An AI voucher is a public subsidy that covers part of what a small business spends to adopt artificial intelligence tools. Today it is a measure under study for the budget law, not an approved law. According to Sky TG24, citing Il Sole 24 Ore, it would be worth between 8,000 and 15,000 euros. The final rules do not exist yet.
If you run a small business and wonder whether it is worth waiting, here is what is known, what is uncertain and what you can do now. When a figure comes from a single source, we say so.
What do we know today about the AI voucher for Italian SMEs?
On October 9, 2026, Sky TG24, citing Il Sole 24 Ore, reported that Italy's Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy is defining a new digitalization voucher focused on artificial intelligence, aimed at micro, small and medium-sized businesses. The reported details are:
- an amount between 8,000 and 15,000 euros, depending on company size;
- an estimated fund of about 200 million euros;
- a two-step path: first an assessment of technological maturity at a technology transfer center named by the ministry, then joining the offer of a provider on a ministerial list.
Sky TG24 specifies that the measures are under study and depend on funding. Economy Minister Giorgetti urges caution, because the budget priorities lie elsewhere (income tax for the middle class, pensions, healthcare).
On October 19, in Turin, Enterprises Minister Adolfo Urso said, according to ANSA, that the Ministry of Economy will be asked for a voucher for SMEs to access AI tools applied to production processes. ANSA gives no amounts or deadlines. The two independent sources therefore agree on one point: an AI voucher for SMEs is being prepared. On amount and timing there is only the Sky TG24 figure.
Are other AI incentives coming?
An analysis by Advicy, published on August 25, 2026 and based on an announcement by Minister Urso, mentions a decree expected at the end of October with a tax credit of up to 40% on eligible spending (specialized software and training) and consulting vouchers of up to 5,000 euros. It is a single source with no decree text: the amounts differ from the voucher described by Sky TG24. These are either different measures or measures still evolving. Before basing an investment on them, you need the official text in the Gazzetta Ufficiale.
Why is there so much talk about AI in small businesses?
The stated reason is slow adoption. According to European Commission data cited by Il Sole 24 Ore, AI use stands at 16.4% of companies against an average of 19.9%. Among SMEs the figures are 15.7% against 18.9%.
The second obstacle is skills. Research by Nomisma presented on October 17 in Varignana (reported by Quotidiano.net) indicates that seven in ten companies have not started AI training programs and that for half of SMEs the lack of in-house skills is the main obstacle.
How can you prepare before the voucher exists?
Nobody knows yet when or how a call for applications will open. The path described (assessment, then provider) suggests that those who already know where AI would save them time will be better prepared. Four steps that are useful anyway, with or without a subsidy:
- List what you repeat every week. Answers to the same questions, data copied from a form to a spreadsheet, similar quotes, payment reminders.
- Pick just one as a pilot. The most boring and most frequent one. How to start is explained in our guide on what business automation is and how to start from zero.
- Check the skills of the people you work with. If someone already uses AI tools informally, it helps to know who, for what and with which data. We cover it in AI literacy and Article 4 of the AI Act.
- Do not buy in a hurry hoping for a refund. None of the sources consulted says that expenses already incurred will be covered. If a tool is useful to you now, buying it makes sense for its own value, with no guarantee of a subsidy.
When is an AI voucher not what you need?
It is not what you need when you do not yet have a clear process to improve. Hypothetical example: a five-person office wants to "add AI" but does not know where it loses time. The first job is to understand which requests arrive, how many there are and which ones look alike. Only then do you decide whether an automation or an AI tool pays off.
This is the approach we follow in the automation and AI consulting by Sarabi.Cloud: processes are analyzed one by one, and you are told what is worth automating and what is better postponed or dropped.
Frequently asked questions about the AI voucher for SMEs
Does the AI voucher for SMEs exist yet? No. It is under study for the next budget law and depends on funding.
How much is it worth? According to Sky TG24, between 8,000 and 15,000 euros depending on company size, with an estimated fund of about 200 million. Other sources do not confirm the figure.
Who could receive it? Micro, small and medium-sized businesses are mentioned. According to Sky TG24, the exact recipients are still being defined.
Can I use it for a website or a landing page? The sources speak of digitalization with a focus on AI and do not list eligible expenses. For now there is no answer.
Where do I check the official rules? On the website of the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy and in the Gazzetta Ufficiale, once the texts are published.
Want to find out which activity in your business deserves an AI trial? Write to info@sarabi.cloud: tell us in two lines what you do by hand every day and where you are today. If your starting point is the website, see how we work on the websites page.
Sources: Sky TG24, October 9, 2026; ANSA, October 19, 2026; Advicy; Quotidiano.net.
Have a similar case or a doubt? Write to us at info@sarabi.cloud.