This morning in Rome, at the Europa Experience – David Sassoli space, the Lazio Region unveiled its new “Women and Business” initiative, a groundbreaking call for proposals funded through the 2021-2027 FESR Lazio Program. With a budget of €3 million, the program aims to fuel the development and expansion of female-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the region, marking another strategic step by the regional government to bolster local economic growth through sustainable practices and innovation. The launch event brought together institutional leaders, industry associations, entrepreneurs, and key stakeholders, with speeches from Roberta Angelilli, Vice President of the Lazio Region and Councilor for Economic Development, Commerce, Craftsmanship, Industry, and Internationalization; Tiziana Petucci, Regional Director of Economic Development and managing authority of the FESR Program; Enrico Tiero, President of the Regional Council’s Economic Development Commission; and Marietta Tidei, Vice President of the XI Commission overseeing economic development, startups, and innovation.
The initiative offers non-repayable grants of up to €100,000 to support the creation of new women-led businesses or the modernization, restructuring, or expansion of existing ones, including investments in cutting-edge digital solutions. Eligible applicants include self-employed women, female-owned sole proprietorships, partnerships, cooperatives, and corporations where women hold majority ownership and leadership roles. Applications will open via the GeCoWEB Plus portal starting at 12:00 PM on April 15, 2025, and close at 5:00 PM on June 3, 2025. Female entrepreneurship in Lazio is a cornerstone of the regional economy.
Recent data from Unioncamere and the Tagliacarne Study Center reveals that the region hosts 140,088 women-led businesses, accounting for 22.8% of all local enterprises and ranking third nationally in absolute numbers. Notably, Lazio’s female-led firms represent 10.4% of Italy’s total, with a unique structural profile: while nearly half (48.9%) operate as sole proprietorships, an impressive 42.4% are structured as corporations—far exceeding the national average of 24.3%—highlighting a trend toward innovation and scalable growth. The region also stands out for its young and diverse entrepreneurial base, with approximately 16,000 women under 35 leading businesses (11.4% of the total) and 17,942 female-owned enterprises led by foreign nationals (12.8%). Sector-wise, women entrepreneurs in Lazio dominate services, commerce, and tourism, while agriculture and industry remain underrepresented compared to other Italian regions. These figures underscore the vitality and evolving role of female-led businesses in driving Lazio’s economic and social progress, positioning them as a critical force not only for regional development but also for Italy’s broader economic landscape. By channeling resources into this dynamic sector, the Lazio Region reaffirms its commitment to fostering inclusive growth and empowering women as catalysts for innovation and resilience.
