The World Bank Knowledge Economy Forum Technology Absorption by Innovative SMEs Ancona 17 June 2008 PLENARY SESSION III Clusters & Integrating SMEs in Global Supply Chains Prof.Patrizio Bianchi Rector University of Ferrara, Italy

Opportunities and limits of SMEs and Industrial Districts in Western Countries are very well- known by the literature We know in particular problems related to innovation

Industrial district advantages have to be redefined in the new economic geography and in the new technological framework

New entrants are changing the global game Organization of production vs. extent of the market Global Supply Value chains

The case of specialized town of GuangDong

The case of Specialized Town of GuangDong 70 specialised towns officially recognised by Guangdong Government in 2002; 220 specialised towns today; Most new towns are recognised in the Northern part of the Province, in rural and less developed areas; New towns are recognised also in the Pearl River Delta region in high-tech sectors; Specialised towns become an instrument of industrial policy to promote innovation (innovation centres; projects for town-universities collaborations ect.)

GUANGZHOU Massive investment for university to support industry reorganization New university town

Universities in Italy 94 UNIVERSITIES: 66 STATE UNIVERSITIES among which 3 POLYTECHNICS 2 UNIVERSITIES FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS 6 SPECIAL SCHOOLS 17 NON-STATE UNIVERSITIES (legally recognized) 11 "OPEN UNIVERSITIES“

The role of university in industrial development Internationalization of Italian university system as a whole. Improving the relations between university system and industrial system The relation between university and industrial development depends on: 1) the effective role played by the local university systems in the formation and training of ruling class 2) the industrial structure and the its evolutionary pathway in the open economy

Main actors in research and technological development activities: - universities - public research institutes - private companies - local institutions ILO = Industrial Liaison Office (within the universities) They deal with matters as: - technological transfer - spin-off - incubators - patents - intellectual property rights ILO’s birth date (n=39), Netval report 2007

Universities also participates in many activities with external partners technological districts (12 regional areas) science and technology parks: environment, biotechnology, telecommunication, hi-tech, multimedia Centre of excellence  23 in biotechnology and biomedicine  7 in new materials  7 in economics and the social sciences  4 in environmental studies  2 in logistics  2 in ICT Networking and partnership

Spin-off’s birth date in Italy (n=549), Netval report, 2007

Geographical distribution in Italy (n=539), Netval report 2007

Spin-off’s Industrial Sector (n=427), Netval Report, 2007

Emilia Romagna policies toward SMEs innovations Spinner Programme, to favour the process of spin off creation inside universities and research centres Aster, the university, enterpriese, regional administration agency for innovation and technology transfer PRRIITT, Regional program for industrial research, innovation, and technology transfer, to create a network of univertsities, companies, institutions to support research, development and technology diffusion, in particular to SMEs

The case of University of Ferrara, founded in 1391

Copernicus was graduated in Ferrara in 1503 Nowaday Ferrara has students 730 professors 600 junior researcher and doctorate students 8 faculties and 44 courses The Institute of advanced studies IUSS supports 20 doctorate prgrammes

Giving value to research Industrial liaison office, directly depending from the Rector Cittec, centre for technology transfer, with the local institutions and the entrepeneurial associations 2 incubators, with 20 spin off companies Consorzio Ferrara Ricerche, involving directly companies 3 technopoles, part of the regional program

Andamento del valore dei contratti (K€)

Andamento % della acquisizione di risorse pubbliche e private

Science-tech campus Agro- industrial campus Chimbio med campus Clinical campus and new hospital Cultural heritage, economic, law campus THE UNIVERSITY TOWN

Final remarks Global value chains can be enriched by relations with university system, on both sides of research and education Emilia Romagna has invested massevely in this direction, involving SMEs in the enrichment process The case of Ferrara

The University of Ferrara: since 1391 we look forward Ancona, 17 JUne 2008