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35 million euros for business innovation

A total of 248 projects (out of the 375 submitted last November, with available funding of 87.6 million euros) have been approved following the public call for proposals under the ERDF 2007-2013, the European Regional Development Fund. The funding of almost 35 million euros is aimed at supporting research by small and medium enterprises in Emilia-Romagna in collaboration with laboratories in the regional high-tech network and local universities. The programme will generate jobs for 392 young researchers in businesses throughout the region, leading to the strengthening of R&D activities and departments in these companies. In all, 233 tendered contracts have been signed with laboratories in the Emilia-Romagna network, worth a total of 15.2 million euros.
The majority of the approved projects concern the “Industrial automation and mechanics, energy” sector, with 60 projects approved and funding of 8.6 million euros. This is followed by “ICT, multimedia, research and development activities” with 50 proposals and 6.17 million euros, “Biomedical, precision mechanics and consumer electronics” with 37 projects and 5.678 million euros, “Transport equipment, oil hydraulics, pumps motors and engines, agricultural equipment” with 25 funded projects and 3.3 million euros in grants. On average 66% of the submitted projects were approved.

Further evidence of increasing innovation in the Emilia-Romagna region emerged last April when the regional authority acquired the Manifattura Tabacchi, a former tobacco factory located in Via Stalingrado in Bologna. Between now and 2013 the site will see the construction of the largest centre in the Emilia Romagna High-Tech Network: this is the primary objective of the Regional Economic Development Programme 2008-2013. The so-called “innovation technopole” will include laboratories for research and industrial innovation: traditional sectors which will benefit from the new facility range from mechanics and construction to medicine and energy.