I would like to start a business of my own in Italy and use it to apply for a start-up visa. I was told that the business has to be an innovative one. What requirements does the business need to fulfill to be deemed as innovative?
Answers
Innovative start-ups are registered in a special section of the Italian companies register. According to Italian law, an innovative start-up needs to be of innovative character. This can be identified if at least 15% of the company’s expenses can be attributed to R&D activities; at least one third of the total workforce are Ph.D. students, the holders of a Ph.D. or researchers or, alternatively, two thirds of the total workforce must hold a master’s degree. Alternatively, the enterprise is the holder, depositary or licensee of a registered patent or the owner of a program for original registered computers.
Innovative start-ups are registered in a special section of the Italian companies register. According to Italian law, an innovative start-up needs to be of innovative character. This can be identified if at least 15% of the company’s expenses can be attributed to R&D activities; at least one third of the total workforce are Ph.D. students, the holders of a Ph.D. or researchers or, alternatively, two thirds of the total workforce must hold a master’s degree. Alternatively, the enterprise is the holder, depositary or licensee of a registered patent or the owner of a program for original registered computers.
