Italy approves Ducati's €121 million investment plan backed by €33.5 million grant
Italy has greenlit Ducati's €121 million 'Ducati Raise the Bar' development program, with €33.5 million in non-repayable government grants for research and innovation.
- €121 million
- €99 million+
- €33.5 million
- €33 million
What Happened
The Italian Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, has authorised Invitalia to sign a Development Agreement proposed by Ducati for an industrial investment programme worth a total of €121 million. The initiative, named 'Ducati Raise the Bar', is aimed at strengthening the Company's global competitiveness over the long term. It confirms Ducati's role as a leading player in the international motorcycle industry and contributes to value creation for the local area, Italy's Motor Valley and the entire Italian industrial supply chain.
The programme includes a major technological and industrial investment plan by the Borgo Panigale-based manufacturer, with a strong focus on developing specialised expertise. At its heart are industrial research and experimental development activities worth more than €99 million. These activities aim to expand the product range through the introduction of innovative and sustainable technologies and to foster the evolution of production processes. The initiative will benefit from non-repayable grants from the Ministry amounting to €33.5 million, allocated to research and development activities.
The measure recognises the strategic value of the project for the Emilia-Romagna region, the heart of Italy's Motor Valley, and its contribution to the development of advanced technological expertise and innovation in the motorcycle sector. It is also expected to support the growth of specialised skills in Italy. Ducati says the initiative reinforces its strategic role within Italy's Motor Valley and will generate positive impacts across the Italian industrial supply chain and on the development of advanced technological expertise.
Why this matters
This investment shows how governments use grants to keep major manufacturers competitive. The plan targets research and development to expand Ducati's product range with new technologies and improve production processes. It is expected to strengthen Italy's Motor Valley and the wider industrial supply chain, potentially bringing innovation and specialized skills to the region.
Terms in This Story
- Development Agreement
- A formal agreement between a company and a government body that sets out the terms for state support of an industrial investment programme.
- Motor Valley
- A region in northern Italy, centred on Emilia-Romagna, known for its high concentration of motor vehicle and motorcycle manufacturers.
- Non-repayable grant
- Government funding given to a business that does not have to be paid back.
- Industrial research
- Investigative work aimed at acquiring new knowledge that can be used to develop new products, processes or services.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.