CEF-Digital: New calls for proposals for global digital portals

Proposals are now open for two new calls under the Connecting Europe Facility – Digital (CEF-Digital) programme, following the recent publication of the list of 13 Cable Projects of European Interest (CPEI).

The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is an EU funding programme aimed at promoting growth, jobs, inclusion, and competitiveness through the efficient interconnection of transport, energy, and digital networks within and between Member States. The digital component of the CEF aims to contribute to development of projects of common interest (PCI) relating to the creation of safe, secure, sustainable and very high-capacity digital networks, including 5G systems, in order to increase the capacity and resilience of digital backbone networks across all EU territories, particularly in the outermost regions.

The first call is CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYS which, with an overall budget of EUR 180 million, The call aims to support the implementation or significant modernization of backbone networks, particularly submarine cables, but also terrestrial fiber optic backbone networks and satellite communications ground stations. The ultimate goal is to address the security risks, vulnerabilities, and resilience of the EU's backbone infrastructure. The call under analysis is divided into the following two calls:

CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYS-WORKS: Backbone Connectivity for Global Digital Gateways – works;
CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYS-STUDIES: Backbone Connectivity for Global Digital Gateways – Studies Program.

The second call is CEF-DIG-2026-SMART-CABLES. With an overall budget of EUR 20 millionThe call aims to enhance existing underwater telecommunications infrastructure with SMART capabilities through the integration of sensors and other monitoring components for temperature measurement and acoustic and other signal detection. The goal is to collect real-time ocean and seismic data and improve the monitoring capabilities of these critical communications networks. The specific call is as follows:

CEF-DIG-2026-SMART-CABLES-WORKS: European Smart Cable Systems Equipment – Works.

The deadline for submitting proposals is set for June 30, 2026.

For more information: info@iniziativa.cc

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Success Cases

Metropolitan City of Rome Capital

Support in the development of school sports facilities through PPP projects. Key activities include drafting regulations, creating internal guidelines to manage the incoming initiatives, and providing technical and financial assistance in their evaluation, as well as training staff on PPP regulations.

Date: 2024-2025/XNUMX/XNUMX

SAMBA

Development of an aeronautical seat with the use of innovative technologies and materials for additive manufacturing and proposal of an innovative, sustainable and integrated Business Model in the industry 4.0 perspective

Contract: Smart Factory, Agrifood and Life Sciences
Project cost: €2.121.216,25
Contribution to spending: €870.099,88
Concessionary Financing: €424.243,25
Date: April 2023

Unidata

Implementation of an advanced fiber optic, Wi-Fi, and IoT connectivity system for Sapienza University of Rome

Date: 2025

Management control

Support for the implementation of industrial accounting and management control

Sector: Flexible Packaging Production
Date: 2026

Technical assistance

Technical support activities to the CPT Regional Unit of Bolzano for the analysis of economic-financial and equity data and processing of economic, financial, management and ESG performance indicators of the complex of Local Public Enterprises (around 115 entities) with a focus on investee companies with direct participation from the Province (22 entities)

Sector: Investee Companies - performance analysis
Date: 2023
Value of turnover of the companies analyzed: From €3 million to €169 million

General Company of Mineral Waters SpA (formerly Acqua Lete SpA)

Between 2019 and 2023, the company invested in the construction of a production line for bottling 1.5-liter mineral water.

Contract: Credito Mezzogiorno - Article 1, paragraphs 98 to 108, of Law No. 208 of 28 December 2015, and subsequent amendments
Project cost: €6.101.000,00
Contribution: €1.525.000,00

Protom Group SpA

Protom has acquired the Espero business branch, geographically expanding the market served, Iniziativa He provided a 360° view of the acquisition operation.

Sector: Education and Knowledge development
Deal: Undisclosed
Date: 2024

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

Commune of Rimini

Technical assistance for operations supporting the economic-financial feasibility analysis and instrumental and ancillary activities inherent to the tender for the awarding of the New Municipal Swimming Pool

Date: 2025

Pfe

Contract for the awarding of concessions for interventions and services aimed at containing ICA and reducing the environmental impact of the Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania.

Date: 2025

Palitalsoft (VAR Group)

Integrated IT Services Management Project with network infrastructure for the Val Conca Union and other municipalities in the Province of Rimini

Date: 2023-2025/XNUMX/XNUMX

Eurospin Tirrenica

Design and construction of public buildings in Follonica with ninety-year concession of surface rights

Date: 2022-2025/XNUMX/XNUMX

Business Process Engineering Startups

Support for the definition of the organizational structure, management and control processes of the commercial funnel and process optimization with a view to upgrading the company information system, design and implementation of the management control system and a KPI dashboard for monitoring the company performance

Sector: Computer programming
Turnover: €60.500,00
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

Santa Maria Terni Hospital

Technical assistance for the economic-financial and management evaluation relating to a project financing proposal pursuant to art. 183, paragraph 15, of Legislative Decree 50/2016 for the "Construction and management of the new Terni hospital"

Sector: Healthcare company PPP
Date: 2021

Ferentillo Sports Association

Redevelopment of the Ferentillo (TR) Municipal Sports Center

Date: 2018-2021/XNUMX/XNUMX

Stradivarius

Support for defining the new conditions for the concession of the "Integration of the Transpadane System, Cremona-Mantua" motorway.

Date: 2020-2025/XNUMX/XNUMX

NASUM

Innovative nanotech-based detection equipment in the area of homeland security

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

NATURE 4.0

Acquisition of enabling technologies functional to the expansion of existing production capacity, for which it is also necessary to invest in masonry works and technological systems for the adaptation of work spaces.

Contract: Sustainable Investments 4.0
Project cost: €1.285.595,90
Non-refundable contribution: €642.797,95
Date: December 2022

European Digital Innovation Hub

Heritage Smart Lab

Program: Digital Europe Program and MIMIT
Project cost: €5.137.101,14
Contribution: €2.568.550,58
Date: November 2022

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 MATERA – 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

SAMBA

Development of an Aeronautical seat using innovative technologies and materials for additive manufacturing and proposal of an innovative, sustainable and integrated Business Model in the Industry 4.0 perspective

Contract: Sustainable Growth Fund – “Intelligent Factory” Help Desk PON I&C 2014-2020, pursuant to Ministerial Decree 5 March 2018 Chapter III
Project cost: €213.333,75
Non-refundable contribution: €149.333,63
Concessionary Financing: €42.666,75
Date: March 2020

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

Italrom Engineering

Egis acquires 100% of the capital of the ITR group, an engineering company based in Romania and Poland headed by a group of entrepreneurs from Campania. Iniziativa assisted them as a 360° advisor.

Sector: Construction & Engineering
Deal: Undisclosed
Date: 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.

Sector: Architecture and design
Deal: Undisclosed
Date: 2024

City of Naples

Support in structuring internal processes and in administrative staff training, through assistance in managing the evaluation of PPP proposals, assistance in drafting guidelines for private individuals intending to submit proposals and the development of an internal handbook for evaluation procedures by officials.

Date: 2023-2025/XNUMX/XNUMX

Adequate Structures

Analysis and verification of the organizational, administrative, and accounting structures of Fabbrica Italiana dell'Innovazione

Sector: Certified Incubator
Date: 2026

NeZAPoB

Nearly Zero Air Pollution Building

Contract: Smart Factory, Agrifood and Life Sciences
Project cost: €1.950.188,75
Non-refundable contribution: €956.868,13
Concessionary Financing: €390.037,75
Date: December 2023

Municipality of Quarto

Technical assistance in assessing the economic, financial, and management aspects of a PPP project for energy efficiency improvements in public lighting.

Date: 2022

€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 |