RESEARCH IN ITALY - Ice

6. Government Strategies, Policies, Programs & Investment6.1 IntroductionWhen analyzing two of the most important documents available today on Innovation Policy in Italy 19,20 it isclear that the Italian government is working to face and solve three main challenges:1. Shortage of innovation financing -especially venture capital;2. Talents - researchers, scientists, high-skilled human capital - brain-drain;3. Improvement of technology transfer mechanisms.Regarding the challenges concerning innovation, R&D policy objectives at national level are formallyoutlined in a “National Research Plan” (NPR) 21 . The NPR sets scientific research and technologicalinnovation together with reinforcement of education and training as major priorities. In particular, the NPRhighlights the importance of technology transfer and the need for strengthening networks and cooperationbetween public and private sectors - consortia of universities, laboratories and enterprises - asthe main tools for achieving a long term economic growth. The next NPR (2009-2013) is planned to bereleased in the next months by the Ministry.6.2 Action linesThe main action-lines implemented by the current Italian government can be summarized as follows:Modernization and digitalization of the public administration, implemented through e-gov 2012.“e-government 2012” was launched in January 2009 with the objective to recover the accumulated delayin the implementation of the Lisbon strategy through the modernization of the public administration. Thisplan is expected to generate important savings –a round €40 billion in the next 4-5 years - by increasingproductivity in the public sector; to reduce the P.A.’s administrative burden; and to have a booster effecton growth.Creation of public-private partnerships: Industria 2015.The Italian government’s flagship program to increase the competitiveness of the industrial system, whichincludes a specific focus on biotech, is Industria 2015, promoted by the Ministry of EconomicDevelopment, and launched in 2006. The strategy seeks: to take advantage of the opportunities arisingfrom the growth of private demand of highly innovative goods; to improve the capacity of the productivesystem to effectively fit the new needs characterizing an advanced society; to improve thecompetitiveness of traditional sectors by developing new synergies between technology producers andconsumer goods producers. Among the main actions planned are the Industrial Innovation Projects – IIPs-, which aim to stimulate and promote the development of innovative products and services in fivestrategic areas, namely Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Mobility, Life Sciences and Biotechnology, NewTechnologies for SME’s Development, and Innovative Technologies for the Enhancement of Cultural19 INNO-Policy Trend Chart – Innovation Policy Progress Report Italy, 2009: soon available online20ERAWATCH Country Report 2008: An assessment of research system and policies, Italy21 The National Research Plan for the years 2005-2007 was oriented towards 3 main action lines:1. Reinforcement of the scientific national level, attention to excellence, meritocracy, internationalization, economic growth and valorization ofthe human capital.2. Strengthening the technological level of the national productive system to maintain competitiveness, focusing on 10 strategic industrialresearch programs that imply the participation of universities and research centers.3. Support active participation in EU programs and international agreements.The new National Research Plan should be finalized and published by autumn 2009.Italian Trade Commission - New York200926