OPERATIONAL TOOLS IN SUPPORT OF THE REGIONAL
STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE
THE EXPERIENCE OF THE EMILIA ROMAGNA REGION
Paolo Bonaretti - ASTER
Trento, 6th October 2003
A NEW REGIONAL LAW ON RESEARCH & INNOVATION
(N.07/2002)
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
Strategic Objectives
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
Actions:Network Laboratories
• 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
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)
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 EmiliaRomagna 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
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
Administration
EUROPEAN RESOURCE
CENTRE FOR GUIDANCE
Secretariat
Institutional relations
DIRECTOR
External relations
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
• Participation in projects and access to
• Scouting of research and of areas of
funding opportunities on both national
and international levels, assistance to
management
excellence
• Exploitation and organisation of the
relationship between research and
enterprises
Centre of excellence
Autonomous division
SERVICES FOR
• Diffusion of scientific information and
production of research and technology
TECHNICAL
SCIENTIFIC
COMMITTEE
•Projects, concerted research
contracts or contracts of strategic
interest
• New structures and new research
and technology transfer activities
• Application of new technologies and
diffusion of innovation
• Info and technical assistance for the
exploitation of research and the
protection of industrial property
• High level scientific and
technological training
• Technical assistance in the access to
funding and private venture capital
• 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 2000 - 2006
Consortium Constituted by Aster, Fondazione Alma Mater & Sviluppo Italia
What it finances: ACTION 1
• Research grants for enterprise creation (15600 Euros each + 7000 E for specific services)
• Research grants for technology transfer (15600 Euros each + 2600 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.)
SPINNER: The Network of Spinner Points
PIACENZA
PARMA
FERRARA
REGGIO EMILIA
RAVENNA
MODENA
BOLOGNA
FORLI’
RIMINI
Results –
Enterprise Creation Technology Transfer Final Dissert. Awards TOTAL
Evaluated Approved Evaluated Approved Evaluated Approved Evaluated Approved
717
421
387
212
207
107
1.311
740
A model for Research and
Innovation in Emilia-Romagna
Enterprise
Policies
Research
The Endless Transition:
Relations Among Social,
Economic and Scientific
Development in a Triple
Helix of UniversityIndustry-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
Fonte: ASTER – Bianchi, Ramaciotti, Montalti
Fonte: ASTER – Bianchi, Ramaciotti, Montalti
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
Main Areas of Interest
1. Environment
2. Food/Health
3. Motors/Vehicles
4. Information Technologies / Sensors /
Automation
5. Life Science
6. Biomedical / Electromedical
7. Nanotechnologies/Microsystem
8. Materials and Surfaces
Logistics / Industrial
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
REGIONAL INTERDISCIPLINARY LABORATORY OF
OF NANOTECHNOLOGIES & MICROSYSTEMS
ACTORS INVOLVED
THEMES
• Development of nano structured functional materials
• CNR di Bologna (ISMN-IMM -ISOF)
• S3 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
• 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”
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