes, but verification by a tax advisor is required. Cumulation allows you to maximise the contribution you can obtain.
The Digital Innovation 2025 Call for Proposals offers non-repayable grants of up to 50% for investments in collaborative robotics and human-machine interfaces.
In 2025, calls for proposals are open in Lombardy, Veneto and Tuscany, with grants of up to 80% available.
