Programme under the ‘Regional Competitiveness and Employment’ objective co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
Programme description
On 7 August 2007, the European Commission approved an Operational Programme for Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region for the period 2007-2013.
This Operational Programme comes under the ‘Regional Competitiveness and Employment’ objective. It has a total budget of some €347 million. The assistance provided by the European Union through the Regional Development Fund (ERDF) amounts to nearly €128 million, which represents around 0.4% of Community contributions to Italy under the cohesion policy for the period 2007-2013.
1. Purpose and aim of the programme
The strategy of the Operational Programme is based mainly on:
- the regional issues identified following analysis of the region’s potential;
- the Community and national strategic frameworks setting out the principles for the allocation of Community funding.
To contend with globalisation, production systems must be reorganised in order to be more competitive. Accordingly, sustainable development and the strengthening of research and innovation capabilities at both territorial and sectoral levels are at the heart of the region’s strategy.
Emilia-Romagna is also focusing on promoting ecological platforms in industrial zones and on doubling its renewable energy production.
The programme thus contributes towards achieving the objectives of the Lisbon Strategy in the field of economic competitiveness and employment. It also aims to:
- give a significant boost to research and technology transfer capabilities;
- target support for innovation;
- do more for the environment and sustainable development.
Consequently, the main areas covered by the programme are research, innovation, energy and the environment, including better exploitation of the environmental and cultural heritage.
2. Expected impact of the investments
Implementation of the programme is based on achieving the following results:
- increased spending on technological research and development;
- a reduction in regional greenhouse gas emissions;
- an increased share of renewable energies in energy production;
- an increase in the number of jobs created, estimated at 14 000 by 2015.
3. Priorities
The operational programme is divided into five priorities:
Priority 1: Industrial research and technology transfer [approximately 33% of the total investment]
This priority is dedicated to promoting industrial research and technology transfer so as to boost competitiveness within the economic system. Consequently, the programme’s aim is to strengthen the regional high-technology network and its connection with the production system.
Priority 2: Entrepreneurial development and innovation [approximately 20% of the total investment]
This priority aims to support innovation in the production system. The integration of knowledge in production processes is therefore the key element in ensuring the international competitiveness of the region and its industry.
Priority 3: Improved energy and environmental efficiency and sustainable development [approximately 23% of the total investment]
This priority will focus on:
- sustainable development, and more particularly innovation in the fields of energy and the environment;
- promoting energy efficiency.
Priority 4: Enhancing and better exploiting the environmental and cultural heritage [approximately 20% of the total investment]
This priority will focus on enhancing and better exploiting the region’s cultural and natural resources so as to make them more attractive.
Priority 5: Technical assistance [approximately 4% of the total investment]
Technical assistance is envisaged for management, monitoring, evaluation, organisation, information and communication activities.
4. Managing Authority
Financial information
Breakdown of finances by priority axis
| Priority Axis | EU Investment | National Public Contribution | Total Public Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial research and technology transfer | 42.218.240,00 | 72.109.924,00 | 114.328.164,00 |
| Entrepreneurial development and innovation | 25.698.059,00 | 43.892.997,00 | 69.591.056,00 |
| Improved energy and environmental efficiency and sustainable development | 29.369.210,00 | 50.163.425,00 | 79.532.635,00 |
| Enhancing and better exploiting the environmental and cultural heritage | 25.698.059,00 | 43.892.997,00 | 69.591.056,00 |
| Technical assistance | 5.124.315,00 | 8.752.473,00 | 13.876.788,00 |
| Total | 128.107.883,00 | 218.811.816,00 | 346.919.699,00 |