OPERATIONAL TOOLS IN SUPPORT OF THE REGIONAL STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE THE EXPERIENCE OF THE EMILIA ROMAGNA REGION Paolo Bonaretti - ASTER Trento, 6th October 2003

The main objective of the Emilia Romagna Region is to reformulate Policies and Strategies in order to develop a knowledge based Society with emphasis on the importance of Research, Human Capital and Innovation A NEW REGIONAL LAW ON RESEARCH & INNOVATION (N.07/2002)

1. Reorganisation of the research supply by means of an additional intervention based on innovative strategies geared at - Creating a critical mass so as to reach a breakthrough in research Increasing the speed of production and diffusion of Knowledge Proposing increasingly “business oriented” methods and procedures for research activities Strategic Objectives

2.Introduction of a collective Research-Enterprise approach in the orientation and application of industrial research (a new market for research) 3.Acceleration in the development of NTBFs 4.Support in the creation of excellence at network level in addition to single excellence Strategic Objectives

Creation of networks among research groups with specific competencies in order to reach a critical mass Development of a single “entry point” to – Access networks of laboratories and research groups – Reach every point from a single point – Have a common approach to external communication/visibility Actions:Network Laboratories

Additional advantages offered to Research Bodies – New advanced common project areas – Additional dedicated researchers – Greater participation of enterprises – Common research instruments and facilities – Attraction of talents Actions:Network Laboratories

The Consortium: An autonomous juridical subject with- – A specific mission – A definite starting point – A negotiating strategy to be implemented with the key actors (enterprises’ needs/ knowledge progress) – Long-term Programming – Services for innovation (patents) – Dedicated incubators – Training (professional training) Actions

ASTER AS COORDINATOR OF THE REGIONAL RESEARCH NETWORK TO ACHIEVE: 1. Economic and “social” exploitation of a knowledge driven economy, of research and of developed technology in the Emilia- Romagna region 2. Innovation and Technology Transfer in support of the region’s enterprises, with particular focus on SMEs

ASTER’S SHAREHOLDERS Regional Government (ERVET) CNR National Council for Science and Research ENEA National Body for Energy, Environment, Innovation Bologna UNIVERSITY Ferrara UNIVERSITY Modena and Reggio Emilia UNIVERSITY Parma UNIVERSITY CNA Emilia-Romagna (confederation for the Craft and Smes sector) CONFARTIGIANATO Emilia-Romagna (confederation of craftsmen) CONFCOOPERATIVE Emilia-Romagna (confederation of cooperatives) FEDERINDUSTRIA Emilia-Romagna (industrial federation) LEGACOOP Emilia-Romagna (cooperatives league) UNIONAPI Emilia-Romagna (confederation of Smes) UNIONCAMERE Emilia-Romagna (union of Chamber of Commerce)

ASTER: Emilia Romagna Region’s Consortium involving Universities, National Research Bodies and Entrepreneurs’ Associations. Technology transfer and Innovation for Enterprises in Emilia Romagna region, SMEs in particular Social and economic exploitation of research and technology developed in Emilia Romagna region SERVICES FOR Participation in projects and access to funding opportunities on both national and international levels, assistance to management Participation in projects and access to funding opportunities on both national and international levels, assistance to management Diffusion of scientific information and production of research and technology Diffusion of scientific information and production of research and technology Exploitation and organisation of the relationship between research and enterprises Exploitation and organisation of the relationship between research and enterprises Info and technical assistance for the exploitation of research and the protection of industrial property Info and technical assistance for the exploitation of research and the protection of industrial property Technical assistance in the access to funding and private venture capital Technical assistance in the access to funding and private venture capital BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT Administration Secretariat Institutional relations External relations EUROPEAN RESOURCE CENTRE FOR GUIDANCE Centre of excellence Autonomous division DIRECTOR TECHNICAL SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT Scouting of research and of areas of excellence Scouting of research and of areas of excellence Projects, concerted research contracts or contracts of strategic interestProjects, concerted research contracts or contracts of strategic interest New structures and new research and technology transfer activities New structures and new research and technology transfer activities Application of new technologies and diffusion of innovation Application of new technologies and diffusion of innovation High level scientific and technological training High level scientific and technological training Testing of methods of evaluation and rating of projects and innovative enterprises Testing of methods of evaluation and rating of projects and innovative enterprises EXPLOITATION OF REGIONAL RESEARCH Task force on VIth Framework Programme Research and NTBF spin-off Support to the mobility of researcher, also towards enterprises Training of personnel for technology transfer

SPINNER: A Consortium, a Project An Intermediary Organism for the management of a Global Grant with the objective of realising Measure D3 (development and strengthening of entrepreneurship, giving priority to new employment) and Measure D4 (improving human resources in the sector of research and technological development) of the Regional Operating Plan, Objective 3 ESF What it finances: ACTION 1 Research grants for enterprise creation (15600 Euros each E for specific services) Research grants for technology transfer (15600 Euros each E for specific services) Training activities and participation in events and seminars Special services (advanced training,tutoring for enterprise creation and Technology Transfer,, assistance on business planning, assistance on fundraising etc.) Consortium Constituted by Aster, Fondazione Alma Mater & Sviluppo Italia

SPINNER: The Network of Spinner Points PIACENZA PARMA REGGIO EMILIA MODENA FORLI’ BOLOGNA FERRARA RAVENNA RIMINI Results –

A model for Research and Innovation in Emilia-Romagna Research Policies Enterprise The Endless Transition: Relations Among Social, Economic and Scientific Development in a Triple Helix of University- Industry-Government Relations (Rio, 2000)

Regional Foresight Process of construction of a strategic perspective based on a continuous cycle: –Anticipation –Participation –Networking –Vision –Action –Evaluation-monitoring?

Indicators of Industrial Policy based on Innovation Fonte: ASTER – Bianchi, Ramaciotti, Montalti

Indicators of Industrial Policy based on Innovation Fonte: ASTER – Bianchi, Ramaciotti, Montalti

Therefore…… Regional Network Labs to Accelerate and improve the development of knowledge Reinforce the existing areas of excellence and create new ones Provide greater effectiveness and added value to relations with the economic fabric Render the Regional System of Research and Technology Transfer more competitive on a global scale

1.Environment 2. Food/Health 3. Motors/Vehicles 4. Information Technologies / Sensors / Logistics / Industrial Automation 5. Life Science 6. Biomedical / Electromedical 7. Nanotechnologies/Microsystem 8. Materials and Surfaces Main Areas of Interest

Structure of the Technical Scientific Advice For each of the main thematic areas a working group was constituted Each working group is coordinated by a member of the scientific committee and involves different experts coming from the industrial, the scientific and the academic world More than 150 experts from University, Research Bodies and Enterprises have so far been involved in the process

Conclusions Emerging From the Activities of the Thematic Working Groups The imbalance between Research and Productive Activities Ismore of an organisational nature than REAL The SMEs involved in the choice of “Innovative Project Ideas” clearly show a need for a change in the paradigm: systematic relations with Research are considered to be a vital need Network of Labs (some examples will follow)

EVALUATION EVALUATION OF OBJECTIVES – Priority evaluation defined on the basis of specific consensus meetings with Researhcers, Institutions and Enterprises EVALUATION OF PROJECTS – Carried out by a regional evaluation committee

LABORATORY OF ADVANCED SIMULATION FOR VEHICLES CFD Analysis of intake and exhaust parts and of the combustion rooms of internal combustion motors

ACTORS INVOLVED CNR di Bologna (ISMN-IMM -ISOF) S 3 INFM - Modena Dip. Biochimica Moruzzi, University of Bologna Dip. Chimica Ciamician, University of Bologna Dip. Fisica, University of Parma Dip. Chimica, University of Ferrara Some high-tech SMEs THEMES Development of nano structured functional materials Development of top-down and bottom-up submicro and nano manufactured technologies Development of integrated nanostructures in mesoscopic systems for applications in the electronic, the optoelectronic, the environmental and the biodiagnostic fields Development of abilitating technologies in micro technologies with particular reference to MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems) & MEOMS (Micro-Electro-Optical Mechanical-Systems) for advanced equipment including the aerospatial sector Creation and development of new instruments of nano manufacture and nano manipulation in order to increase the productive potential of “the ultra high vacuum (UHV) technological district” REGIONAL INTERDISCIPLINARY LABORATORY OF OF NANOTECHNOLOGIES & MICROSYSTEMS

The Regional Network of Labs offers a new intervention model of great potential. A continuous and effective cooperation with the actors involved in the Regional Research & TT Network will exploit Research Excellence by making it available to the economic fabric