1. The role of clusters in the globalized economy of the Veneto Region Promoting innovation at regional level means elaborating policies that define new paradigms for a competitive development

2. Importance of clusters in the Veneto economy The Regional Council of Veneto has recognized 46 districts spread in 19 areas in Veneto. The greater concentration of industrial clusters is along Verona- Vicenza-Treviso axis The Veneto region includes 20% of Italian textile districts, 10% of leather shoe-manufacturing districts, 15% of engineering districts, as well as the main district for eyewear manufacturing in Italy

3. In this framework, policies supporting SMEs should: improve technological infrastructures promote the attraction of external investments develop new financial tools for innovation enhance flexibility and reduce the business red tape develop relationships among innovation the new knowledge based economy and regional economic clusters establish a European integrated platform in favor of new European networks of knowledge districts

4. The role of Chambers of Commerce in Veneto is: to identify, implement and promote at local level innovative EU policies for SMEs to enhance the SMEs access to EU programs to promote the role of networks and clusters and their co-operation to stimulate and implement successful conditions for the development of districts to help SMEs in implementing e-commerce in districts to establish science parks and research centers such as Treviso Tecnologica

5. Unioncamere del Veneto and its EIC: Support local initiatives that boost the local development and competitiveness (e.g. coordinates the WG of the Region, participates in the Regional Clusters Council, organize trainings and promotional activities and provide opinion for verifying the coherence between the objectives of patti di sviluppo with the ones of the Regional law) Have long experience in EU programmes and projects and via its EIC plays an intermediary role between the EU and the local SMEs (e.g. the EIC participates in the ACENET project aimed at fostering the transnational cooperation between Veneto clusters and European ones)

6. Distinguishing factors Three factors that distinguish Venetos districts from others: The new districts law in Veneto (L.R. 8/2003 – Productive clusters) The economic culture for districts, which is characterized by a large number of SMEs, self organization and by the overlapping of districts The internationalization of districts, where most products are labeled with a Made in Italy quality brand, e.g. in textile, furniture, leather, fashion and sports

7. Internationalization and new trade rules The internationalization and the new trade rules have brought two major needs: to increase competitiveness and cooperation between SMEs of the district to facilitate communication with the countries of delocalization

8. Districts in Veneto Glasses (BL) Renewable energies (BL) Turistic (BL) Thermae (PD) Air conditioning (PD) Meccanical Industry (PD) Biomedical (PD) Agricultural machinery (PD) Fishery (RO) Giostra (RO) Sportsystem of Montebelluna (TV) Wood furniture (TV) Hotels (TV) Prosecco (TV) Bioedilizia (TV) Milk-Cheese (TV) Fashion (TV) Plastic (TV) Bicycles (TV) Murano art (VE) Nautic (VE) Footwear (VE) Turistic district of VE, RO, TV, VI Cultural treasury (VE) Grafic (VR) Logistic (VR) Clothing (VR) Marble (VR) Footwear (VR) Classical furniture (VR) Termomeccanical (VR) Fruits and vegetables (VR) Winery (VR) Informatic and Tecnology (VR) Turistic of Garda (VR) Ceramic-artistic (VI) Artistic furniture Bassano (VI) Packaging (VI) Jewelery (VI) Meccatronica (VI) Tannery (VI) Turistic of Cimbra Mount (VI)

9. Montebelluna SportSystem district 9.000 employees 416 SMEs 31 million of shoes per year Turn over 1.2 billion per year (73% of which coming from exports) Production represents 60% of the Italian overall production of cycling shoes, and 80% of ice-skates

10. Footwear district of Verona 11 municipalities 7.000 employees 675 SMEs 45 millions of shoes per year Turn over 1.29 billion per year (70% of which from exports) Production represents 49% of the turn over of the shoes sector in Veneto and 10% of the Italian one

11. Factors of success 1.a mix of tradition and technology 2. excellent entrepreneurial dynamism 3. economic diversification 4. openness towards foreign markets 5. high research and innovation skills and infrastructures 6. strong cooperation between enterprises

12. Union of Chambers of Commerce of Veneto Gian Angelo Bellati (Director) Via delle Industrie 19/d 30175 Marghera (Venice) phone 0039041 0999311 fax 0039041 0999303 gianangelo.bellati@eurosportelloveneto.it www.ven.camcom.it www.eurosportelloveneto.it