1. Agencies and sectors for technology and innovation Innovation Pole: Services and Networking for Competitiveness and Innovation in the Lombardy Region Attilio Martinetti Director Euro Info Centre IT 351 – Special Agency of the Milan Chamber of Commerce OPEN DAYS 2006 Brussels - Prague House 10 October 2006

2. Overview: Tools to promote innovation and competitiveness Innovation Pole: catalyser of all dynamic local energies and players (other entities, associations, universities /research centres, SMEs) Networking through international networks (IRC, EIC, BICs, Europe Innova), with centres of excellence Framework Agreement for competitiveness between the system of the Chambers of Commerce and the Lombardy Region (2006- 2008)

3. Introduction: Lombardy Region Lombardy is one of the four ENGINES in Europe Lombardy economy represents one-fifth of the italian economy, with a GDP (Euro 229 billion in 2000) equal to 20.7% of the national GDP Enterprises account approximately for 15% of the national total: there are an overall 740,000 enterprises Total R&D spending (in % of GDP): 1.17%, divided in the following sectors: public sector 0.31% (Government 0.12%, University 0.19%), and private sector 0.86%.

4. Innovation Pole Objectives: To facilitate innovation, particularly of SMEs To participate in the definition of research and innovation policies at regional level To promote a cultural mobilisation towards innovation Driving principles: Users demand – researches conducted together with the Politecnico of Milan, UNIMITT, Bocconi University Analysis of innovation services/centres at regional and international level A comprehensive and responsive supply of services for companies

5. Users demand: Orientation to innovation

6. Users demand INNOVATORSASPIRINGINERT Use of innovation services (offered by private sector - consultants) 68%43%24% Use of innovation services (offered by institutional bodies) 46%32%24%

7. Analysis of supply services At regional level: tool QuESTIO (www.questio.it)www.questio.it At international level: visit to the following centre of excellence: Zenith Gmbh – Dusseldorf (DE) Steinbeis – Stuttgart (DE) Arist – Lyon (FR) Cidem- Barcelona (ES) Méditerranée Technologies - Marseille (FR) Pera Group - Melton Mowbray (UK) Innovation Philadelphia- Philadelphia (USA) ERBI/St. Johns Innovation Centre - Cambridge (UK) Technopark Zurich - Zurigo (CH) Chicago Technology Park - Chicago (USA) Provincia di Trento, Agenzia di Sviluppo, Microsoft Research Centre (I)

8. Framework Agreement for Competitiveness (2006-2008) Between the Lombardy Region and the system of the Chambers of Commerce (+ Province of Milan) Rationalisation of existing measures and optimization of resources 5 sectors of intervention: innovation, internationalisation, territorial marketing, P.A. modernization, intervention towards artisans and micro enterprises 2006-2008: 206.8 mln

9. Joint call for proposal for innovation projects (2006) Resources: 21 mln (16 mln innovation projects; 5 mln patenting and technological consultancy services) Beneficiaries: SMEs, aspiring entrepreneurs Contribution: Innovation projects: 50% eligible costs (max. 50.000 ) Patenting: 50% eligible costs (max. 14.000 ) Technological consultancy services: 50 % eligible costs (max. 10.000 )

10. Major issues Consensus and alliances at local, regional level (see creation of 2 new committees: Consulta and Laboratorio) Contents / services rationalisation and creation (see other complementary demand analyses) Alliances at international level (see 3 pilot projects)

11. Future outlook: National Agency for Innovation The National Agency has been set up by the 2006 financial act Its seat has been assigned at the Milan Chamber of Commerce, and, consequently at the Innovation Pole The 2007 financial act allocates to the Agency 5 mln yearly. The regional model of intervention could be transferred at national level, with a particular focus on industrial districts, networks of enterprises