Institute for Industrial Promotion Overview of the Innovation System in Italy: the Role of Intermediaries

Transcription

1 Overview of the Innovation System in Italy: the Role of Intermediaries Rome, 13 th December 2002

2 Index of contents A. Overview of innovation in Italy B. Intermediaries C. Associations and networks of intermediaries RIDITT Project

3 A. Overview of Innovation in Italy Institute for Industrial Promotion

4 Overview of the Innovation System in Italy: Public bodies The Innovation system in Italy is characterised by the presence of different public bodies working at local and national level. In particular, the main public bodies involved are the following: At central level: The Ministry of Productive Activities (MAP); The Ministry of Instruction, of University and Research (MIUR); The Ministry of Technological Innovation (MIT) 1. At local level: The twenty Italian Regions, which already provide or are beginning to provide tools for innovation and technology transfer support. The National research system plays an important role. It is made up of 77 Universities, distributed throughout the country, and many Research Institutes, which include the CNR (National Council for Research), ENEA (Agency for New technologies, Energy and the Environment), INFM (National Institute for the Physics of Matter), INFN (National Institute for the Nuclear Physics), and ASI (Italian Space Agency). ( 1 ) Set up in 2001 to promote e-government and the information society

5 Overview of the Innovation System in Italy: The Service Bodies In the framework of the activities of innovation promotion and technology transfer for SMEs, the public bodies are supported by many actors. Some of them act at National level and play an important role in the linking between institutions and the productive system, operating directly (Confindustria, Unioncamere, Institute for Industrial Promotion, etc.) or via specialised companies (Specialised Agencies of the Chamber of Commerce, Agitec Agency of Innovation Technology, etc.). Other bodies work and provide services at local level. At this point in time there is no official National register which collects all the service structures specialised in technology transfer. According to an IPI survey, that is still to be completed, there are around 300 active structures in this area. For this document a distinction has been made between the intermediaries (Science and Technology parks, Structures for Start-up Business Support, Specialised Services Centres and Nonspecialised Service Centres) and their networks/associations.

6 B. Intermediaries Institute for Industrial Promotion

7 Intermediaries For the analysis, intermediaries involved in Innovation and Technology Transfer, have been divided in the following way: Science and Technology Parks (STP) Structures supporting local economic development through cooperation between the research and business contexts (science and technology parks, research parks, technology poles, etc.); Structures for Start-up Business Support Structures supporting the creation of innovative enterprises or their modernisation (incubators, members of BIC [1] and CISI [2] networks, etc.); Sectoral Service Centres Structures providing innovation and technology transfer services related to a specific productive sector (textile, agro-food, etc.) or to a specific technology (laser, microelectronics, etc.); Non-specialised Service Centres Structures providing innovation and technology transfer services without a specific sectoral or technological focus. [ 1 ] Business Innovation Center. [ 2 ] Integrated Centres of Entrepreneurhip Development.

8 Science and Technology Parks A Science Park is an organisation managed by specialised professionals, whose main aim is to increase the wealth of its community by promoting the culture of innovation and the competitiveness of its associated businesses and knowledge-based institutions. To enable these goals to be met, a Science Park stimulates and manages the flow of knowledge and technology amongst universities, R&D institutions, companies and markets; it facilitates the creation and growth of innovation-based companies through incubation and spin-off processes; and provides other value-added services together with high quality space and facilities. (IASP - International Association of Science Parks). In Italy there is a growing number of Science and Technology Parks which perform many activities, such as R&D, incubation, technology brokerage and innovation support. The first Science Park was established in 1982; a national programme in the 90s extended the presence of these intermediaries across the whole country, giving particular momentum to their diffusion in the economically depressed areas. Twenty-nine Science and Technology Parks are now part of the Association of Italian Science and Technology Parks (APSTI), which was founded in 1989.

9 AREA: general characteristics Main characteristics Description: AREA is one of the main science and technology parks in Europe. It houses 70 centres, companies and institutions which have more than 1600 employees. There are many sectors of activity, including, among others, industrial automation, biotechnologies, telecommunications, new materials, multimedia systems. Mission The main purpose is to develop scientific research in the high technology sectors, supporting innovation and technology transfer to enterprises, especially SMEs, in order to promote modern economic development of the regions. Governance The park is managed by a public research body, the Consorzio per l AREA di ricerca scientifica e tecnologica di Trieste. Participants of the consortium are the Universities of Trieste and Udine, the National Council of Research and the main National and Local Scientific Institutions, as well as the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region and the most important local bodies of the Region. Activities and revenue model Activity Besides research activities, AREA provides qualified services for technology transfer and the diffusion of innovation to economic and productive areas, services for the management of quality and safety in the company, and advanced training. Network AREA participates in several networks. In particular, it has partnerships with and cooperates with IASP (International Association of Science Parks), EBN (European Business Network), APSTI (Association of Italian scientific and technology parks), Universities and National and International Institutes. It is member of the Innovation Relay Centre IRENE. Revenue The Park receives funds from: the European Union (this is included in the area of objective 2), Italy and the independent Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

10 AREA: supply services for innovation Description of services AREA provides a wide set of services, which include: Diffusion of innovation. AREA acts constantly for the enterprises of the region, through specific interventions and providing services of: - Technology audit; - Tutoring; - Validation of entrepreneurial ideas; - Studies of sectors and diverse enterprises. Creation of enterprises. The Park works actively for the highly specialised enterprises. For that reason, it promotes specific projects and provides start-up businesses with appropriate spaces, structures, services and laboratories. Training. AREA manages programmes of: training, permanent updating and qualification of human resources for the centres situated in AREA Science Park as well as for laboratories and enterprises of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The purpose of this activity is to enhance the development of the territorial scientific and economic system through the improvement of the quality of technical and intellectual work. In the context of training activities, educational testing and innovative methodologies are widely used; for instance long distance learning (e-learning). Financial services. AREA provides the following assistance services : Preparation of feasibility studies; Drafting of business plans; Information on financial tools; Assistance in the drafting of demands for funds.

11 AREA: Novimpresa project Description The Novimpresa project is an AREA initiative, aiming to promote the diffusion of innovation technology to SMEs. The projects is born from the need to provide the enterprises of Friuli-Venezia Giulia with a wide range of know-how, developed in the Region inside the two Universities, the scientific centres of excellence and AREA. The project followed three phases : 1. Creation of a Technology Observatory which, via the use of a benchmarking tool, has allowed enterprises to create their own, personalised technological profile. 2. Setting up of an off-line set of services, including technology audit, information, assistance, sectoral studies, etc. 3. Implementation of an on-line set of services, and in particular: - Specialised services (self- diagnosis software for introducing ISO 9000 quality-certification in enterprises, software for the optimisation of human resource management, simulators); - Technology services (catalogue of competences, partner scouting, studies, etc.); - Information services (funding, document research, technical laws, etc.); - Patent assistance services (information and consulting).

12 AREA: go to market Go to market The relationship with enterprises in AREA Science Park can be developed in the following way: On line AREA guarantees the possibility to have direct access to a series of services through the web site. Among them: search engine for technologies, publications of studies and research, relations of meetings, self- diagnosis ISO 9000, simulators, list of ready to use technology offers, partner scouting (in cooperation with the IRENE IRC), information on available funding for innovation at local/national/european level Off line AREA spreads services via the centres, institutions and companies of the local market. This happens through in house research, direct consulting and diffusion of information through informatic and traditional support

13 TECNOPOLIS: general characteristics Main charatteristics Governance and activity Description: Tecnopolis was, together with AREA, among the first science and technology parks to operate in Italy, around the mid 80s. The Park has more than 23,000 metres squared, of which 17,000 is utilised as scientific labs, halls, meeting and documentation rooms, and around 2,500 metres squared is used to house start-up businesses. Technopolis has 196 employees, in addition to 150 people that work in the 29 enterprises and organisations located in the incubator inside the Park. Mission The mission of Technopolis is to support the development of the local economic system through the strategic use of innovation; in this sense, it represents one of the main points of reference for enterprises and public administrations of Puglia and Mezzogiorno of Italy. Assetto proprietario/governance Tecnopolis CSATA Novus Ortus is a non-profit, limited responsibility, consortium company, in which participates Universities (Università degli Studi of Bari, Politecnico of Bari, Università degli Studi of Lecce), public bodies and several enterprises. Activities Tecnopolis is a mulitsectoral reality, active mainly in Puglia Region, functioning as a district of innovation, centre of technology know-how, actor in territorial development, pole of high level training and centre for international cooperation (in Europe and the Mediterranean). Services available for public or private clients include support for the start-up businesses, management of information services, promotion of technology transfer and innovation brokerage.

14 TECNOPOLIS: relationship with the territory Networking Clients and partner Network Scientific and Technology Parks: Tecnopolis is actively involved in the promotion and development of the Science and technology Parks network. In particular, it is a promoting partner of: APSTI (Association of Italian Scientific and Technology parks); IASP (International Association of Science Parks); AURRP (Association of University Related Research Parks). Associations e consortium Tecnoplis participates in several consortiums (COAF, QSEAL, etc.) and also in the following associations: AIRI (Italian Association of Industrial Research); ETAN (European Technology Assessment Network); FAST (Federation of Scientific and Technical Associations); APRE (Agency for the Promotion of European Research). Partner, customers and clients Tecnopolis activities involve many subjects, and are developed, among others, together with: Institutions: GD of the European Union, Ministries, the Region of Puglia and Local bodies; Enterprises: big enterprises (IBM, Alenia, Olivetti, etc.) and SMEs of Puglia and southern of Italy; Special companies: ENEL, Azienda Ferrotranviaria North Bari etc. Business associations.

15 TECNOPOLIS: services supply for innovation Description of services The activities of Technopolis sustaining innovaiton are very diverse, and include, among others, the following: Sustenance of innovation in the local system and support of development via, among others, provision of information services, technology transfer, creation of enterprises, consulting, being at the disposition of laboratories, assistance with patents. In particular, Tecnopolis is: Laboratory of Highly Qualified Research; Coordinator of the Innovation Relay Centre IRIDE; Information point of the agency APRE (information on European Union financing for R&D); Centre of Entrepreneurial Innovation for the Region of Puglia; Accreditation subject for Technical Assistance for Promoters of Territorial Pacts, in temporary association with Finpuglia; Subject for the carrying out of the Measure 4.1 (for the sustenance of innovation in SMEs) in the Regional Operational Programme (POR) ; Subject, that in temporary association with CISI PUGLIA and the science park PASTIS CNRSM will carry out the Measure B of the Konver Measure Puglia Programme for information and consulting of enterprises, at a distance, for the adoption of clean and secure industrial technologies; Agency for Promotion of Work and Enterprise; UNI CEI point for free and paid consultation on national and international technical laws PAT LIB, international centre of patent information for UIBM (Italian office for Patents and Brands) and EPO (European Patent Office). Sustenance of innovation in Third World Countries and Countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Tecnopolis is registered in the Central Consultancy Register of DG1A in quality of consulting enterprises for the PHARE TACIS programmes.

16 Structures for Start-up Business Support These structures are either incubators or other business support organisations, such as Business Innovation Centres (BIC) and Integrated Centres for Entrepreneurship Development (CISI). Incubators can be defined as structures nurturing young firms in order to help them survive and grow during the start-up period. They provide a wide range of services, including logistics, financial assistance and training. BIC and CISI are organic, regional structures offering support to innovative SMEs. BIC originated from an E.U. initiative and CISI form a national one. They both give assistance in the creation and modernisation of enterprises. The incubators operating in Italy are both privately and publicly financed. The main aims of publicly financed incubators are fostering local development and supporting specific productive sectors. Privately financed incubators are profit-oriented and provide access to venture capital. A great number of incubators are located in the North of the country, and are hosted by Science Parks. The BIC and CISI networks cover the whole country and are particularly active in the Southern Regions, supporting the development of local economic systems.

17 The Innovative Enterprise Incubator of the Polytechnic of Turin (I3P): general description Structure Main characteristics Province of Turin Chamber of Commerce of Industry and Handicraft of Turin Finpiemonte S.p.A. Polytechnic of Turin Description The Innovative Enterprise Incubator of the Polytechnic of Turin offers centralised services, consulting support for enterprise creation and management, a stimulating cultural environment and visibility towards the external world and the market. SME Consortium company Enterprise incubator SME SME SME SME Mission To encourage and support students, graduates and employees involved in the creation of new enterprises; to enhance the local entrepreneurship through technical and scientific support. Governance The incubator has a private component, but it is mainly public. Main bodies involved are Polytechnic of Turin, Province of Turin, Chamber of Commerce of Industry and Handicraft and Finpiemonte S.p.A. I3P is a non-profit company with shared capital.

18 I3P: organisation/network and offerings set in the context of innovation Organisation/Network On December 10, 2001, the Industrial Union of Turin (Unione Industriale di Torino) made an agreement with I3P. Through this agreement, the enterprise located within the incubator can join the association for free. I3P organized an international workshop with the Agency for Investment of Turin and Piedmont (ITP - Agenzia per gli Investimenti in Torino e Piemonte). Hewlett Packard joined forces for the sponsorship of an open space laboratory. I3P organized the first meeting among university incubators. The participants of the meeting were the ENEA, the Enterprise Accelerator of Bovisa (Acceleratore di impresa di Bovisa - Politecnico di Milano), and various universities (such as University of Studies of Bologna and University Federico II of Naples). Service description The enterprise incubator is an equipped space with advanced research structures. It hosts, at reduced costs, start-up enterprises during the first 3-5 years of their life cycle. The structure offers centralized and essential services, consulting management support, and visibility to the external market. A pre-incubation period is provided, in which training seminars related to the preparation of a business plan and support of experts are supplied. Basic services (consulting of first level including the access to public and private financings, library access, secretary, telephone, fax, internet access) and specific services (specialised consulting, administrative and financial supports etc..). Facilitated access to the laboratories of the Polytechnic and to the provider of funds. Services offered include enterprise tutorials on marketing & sales, management and human resources.

19 I3P: go to market Go to market SMEs can join the initiatives of the incubator in the following ways: The start-ups must prepare, with the support of the incubator, a convincing feasibility plan covering technicalinnovative, financial and market aspects. Enterprises with less than a year of life can immediately apply to join the incubator. Start-ups and already existing enterprises can participate to: Workshops Meetings on the Italian university incubators. The aim is to exchange points of view, information about the activities and the policies developed by each institute regarding entrepreneurial promotion, to identify synergies and possible common actions in the future. Customer profile: Employee, students and graduated at the polytechnic, external entrepreneurs, enterprises with less than a year of life. The average number of enterprises incubated is 35. At the moment the incubator hosts 21 enterprises.

20 Service Centres Service Centres are organisations that are aimed at answering enterprises concrete needs through the supply of specific services in the fields of production, organisation, management and marketing. The Centres can be either Specialised or non-specialised, depending on the focus (sectoral or multisectoral) of the services they offer. The Service Centres are closely linked to local areas and are often established as non profit companies whose capital is subscribed by local bodies (Municipalities, Regions, Universities, industrial associations, etc.), single enterprises and consortiums of enterprises. The Centres are often characterised by great flexibility and an extremely slender organisational structure both in terms of personnel and management. The Centres staff is numerically limited (the average number is between seven and fifteen people) and highly qualified. Services offered by the Centres include training, applied research, technical assistance and assistance for ceritifications.

21 Demo Center: general description Main characteristics Description The structure, operating in the region of Emilia Romagna, develops applied researches for client enterprises. The researches are focused on product innovation of manufacturing enterprises or on problem solving concerning processes or products. Mission To spread knowledge across the productive systems. To offer to the enterprises and in particular to the SMEs located in the region of Emilia Romagna all the necessary tools to access the production and automation systems, supplying knowledge and technical support. Ownership structure/governance Demo Center is an initiative of the main entrepreneurial associations and public entities in the region of Emilia Romagna, such as ERVET and the General Confederation of Industry of Emilia- Romagna. Other associates are enterprises of the mechanical, electromechanical, electronic and similar sectors. Network and revenue model Network Demo Center has activated several laboratories, in collaboration with universities, category associations, research centres (both in Italy and abroad) and territorial entities. Its activities involve continuously technical and scientific partners from Italy and from abroad. Demo Center has at its disposal a Research and Development Center for Industrial Informatics (RSI Center). RSI aims to study new methodologies and develops IT instruments to support industrial production. Revenue model The projects developed by Demo Center are financed by the EU, MIUR (ex MURST) and by other entities and local institutions.

22 Demo Center: offering set in the context of innovation (1/2) Service description High importance is given to the Virtual Enterprise sector, in which Demo Center operates since 1993 in partnership with other companies. A Virtual Enterprise is a network made up of autonomous enterprises, most of them are SMEs using web based ICT instruments to support customer related activities, planning, distributed planning, scheduling, supply, transports, suppliers evaluation. The Virtual Technology Agency (ATV - Agenzia Tecnologica Virtuale) is the technological brokerage service provided through the Internet. ATV is developed by the Society for Economy Promotion of Modena (ProMo) and managed by Demo Center. ATV identifies the scientific information sources and the development opportunity for the innovation technology. It classifies, filters and enhances the gathered information, offering them to enterprises. Research services on request (financial facilities are provided). The aim of the researches is the introduction of product innovation or the solution of specific problems related to productive processes or products. The applicative spectrum is wide: from industrial process automation to new electronic products development, from the identification and experimentation of new innovative materials to the set up of new machinery for industrial processing. Drafting of research projects. Demo Center supports enterprises in the preparation of financing requests related to European, national and local funds. Consulting services and collaboration with enterprises which are interested in the use of financing facilities to obtain technology innovation or to manage application research. Training services, e-learning.

23 Demo Center: offering set in the context of innovation (2/2) Description of the Club D services Description Club D is the club for the users of advanced information services designed and implemented for the innovative enterprise. Services Preferential access: on line access to technical and informative documentation, participation to events. Preferential access to the qualified laboratories of the Ministry of Instruction University and Research, and to all the services/initiatives of the centre. Technology Monitoring: access to the services of the Virtual Technology Agency, representing the first example in Italy of monitoring and systematic research on the Internet of patent information, technological skills and results of applied research. The enterprise has the possibility to join the International Relations Network (R.I.), developed and structured by Demo Center. Access to the Technology Demonstration Program (D.T.) by Demo Center. The enterprise can create technology information initiatives with Demo Center, and promote the results of applied research. Personalised services Demo Center also offers personalised services: D-Fin, contains the information, resources and instruments to exploit financing opportunities related to research and technology development D-R&S, contains the information, resources and instruments to maintain a high level of knowledge on the technology state of the art throughpersonalized technology brokerage services D-Pro, contains the information, resources and instruments to have access to the quick prototyping technologies D-Norm, contains the information, resources and instruments useful to maintain a high level of knowledge regarding national and international normative (UNI, ISO, CEI, etc.) through a personalized normative brokerage service D-Lab aims to stimulate the diffusion of project technologies, and the development of materials and powders.

24 Assotec: general description and organisational framework Main characteristics Description Assotec is a non-profit society supporting innovation among SMEs through technology brokerage. Mission To supply technical and scientific information, to analyse SME technological needs and to identify links with technology offer and research funds. Governance Three institutional bodies, representing the entrepreneurial and scientific world, founded Assotec in 1997 to provide innovation support to SMEs: Assolombarda, Chamber of Commerce of Milan (Camera di Commercio di Milano) and National Research Council (CNR- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche). Organisation/Network: Collaborations The National Research Council (CNR), the mayor national research institution for general scientific competence and coverage of the territory. Ministry of University, Scientific and Technology Research. CONFINDUSTRIA (general confederation of Italian industry) which provides Assotec with a general vision of the aspects related to enterprise competitiveness. CEA French Office for Atomic Energy: if offers access to a network of laboratories and useful competences also to participate to European projects. Press collaborations: Assotech collaborates with several magazines, such as: Mercato Globale (fortnightly bulletin of the Chamber of Commerce of Milan) and L imprenditore (monthly magazine of the Small Industry of the Industrial Confederation).

25 Assotec: offerings set in the context of innovation Service description Preliminary evaluation of the enterprise s state of technology to compare it to the sector s state of the art. This phase often requires a direct on site intervention. Evaluation and selection of the appropriate funds, through a constant monitoring of the legislation. Creation of partnerships with the most suitable scientific partners, including consultants, university researchers and laboratories. Complete support during the project drafting phase, the control phase and the phase of examination with the public authorities; time reduction and speed up of bureaucratic procedures. Technical and scientific information Information support on EU/National/Regional facilities regarding research and innovation Assotec supplies test and measure laboratories Technical consulting for innovation (study of new processes, products, innovation research support). Identification and validation of opportunities to acquire technologies for product and process innovation. Assotec proposes the survey dove si fa Ricerca, containing information about researchers and their results relevant for industry. Assotec promotes, in collaboration with research centres and universities, training days and courses related to innovation management. The aim of the events is to develop skills matching SMEs needs.

26 Assotec: go to market Go to market The information retrieval is based on the consultation of sector-related and specialised databases. On line consultation of the bulletin on financial facilities regarding innovation. On line consultation of technical catalogues, detailed presentation of all the support measures regarding autonomous projects on innovation, financial facilities, etc.. Links with other research structures/organisations. Monitoring of specialized sectors, through the participation to congresses and international exhibitions. Organization of meetings, promotion of training days and courses related to innovation management methodologies On line consultation of the certified laboratory register. Monthly bulletin containing news on incentives and facilities directed to industrial R&D and technology innovation. Customer profile ASSOTEC is directed to all enterprises and in particular to SMEs operating in the sectors of industry services and interested in updating their technology level through innovative projects.

27 C. Associations and networks innovation and technology transfer support

28 C. Associations and Networks of Intermediaries Institute for Industrial Promotion

29 Associations and Networks : Brief Overview In Italy there is no association or network in existence that collects together all intermediaries which support innovation and technology transfer. The existing associations and networks, in fact, are generally characterised by a strong specialisation, both in a sectoral and geopolitical sense. This document describes APSTI, the Association of Italian Science and Technology Parks.

30 APSTI: Association of Italian Science and Technology Parks THE NETWORK DESCRIPTION L APSTI, set up in 1991, is the Network of the Italian Science and Technology Parks (STP), whose main function is to coordinate member activities and represent them. MISSION APSTI aims at building opportunities for National and International cooperation for its members, diffusing between them strategic information related to specific industrial sectors, promoting comparative initiatives between its members on specific topics of STP management, with the possibility of benchmarking and self-evaluation, increasing the visibility of APSTI and therefore also its members at local, national and international level. NETWORKING The APSTI Network is part of IASP (International Association of Science Parks).

31 APSTI: Association of Italian Science and Technology Parks ACTIVITY 1/4 The activities carried out by APSTI can be divided in the following way: Internal Activities (directed to members); External Activities. INTERNAL ACTIVITIES They can come from specific members requests (pull) as well as directly from APSTI initiatives (push). In this last case, they usually take the form of propositions to members, that are then transformed into concrete activities/services.

32 APSTI: Association of Italian Science and Technology Parks ACTIVITY 2/4 The following illustration shows the typical internal services provided by APSTI and the existing relationship flows between the network and the single participants. Services request APSTI Services Information and Promotion Best Practice Identification Training Members representation with Institutions Legislative initiative Services Proposals/initiatives APSTI members

33 APSTI: Association of Italian Science and Technology Parks ACTIVITY 3/4 EXTERNAL ACTIVITIES The external activities (addressed to Entities/Institutions/Companies) are developed directly by the single STP members. The APSTI system can be, indirectly, imagined in a three-dimensional model, where there is the following set of macro offerings: sectoral, technological, services. Sector Discipline Inside the matrix, are the single APSTI members specialised in a specific (or more specific) combination/s/sector/discipline/services. Services

34 APSTI: Association of Italian Science and Technology Parks ACTIVITY 4/4 The list of the supply set for every macro-variable, used directly by single APSTI members. Services Enterprise incubation Project management R&D Venture Capital Technology Transfer Information search Training Business Connection Consultancies E-commerce Human resources search Telematic Networks Certification Meeting organisation Disciplines Biology Chemistry Economy and Finance Electronics Industrial and business data- processing Structural Engineering Management Marketing Mechanics Medicine Design E-business Microelectronics Environmental engineering Sectors Agro-food Environment Industrial Automation Biomedical Chemistry Energy Pharmacy ICT Metal mechanics Public Admin. Wood furniture leather, footwear Textile Tourism

35 RIDITT Project Italian Network for Innovation Promotion and Technology Transfer to SMEs

36 RIDITT Project The Italian Ministry of Productive Activities has charged IPI wi th the task of developing a pilot project aiming at setting up a national network (RIDITT). The main goal of the RIDITT network is to validate, integrate and rationalise the supply of services offered by Italian intermediaries to enhance SMEs innovation both at sectoral and geographical level. To make the most of the Italian innovation system, the project supports and complements the INSME initiative and enables intermediaries to promote advanced technology services on international markets.

37 RIDITT Project The Italian innovation system is characterised by a great number of service structures specialised in technology transfer, operating both at national and local level. According to an IPI survey, that is still to be completed, there are more than 800 active structures (Science and Technology Parks, Incubators, Specialised and Non-specialised Services Centres, Special Agencies of Chambers of Commerce, etc.). Several initiatives to promote the setting up of networks are carried out by many players, such as Local Institutions (Regions), Chambers of Commerce and Business Associations. All these initiatives have a limited action range both in terms of geographic (regional) and sectoral specialisation. The Italian system lacks a national point of reference which organises the supply of services, integrating and strengthening the existing networks.

38 RIDITT Project The network will be coordinated by a back office and supported by an Internet portal (hub) connecting networks and intermediaries supplying services to SMEs. Sectoral Networks Science and Technology Parks Regional Networks University and Research Bodies Liason Offices RIDITT Chambers of of Commerce and Business Associations Non specialised service centers Specialised service centers Incubators

39 RIDITT Project The Italian Government is strongly committed to setting up the INSME and the related national network, in order to strengthen the supply of services to SMEs in the field of innovation and technology transfer. The initiative is challenging and requires, for its implementation, the support of all the actors involved in the promotion of technology transfer to SMEs.