RIDITT - Prague

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25 January 2007 Ms. Simona Marzetti The Role
of Networks to Promote Innovation and Technology
Transfer to SMEs Direction for Innovation and
Technology Transfer IPI Institute for
Industrial Promotion
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The Italian innovation system Overview
Enterprises
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The Italian innovation system Innovation demand
The Italian productive system is characterised
mainly by small enterprises with a strong
specialisation in low and medium technology
sectors, such as agrofood, textile and clothing,
footwear, furniture, mechanics and capital goods.
The innovation model followed by the Italian SMEs
is mainly based on incremental innovation, such
as the acquisition of machines with embedded
technology, the style and the use of new
materials.
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The Italian innovation system Supply of services
Innovation Centres
Alongside the national research and university
system, RIDITT has identified 300 service centres
for innovation and technology transfer, sponsored
by entrepreneurial associations, chambers of
commerce and local public authorities.
The supply of services is often strongly locally
characterised, which, while having its
advantages, also produces a certain fragmentation
of the innovation opportunities.
Distribution of Italian innovation centres.
Source IPI, 2005.
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The Italian innovation system Supply of services
Innovation Centres
An analysis carried out by IPI on Italian
innovation centres shows the considerable
diffusion of strucutures such as thematic service
centres, science and technology parks, as well as
local development agencies and special agencies
of the Chambers of commerce. The following table
shows the breakdown of innovation centres by
clusters.
Source IPI, 2005.
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RIDITT - The Italian Network for Innovation and
Technology Transfer to Enterprises
RIDITT, the Italian Network for Innovation and
Technology Transfer to Enterprises, is an
initiative aimed at improving the competitiveness
of the Italian productive system by strengthening
and integrating the supply of services for
innovation. Launched in 2003, the initiative is
promoted by the Italian Ministry of Economic
Development and is managed by its Agency, the
Institute for Industrial Promotion (IPI).

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RIDITT Objectives

• Promoting knowledge sharing on methods, good
  practices and resources on innovation and
  technology transfer
• Encouraging the marketing of services for
  innovation and technology transfer to enterprises
• Strengthening the existing innovation networks
  and encouraging the creation of new ones on an
  interregional, sectoral and technological basis
• Facilitating access to financial resources for
  the creation, extension and development of
  innovation networks
• Supporting the internationalisation of innovation
  centres and their associate companies, also
  through the INSME Association

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RIDITT Analysis and monitoring
RIDITT carries out an ongoing analysis and
monitoring on

• innovation programmes and policies a monitoring
  system has been set up on innovation programmes
  and calls at local, national and international
  level
• innovation and technology transfer centres
  RIDITT has identified 300 structures in Italy and
  performed an in-depth analysis on more than 100
  of them
• key technologies for the competitiveness of the
  Italian industry a study has led to the
  identification of 126 technologies and 1,400
  industrial applications which can play a pivotal
  role for the development of the Italian
  productive system

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RIDITT Information services
The RIDITT information services can be accessed
through the internet portal www.riditt.it
The portal provides innovation centres and SMEs a
clear and up to date framework on the offer of
services and tools available for technology
innovation. The portal is also the gate for
foreign players to access the Italian innovation
system. Services offered include- Catalogue of
competences- Technologies- Financial
resources- News events

• Monthly visitors over 4,500
• Monthly page views 20,000
• Monthly newsletter over 6,000

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RIDITTTraining
RIDITT carries out training courses in order to
improve the skills of innovation centres. During
2004 2005 the courses were attended by 300
professionals in representation of about 150
research and innovation centers, entrepreneurial
associations and enterprises. The themes
addressed are

• Marketing of innovation and technology transfer
  services to SMEs
• Funding of innovation projects (public grants,
  venture capital, etc.)
• Commercialisation of research results (patents,
  licensing and spin-off)
• Setting up of technology transfer projects
• .

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RIDITT Management of technology transfer
programmes
IPI manages pilot programmes, promoted by the
Ministry of Productive Activities, with the aims
to foster technology transfer from research
centres to SMEs (R3TI), as well as to set up high
tech incubators (Incubator programme).

• The R3TI programme supports four projects for the
  promotion and diffusion of key technologies in
  four major areas industrial automation and
  sensors biotechnologies advanced materials
  separation technologies.
• The Incubator programme, carried out in 2004 and
  2005, has led to the setting up of an incubator
  specialised in the biotech sector. The incubator
  has been inaugurated in Pula (Sardinia) on June
  2005.

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RIDITT R3TI The 4 technology transfer projects
Biotechnologies AGRIBIT - Transfer of
biotechnological innovations to the Apulian
agri-food system CNR ISPA, BariUniversity
of Bari CNA Puglia
Industrial Automation and Sensors Automation
technologies for food production quality and
safety University of Naples Federico
IIUniversity of Sannio University of Salerno
Confapi Campania Consorzio Technapoli, Science
and Technology Park of Salerno, Istituto
Tagliacarne
Advanced Materials S.I.S.T.E.M.A. Innovation
and development of advance material technologies
for the instrumental goods and aerospace
sectors. University of Rome Tor
Vergata University of Rome La Sapienza ISRIM
Confindustria Lazio AIAD TecnoPolo
Separation Technologies Membrane separation
techniques for the production of tomato and fruit
derivates SSICA Angri Industrial
Experimental Station for Food Preservation Italian
National Association for Food Preservation Chambe
rs of Commerce of Salerno
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ITALIAN NETWORK FOR INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
TRANSFER TO SMES
Tel. [phone] / 454 fax [phone] e-mail
info_at_riditt.it marzetti_at_ipi.it www.riditt.it -
www.ipi.it IPI Institute for Industrial
Promotion
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International Network for SMEs
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INSME in short

• An indipendent legal entity since early 2004
• A non for profit Association according to
  Italian Law to be regarded as a NGO at
  international level
• INSME is a
• CATALYSER of multiple actions
• FACILITATOR for multilateral dialogue and
  cross-border cooperation
• TRAIT DUNION among different stakeholders
• PARTNER/LEADER for joint international projects
• MULTIPLIER of opportunities
• BROKER for Members to foster public-private
  innovation partnerships
• INSME strategy for making innovation happen in
  SMEs based on
• Mutual learning approach
• Knowledge/problems sharing
• International networking and partnering
• Benchmarking

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INSMEs 2 Dimensions

• An international Forum for an open, regular
  political dialogue on SME innovation related
  issues involving major national and international
  players
• - GOVERNMENTS
• - INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
• - INTERNATIONAL FINANCING INSTITUTIONS

• A new actor and incubator for operational
  activities to be carried out with INSME Members
  and in cooperation with Partners at local and
  international level according to sectors and
  geographic areas of interest

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INSME is NOT

• An initiative financed/promoted by the European
  Commission and solely centered on Europe
• Its only a Sustaining Member is the Italian
  Government through IPI
• A financing institution to provide support for
  poverty alleviation and cooperation for
  development worldwide
• A one-stop-shop for directly providing individual
  SMEs with free services and information in all
  regions and all sectors
• Targeting all topics related to SMEs
• It is focussed on innovation and technology
  transfer

Its only Sustaining Member is the Italian
Government through IPI

• It is focussed on
• innovation and technology transfer issues
• the role of intermediary organisations and their
  networks

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Geographical representation of INSME Members
INSME has 82 Members from 34 countries of 5
continents
As of January 2007
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INSME Public Private representation
Both Policy Makers and Innovation players are
involved
2004
2007

As of January 2007
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INSME Activities

• INFORMATION
• TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
• TRAINING
• MATCHMAKING
• PROMOTION AND MARKETING
• RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS
• TUTORING

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INSME Members - International Organisations
8 International Organisations are Members of the
INSME Association - African Development Bank
Group - CEI - COMSATS - OSCE - RITLA -
UNCTAD - UNESCO - WIPO The INSME Association
was also granted the OECDs moral sponsorship and
consultative status by UNIDOs Industrial
Development Board.
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2006 INSME Training Programmes
2nd WIPO-INSME International Training on
The Role of Intellectual Property in Raising
Financing Opportunities for Small and
Medium-sized Enterprises WIPO, Geneva,
Switzerland, 11 12 July, 2006 (Participation
for free)
INSME - UNIDO International Training on
Business Start-up and Access to Finance for
SMEs and new Technology-Based Firms IPI, Rome,
Italy, 30 November 1 December,
2006 (Participation for free)
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www.insme.org


Making Innovation Happen

INSME Secretariat
Tel [phone] Fax 39 06
80972443 secretariat_at_insme.it www.insme.org