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 FORSERVICES FOR

• Participation in projects and access to Participation in projects and access to funding opportunities on both national funding opportunities on both national and international levels, assistance to and international levels, assistance to managementmanagement

• Diffusion of scientific information and Diffusion of scientific information and production of research and technologyproduction of research and technology

• Exploitation and organisation of the Exploitation and organisation of the relationship between research and relationship between research and enterprises enterprises

• Info and technical assistance for the Info and technical assistance for the exploitation of research and the exploitation of research and the protection of industrial propertyprotection of industrial property

• Technical assistance in the access to Technical assistance in the access to funding and private venture capitalfunding and private venture capital

BOARD OF BOARD OF DIRECTORSDIRECTORS

PRESIDENTPRESIDENTAdministration

Secretariat

Institutional relations

External relations

EUROPEAN RESOURCE CENTRE FOR GUIDANCE

Centre of excellenceCentre of excellence

Autonomous divisionAutonomous divisionDIRECTORDIRECTOR

TECHNICAL TECHNICAL SCIENTIFIC SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEECOMMITTEE

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENTPLANNING & DEVELOPMENT

• Scouting of research and of areas of Scouting of research and of areas of excellenceexcellence

•Projects, concerted research Projects, concerted research contracts or contracts of strategic contracts or contracts of strategic interestinterest

• New structures and new research New structures and new research and technology transfer activitiesand technology transfer activities

• Application of new technologies and Application of new technologies and diffusion of innovationdiffusion of innovation

• High level scientific and High level scientific and technological trainingtechnological training

• Testing of methods of evaluation and Testing of methods of evaluation and rating of projects and innovative rating of projects and innovative enterprisesenterprises

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 ProjectAn Intermediary Organism for the management of a An Intermediary Organism for the management of a Global Global Grant Grant with the objective ofwith the objective of realising realising MeasureMeasure D3D3 (development (development and strengthening of entrepreneurship, giving priority to new and strengthening of entrepreneurship, giving priority to new employment) and employment) and Measure D4Measure D4 (improving human resources in (improving human resources in the sector of research and technological development) of the the sector of research and technological development) of the Regional Operating Plan, Objective 3 ESF 2000 - 2006Regional Operating Plan, Objective 3 ESF 2000 - 2006

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.)

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 –

Enterprise Creation Technology Transfer Final Dissert. Awards TOTALEvaluated 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

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 strategicperspective 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

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)

• 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

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