1. Research and Innovation Policy in Piedmont
Regione Piemonte

2. State vs Regional control in R&D matters
The fifth paragraph of the Italian Constitution attributes to the local authorities (Regions) the jurisdiction in the field of scientific and technological support
In 2005 the actual government founded the Local Authority for Research, Innovation and Internationalization
In January 2006 the local Council approved the first Law for Research and Innovation, whose aim is to organize, promote and coordinate the regional R&D system within the ERA.

3. University Piemonte Orientale
7 technological parks
4 universities
2 university incubators
Over 200 research centers
Over 250 labs
The actors
R&D 1,8% of local GDP
University of Torino
Regional system of research and innovation
Polytechnic of Torino
University Piemonte Orientale
Aerospace
cluster

4. The guidelines of local research policy
Selectivity in (limited) resources investment: the double-track strategy
Support to innovation demand and technology transfer
Human capital centrality
Support to the exploitation and the diffusion of the research and knowledge products
Alignment to European goals and performance evaluation criteria

5. Selectivity and double track strategy
Science-push
Life-science and biotechnology
Nanotechnology and advanced production processes
New materials
Alternative energies
Technology (demand) pull
Advanced logistic
Intelligent and sustainable mobility
Product traceability
Aerospace
Creative and multimedia companies
Heritage conservation and trasformation
Environmental safety
Agri-food sector
Advanced health services

6. Support to demand of innovation
Support to innovative supply chain as milieu of sustainable innovation
Support to technological platforms as crossing point between advanced technologies and customers demand
Support to new innovative SMEs
Strengthening the Region leading user role
Support to Joint university / enterprise research projects
User group projects

7. Human capital centrality
Researcher as main vector of technology transfer: researcher internship program in enterprises
Support to higher education programs and to Phds engagement in innovative enterprises
Brain drain contrast
Internationalization of high education

8. Support to the exploitation and the diffusion of the research and knowledge products
Service provider platform for
Centralized access to advanced professional services (e.g. IPRs management consultancy, risk fund for patents litigation, patent&innovation stock exchange, promotion of innovative start-ups and spin-outs..)
Decentralized services such as technological brokering, located in special TT unit (scientific and technological parks, competence centers)
Identification, training and management of a network of professionals in knowledge transactions

9. A new tool: from the network to the service provider
legal competence
economic - financial comp.
technological competence
informatics’ comp.
communication/marketing comp.
commercial comp.
comp. ….
selected suppliers
management comp.
services
contracts/agreements
public bodies
people
enterprises
customers
SERVICE PROVIDER
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION
through FINPIEMONTE
monitoring and control
strategic guidelines
data

10. The first opportunity: 2006 Call for Industrial Research and Pre-competitive Development Activities
6 sectors (alternatives and sustainable energies, sustainable mobility, biotech-life sciences, nanotech, aerospace, agri-food)
Total budget: 32 M€
Joint university-enterprises (SMEs + LEs) projects
Budget for project: M€ (50K€-200k€ for young researchers)
International evaluation panel (from FP6)
Support to young researchers

11. The inter-regional co-operation programs
At Italian level, with Emilia Romagna and Lombardia Regions, e.g. for a common labs’ benchmarking system and DB
At European level, Piedmont is involved in 3 Interreg programs, within:
Alps area
Mediterranean area
Central Europe area

12. The policy makers Finpiemonte Regione Piemonte Re/Think
Local Development Agency
Regione Piemonte
The local authority for research and innovation
Re/Think
Realities, Research & Innovation in Piedmont
Stake-holders committee
Evaluation panel

13. What’s the point
Piedmont owns high quality research and innovation human and physical assets it wants to continuously improve and keep competitive
Piedmont, with the new Ministry of Research and Innovation, is strongly investing money and political energy in R&D development strategy
The Piedmont’s goal is to became a Region with a real knowledge based economy in order to have a proper role within and a fruitful dialog with the European space of Regions.