Heritage Smart Lab | From potential to sustainability: strategies and tools for the growth of cultural and creative SMEs.

For cultural and creative enterprises, accessing private capital has always been one of the most complex challenges.
Despite the sector's significant economic and social potential, many SMEs encounter difficulties in communicating with banks and investors, often due to a lack of tailored tools and specific expertise in economic and financial planning.

According to the Market Report on Crowdfunding in the EU 2024 (ESMA), crowdfunding is emerging as a stable lever for development for European companies.

In parallel, a survey published by Creative Unite (2024) highlights that 69% of cultural and creative organisations consider access to capital the top priority for the coming years.

It works in this direction Heritage Smart Lab (HSL).

As a European Digital Innovation Hub dedicated to the cultural and creative sector, HSL – with Iniziativa as a partner – supports SMEs and startups in:

develop economic and financial feasibility studies to attract private capital;
draft pre-feasibility documents and pitches for investors;
Design crowdfunding campaigns to validate the market and accelerate growth.

Because culture is innovation, but also strategy, expertise, and sustainable investment.

Discover the discounted services "Guidance and support for SMEs in accessing private capital markets" di EDIH Heritage Smart Lab and apply now by filling out the online form on www.heritagesmartlab.it (link form: SME and Startup application – EDIH Heritage Smart Lab).

For more information: support@iniziativa.cc

Sources:

Towards more efficient financial ecosystems – Publications Office of the EU
ESMA50-2085271018-4039 Market Report on Crowdfunding in the EU 2024
Creative Unite | Survey Reveals Key Challenges Facing Europe's Cultural and Creative Industries

Latest Articles

EFRAG: Technical Advice published on the draft simplification of the ESRS standards

December 8, 2025

Innovation Fund: €5.2 billion made available for clean transition technologies and industrial decarbonization

December 5, 2025

New EFRAG Knowledge Hub platform: accelerating the efficiency and quality of sustainability reporting

December 4, 2025

HSL: Cultural heritage enters the new digital age

December 3, 2025

Success Cases

Management control

Design and support for the implementation of the management control system, the design of a KPI dashboard for monitoring company performance and the optimization of organizational processes

Sector: Production of pastry products
Turnover: €3.947.216
Date: 2019

TILES

The first platform for shared entertainment

Program: Horizon - SME Instrument
Project cost: €1.651.720,00
Contribution: €1.156.204,00
Date: October 2015

Sustainability Report

Support in the preparation of the corporate sustainability report and definition of the ESG strategy and indicators for monitoring sustainable variables

Sector: Production of Plastic Materials
Turnover: €69.978.904
Date: 2023

AERONAUTICAL CONSTRUCTION TECNAM SPA

Innovate and expand the product range, in particular with the development and launch of the new P2020 aircraft; as well as expanding production capacity, with the construction of a new production site.

Contract: Development Contract
Project cost: €37.536.422,57
Non-refundable contribution: €13.638.819,00
Concessionary Financing: €4.417.290,00
Date: April 2024

Sabina Public Water

PPP operation (pursuant to Legislative Decree 50/2016) concerning the "Implementation and management of a Smart metering system for the automation of the reading and management processes of Sabina Public Water meters and the implementation of a management of data driven water resource management processes”

Sector: Digitalisation
Date: 2023

Beste SpA

Iniziativa acted as financial advisor assisting Beste in the sale of the majority shares in favor of Hind – Industrial Holding

Acquisition transaction: Transfer of majority stake
Sector: Fashion & Apparel
Deal: Undisclosed
Date: 2023

Model 231 from 2001

Update of the company's Organization, Management and Control Model, drawn up pursuant to Legislative Decree 231 of 2001

Sector: Company subject to the management and coordination of Invitalia National Agency for Attracting Investments and Business Development SpA
Turnover: €11.444.972,00
Date: 2020

Training

Design and delivery of training on corporate finance management: "Knowing the present to plan the future" to the top figures of 30 SMEs, in collaboration with the Naples Industrial Union

Sector: Banking
Date: 2022

MUNICIPALITY OF GIUGLIANO – SCHOOL BUILDINGS

Technical assistance to the Grantor in the evaluation of a Project Financing proposal presented pursuant to paragraph 15 of the art. 183 of Legislative Decree 50/2016 concerning the intervention of "realization of the modernization of sewage systems and management of monitoring and emergency services"

Sector: Facility Management PPP
Date: 2020

ULISSE

Usability and recyclability of materials, processes and products for sustainable air transport

Contract: Innovation Agreement
Project cost: €4.815.538,75
Contribution to spending: €1.809.923,73
Date: June 2022

Management control and company organization

Design and support for the implementation of the management control system, the KPI dashboard for monitoring company performance and the optimization of the organizational structure and organizational and compliance processes from an ESG perspective

Sector: Production of Plastic Materials
Turnover: €69.978.904
Date: 2021

Provincial Palace ProjektBau

“Project Financing for the construction and management of a property to be used as public offices and related appurtenances for the Autonomous Province of Bolzano” – Proposal pursuant to paragraph 15 art. 183 Legislative Decree 50/2016 for a Project Financing initiative - Technical assistance to the proponent, Projektbau Srl, with particular reference to the activities of: i. PEF preparation and sworn certification support, ii. Support in drafting the feasibility study; iii. Public Sector Comparator and Value for Money editorial team; iv. Drafting Cost-Benefit Analysis; v. Supporting the legal team for the development of the draft agreement; you. Support in drafting the document "Specification of the characteristics of the service and management"

Sector: Sports facilities
Date: 2016

Heineken Italia SpA

Expansion of the production capacity of the Assemini site in order to cover the growing market demands for the products of the Ichnusa range

Contract: Development Contract
Project cost: €61.123.573,72
Non-refundable contribution: €13.890.446,72
Date: April 2022

Comesvil SpA

The private equity fund Auctus Capital Partners has acquired 65% of Comesvil, an Italian excellence in the railway sector, Iniziativa supported the sellers in the deal.

Acquisition operation: Entry into the capital by Auctus Capital Partners
Sector: Railway Construction
Deal: Undisclosed
Date: 2023

GEVEN SpA

Construction of a new production unit for the manufacture of aircraft seats

Contract: Law 181/89 and subsequent amendments.
Project cost: €10.441.948
Non-refundable contribution: €2.014.000
Concessionary Financing: €5.220.000
Date: October 2017

BO Industries Srl

New production unit for the production, processing and marketing of butter

Contract: Industrial Development Contract
Project cost: €14.927.461,83
Non-refundable contribution: €6.275.400,00
Date: 2023

CLICK

Circular models Leveraging Investments in Cultural heritage adaptive reuse

Program: Horizon
Project cost: €4.957.033,00
Contribution: €4.957.033,00
Date: October 2017

HERMAS

Evolution of Robotized cell for Machining and Additive manufacturing with wireless Sensor for data acquisition management and analysis

Contract: Smart Factory, Agrifood and Life Sciences
Project cost: €3.527.812,50
Contribution to spending: €1.215.398,13
Concessionary Financing: €705.562,50
Date: December 2023

Medaarch

Iniziativa, as financial advisor, assisted Meedarch in the spin-off of the Mediterranea business unit and negotiated the entry of a new investor into the NewCo.

Acquisition transaction: Demerger of the business unit and entry of a new investor
Sector: Architecture and design
Deal: Undisclosed
Date: 2024

iGUESS-MED

Innovative Greenhouse Support System in the Mediterranean Region: efficient fertigation and pest management through IoT based climate control

Program: BEFORE
Project cost: €1.733.000,00
Contribution: €1.597.700,00
Date: April 2020

Management control

Design and support for the implementation of the management control system, the KPI dashboard for monitoring company performance and the optimization of organizational processes

Sector: Environmental analyses
Turnover: €4.090.257
Date: 2020

Business Process Reengineering

Reorganization of the activities and processes of the offices in which the organization is organized with the aim of improving the offer of services provided to users with a view to optimizing the available resources and the digital transition

Sector: Local authorities - Organizational and process reengineering
Date: 2022

Sustainability reports

Support in the preparation of the corporate sustainability report and definition of the ESG strategy and indicators for monitoring sustainable variables

Sector: Textile company
Turnover: €36.081.512
Date: 2023

South Tyrol Health Authority

Technical assistance in the evaluation of a Project Financing proposal presented pursuant to paragraph 15 of the art. 183 of Legislative Decree 50/2016 relating to "Digitization and optimization of the sanitization service and the main Facility Management services of the buildings of the South Tyrol Health Authority"

Sector: Healthcare company PPP
Date: 2019

PUBLICAPP

Revolutionize and enhance citizen engagement through a unique dedicated public platform compassing in general aviation and unmanned aircraft applications equipment in the area of homeland security

Program: Horizon - SME Instrument
Project cost: €70.000
Contribution: €50.000
Date: 2016

RAILROAD TO 4.0

Efficiency of the production cycle by significantly reducing processing times thanks to the purchase of new railway vehicles equipped with innovative technology.

Project cost: €1.111.600,00
Non-refundable contribution: €555.800,00
Date: December 2022

EACP-EUROSME

aErospace inter-clUster smaRt specialization actiOns for SMEs competitiveness in the circular economy approach

Program: COSME
Project cost: €465.320,53
Contribution: €348.990,40
Date: October 2018

ISTHMUS

Smart Infrastructures for Transport and Mobility

Contract: Major R&D Projects
Project cost: €5.578.468,75
Contribution to spending: €1.834.279,63
Concessionary Financing: €1.115.693,75
Date: June 2021

Business organization

Support in perfecting the business model, optimizing the organizational structure and company functions, assessing skills and plan to increase professionalism for listing on Euronext Growth Paris

Sector: Telecommunications
Turnover: €1.425.000
Date: 2022

Technical assistance

Technical assistance to the Managing Authority, to the Single Managers for Implementation/Action Line Managers and to the Certification Authority for the implementation of the intervention plan financed with the resources of the Regional Development and Cohesion Fund Campania for the programming periods 2000-2006, 2007-2013, 2014-2020, 2021-2027

Sector: Territorial authorities - Technical assistance for FSC programming, monitoring and reporting
Date: 2014 - 2026
FSC resource allocation assigned to the Campania Region: €9.323.000.000

€1.9 billion Production investments supported | €435 billion Investments in Research & Innovation subsidized | 200 active customers with hundreds of completed transactions | 100 Project Financing/PPP Operations Supported | €1.9 billion Production investments supported | €435 billion Investments in Research & Innovation subsidized | 200 active customers with hundreds of completed transactions | 100 Project Financing/PPP Operations Supported |