1. 1
RITTS N.115 - Provincia di Milano
Regional Innovation and Technology Transfer Strategies and Infrastructures
STRATEGIC PROGRAMME FOR THE DEVELOPMENT
AND THE SUPPORT OF INNOVATION IN THE
PROVINCE OF MILAN
1999-2001
Milan, March 1999
English Summary
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Directorate general XIII
The Innovation Programme

2. 2
INTRODUCTION
The Province of Milan is one of nearly 100 European areas that, thanks to the
European Union’s support, has created and promoted a framework on innovation
policies and technology transfer, mainly for the benefit of SMEs. This has been
made possible through the RITTS project (Regional Innovation and Technology
Transfer Strategies and Infrastructures), which was co-financed by the European
Commission’s DG XIII and the Provincia di Milano.
RITTS projects are part of a well-defined Community strategy, which is based on the
idea that every Region should develop its own Regional Innovation Scheme, and that
each scheme be enhanced through sustainable growth.
Michel Quevit and Pascal Van Doren (EBN) were entrusted, by the Province of Milan,
with the co-ordination of the planning aspects of the RITTS operations.
The analysis and monitoring programme (analyses of the needs of SMEs, consultation
with the subjects operating in the Milanese area, organisation of work groups) was
carried out by a group of Italian experts composed of:
Alvise Delugan (consultant)
Andrea Tosi (Milan Polytechnic)
Sergio Campodall’Orto (Milan Polytechnic)
Giuseppe Ambrosio (consultant)
The comparison studies of international experiences, with the exception of the study
made by EBN, were carried out by J Chef (Promotech, Nancy).
The works of the RITTS project were co-ordinated by a Management Unit composed
of :
Marcello Correra (Director of the Employment and Economy Department of the
Province of Milan)
Daniela Ferrè (Employment and Economy Department of the Province of Milan)
Marcello Eusani (SVI Lombardia Spa)
Giorgio Monaci (Consultant of the Province of Milan for territorial policies and
innovation).
SVI Lombardia carried out the operational management.
The function of project leader for the whole project was entrusted to Giorgio Monaci.

3. 3
SUMMARY OF THE GOALS AND PLANNING ASPECTS OF THE RITTS PROJECT
The RITTS project of the Provincia di Milano has been divided into three stages:
• STAGE 0 began with the drawing up of a detailed work plan for the project itself
and was followed by a preliminary identification of problems which SMEs in the
Milanese area have in relation to technological innovation and organisation.
• In STAGE 1, an analysis was carried out to identify the weak and the strong points
of the Milanese system, according to innovation potential. It focused on the
following points :
- the needs of SMEs in terms of support services for the innovation process;
- the characteristics of the Milanese system of supply and support for innovation ;
- the strategies undertaken by Milanese institutions and bodies.
• STAGE 2 concerned the definition of the “Strategic Programme for the
Development and the Support of Innovation in the Province of Milan”, which is as
follows:
•• the definition of the different needs existing in the Milanese area;
•• the working out of strategic guidelines;
•• the definition of an “action plan for innovation”;
•• the definition of a plan from which to build a permanent system of co-
ordination (Regional System of Innovation).
This second stage gave rise to many pilot actions.
The Management Unit of Milan’s RITTS and the Assessorato all’Economia (Office of
the Provincia di Milano) directly promoted specific pilot actions and, during the
project, worked to better relationships among local actors in order to help the starting
of new initiatives.
During the second stage, the team of local experts also organised many work groups in
order to develop new programmes and actions in the Provincia di Milano.
The work groups were composed of companies, associations, universities, scientific
institutes, BICs and service centres, as well as, financial institutions 1
1 BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS: Associazione Piccola Impresa Artigiana, Unione Artigiani, Confederazione Nazionale
dell’Artigianato, Associazione Piccole e Medie Imprese, Unione del Commercio, dei Servizi e del Turismo, Associazione Industriali
di Monza e Brianza, Associaizone Legnanese dell’Industria, ASSOCONSULT..
UNIVERSITIES AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTES: Politecnico di Milano, Università degli Studi di Milano (Consorzio Milano
Ricerche), CNR Area di Milano, Istituto Scientifico Breda, Innovation Relay Centre.
BIC AND SERVICES PURVEYORS: ASSOTEC, CESTEC, CEFRIEL, FAST, CENTROCOT, CATAS, BIC La Fucina di Sesto S.
Giovanni, BIC Euroimpresa di Legnano, Polo Scientifico di Busto Arsizio, Camera di Commercio di Milano
BANKS: CARIPLO, MEDIOCREDITO.

4. 4
2. THE INNOVATION POTENTIAL OF THE PROVINCE OF MILAN:
STRENGTHES / WEAKNESSES
2.1 THE NEEDS OF SMEs
The survey, carried out on a sample group of SMEs selected within the province of
Milan, served to clearly show the peculiarities of the innovation process, the lack of
services for innovation which suppliers had and, moreover, the following trends:
•• the local system of SMEs strongly focuses on innovation;
•• innovation is driven in an autonomous way from within the enterprises;
•• SMEs tend to individually run the innovation process;
•• little co-operation exists among companies, because they fear know-how lose;
•• potential demand for support services concerns mainly the management of the
innovation process;
•• focus lies more on information about innovation than on technological
assistance;
•• there is a great demand for marketing services and finance for innovation;
•• SMEs have insufficient financial resources and lack skilled personnel;
•• SMEs rarely outsource services and there is little information about available
services in the province of Milan.
2.2 INNOVATION SUPPORT STRUCTURES
A more thorough analysis, involving more than twenty research institutions and bodies
specialised in the support of SMEs, showed that the regional innovation supply of the
province of Milan has some important malfunctions:
• there are many innovation support structures which focus on high level
research and technology transfer, but almost none of them aim at fulfilling the
needs of SMEs;
• there is little co-operation among structures and sometimes it is totally
lacking, both concerning general issues and concerning specific issues;
• −− the supply of innovation in the Region of Milan lacks an organisational
system capable of providing innovation. This is true both in the early stages
dealing with the initial setting up of innovation operations, and in the latter
management and financing stages of innovation.

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2.3 THE SYSTEM OF THE ACTORS
In the present system, actors which carry out innovation in the province of Milan, can
be seen on two levels:
• On an institutional level: institutions, universities, business associations,
development agencies.
• On the operational level: research institutions, business service purveyors, and
specialised technology transfer centres.
From the analysis of the system of actors in the previous section, the following four
fundamental observations can be made:
-in the province of Milan no strategic plan is present as far as innovation is concerned;
- different actors have however started various initiatives to enhance the innovation of
SMEs;
-there is no co-ordination among these initiatives;
-the system of actors is for the most part characterised by a lack of interface structures
between supply and demand;
The consequences of these observations have led to the setting up of a Regional
System of Innovation (called SRI) for the Provincia di Milano. It is based on the
RITTS experience.

6. 6
3 MAIN STRATEGIES AND FIELDS OF ACTION
⇒ The analyses of the needs and the innovation capacities of Milanese SMEs, as well
as, the characteristics of the innovation support structures made it possible to define
the following list of objectives:
•• the current market-oriented approach of Milanese SMEs should be
strengthened through programmes which precisely target technology transfer;
•• the need to put an end to business individualism by encouraging co-operation
in the areas of commerce, productivity and technology;
•• the need to re-orient existing technology transfer organisations towards the
needs of SMEs;
• the great need for technical training programmes to enhance the know-how of
innovation support structures;
•• the need to develop a financial engineering system which is capable of
satisfying the innovation needs of SMEs;
•• the need to eliminate the barriers between the different innovation support
structures in the province of Milan in order to make their capacities and
qualifications more evident.
•• the need to form a network of structures which is capable of meeting the needs
of the SMEs in the best possible way.
⇒Through the analysis of the system of actors, the following strategies were defined:
•• the need to create a common strategy related to innovation in the province of
Milan;
•• the need to create a permanent system of co-ordination for innovation support
structures based on the RITTS experience.
⇒ Three operational fields of actions have been determined:
FIELD OF ACTION 1
Programmes to increase industrial awareness and to guide and help SMEs to
innovate.
FIELD OF ACTION 2
Strengthening of programmes related to real technology transfer.
FIELD OF ACTION 3
Programmes to develop examples of co-ordination between the institutional and
operational actors dealing with innovation support services.
In each field of action, the type of service and the needed tools to be set up, have been
defined

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NEEDS AND SERVICES DETERMINED FOR EACH FIELD OF ACTION
Field of action Services and tools to be set up
1) Programmes to increase industrial awareness, to guide and help SMEs to innovate
1.1 stage previous to increasing
awareness and guidance
1.1.1 promotion-oriented programme for innovation
1.1.2 basic consulting concerning the innovation
process
1.1.3 permanent monitoring of the SMEs as far as
support and services for innovation are concerned
1.2 Definition of the market needs 1.2.1 consulting and information services in order to
define new products
1.2.2 availability of information systems concerning
potential markets (local, regional,international ones)
1.3 drawing up a strategic plan for
the development of enterprises and
innovation management
1.3.1 consultancy services to create a business plan
1.3.2 consultancy services for financial engineering
1.3.3 consultancy services for staff management
1.3.4 help for partnership management
1.4 Creation of innovative
businesses
1.4.1 search for new businesses and analysis of
business projects
1.4.2 incubators
1.4.3 consultancy services for the industrial and
academic spin-off
1.5 Commercialisation and quality
improvement, co-operation among
enterprises
1.5.1 consultancy services for marketing
1.5.2 help for quality improvement
1.5.3 consulting concerning access to the enterprise
network (clustering, internationalisation, commercial
co-operation, etc.)
1.5.4 systems of direct help to export and market
1.6 Financing of innovation 1.6.1 financial tools: venture capital, seed capital, risk
insurance, loans for innovation etc.
1.7 Professional training 1.7.1 training for the services which aims at increasing
industrial awareness and helping to promote quality
1.7.2 promotion of industrial culture
1.7.3 strengthening of technical training
2) Strengthening of the programmes related to real technology transfer
2.1 Defining the technological needs
of an enterprise
2.1.1 increasing awareness and help in technical
adjustment
2.1.2 direct financial help in order to define technological
needs
2.2 The actual technology transfer 2.2.1 structure of technology transfer
2.2.2 direct help to finance technology transfer
programmes
2.2.3 training of specific staff
3) Programmes for the development of co-ordination between the institutional and operational actors
who deal with innovation support
3.1 permanent structures for strategic consultation and
orientation
3.2 permanent structure to co-ordinate the operational
bodies
3.3 creation of specific co-ordination structures

8. 8
4 THE CREATION OF AN ACTION PLAN TO SUPPORT INNOVATION IN THE PROVINCE OF
MILAN
As far as the defined guidelines and the overall group of tools which are to be used are
concerned, an Action Plan for innovation and technology transfer in the province of
Milan was made after consultation with Milanese actors and operators.
⇒ The goals that made the creation of the strategic framework possible within the
Milanese area were the following:
• to stimulate pilot-actions and initiatives that have already been set up during
the RITTS project, especially those set up by the Management Unit and the
framework of the Assessorato of Economy and Employment of the Provincia di
Milano.
• to encourage the systematisation and the synergy of a series of programmes
which have already been started in the Province. Specific attention was given to
programmes which have directly been promoted by the Provincia di Milano and by
the bodies related to the Province.
• to determine new programmes to be set up according to the guidelines specified
by the work groups, including many bodies and subjects that are present in the
Milanese area.
⇒In this light, the action plan defined by the RITTS project can be seen as the result
of the following types of programmes and actions:
1) Actions promoted by the Province through the Milan-Ritts Project
2) Actions promoted by companies and bodies controlled by the Province of Milan;
3) Actions promoted autonomously by different actors who are capable of
integrating and co-ordinating their efforts through the RITTS project;
4) Actions to be set up according to the guidelines established by the RITTS work
groups.
⇒According to times and procedures and their being finalised, the framework of
such actions and programmes can be divided up as follows:

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• actions which have already been financed and are currently being set up, that
is to say initiatives having at their disposal a proper form of financing and which
consequently can immediately be put into operation.
• actions to be set up shortly, that is to say initiatives that, even if they are not
operational yet, are past the project stage, and a formal agreement between
operators has been reached and most of the needed financial resources have been
found.
• new proposals for actions. One is dealing here with actions proposed by RITTS
work groups, which still require precise definition as far as the finding of necessary
financing is concerned. Respective parties have, however, collectively carried out
the application for financing during the preliminary phase of research with regards
to available regional, national and Community laws.
⇒In the following pages you will read the summary table of the overall group of
programmes.
⇒In short, one can say that the overall group of actions not only aims at making
up for the lack of services as far as the identified necessities are concerned but
also aims at giving a more precise territorial scale to innovation strategies.
• With these aims in mind, the programme defined by the Provincia di Milano
focuses above all on co-ordinating the overall group of initiatives, and
specifically aims at the promotion of technological innovation within SMEs
undertaken by the Development Agencies and by the BICs, which are
promoted by the Provincia di Milano.
• The overall group of programmes planned in order to improve relations between the
academic institutions and the Milanese productive system also meets the need to
firmly establish initiatives within specific territorial contexts.
With this in mind, special effort is given to the setting up of a Network for the
Spread of Innovation within the Territory”. The aim here is the creation of a
network which connects scientific research centres (University departments,
University consortia, research centres, the National Research Centre etc.), University
interface structures (currently lacking in the Milanese area but which are to be created
by each university) and service centres for enterprises located within the territory
(BICs and other centres). Within each of the latter, specific services which help direct
and guide SMEs towards innovation are to be set up.
• The setting up of this network can begin thanks to two specific initiatives which
have already been financed. They include the following: the creation of the
interface structure of the Politecnico di Milano (Politecnico Innovazione) and the
opening of a service information point which will help direct and guide SMEs
towards innovation at the BIC La Fucina in Sesto San Giovanni (Innolab project).

10. 10
The overall plan involves the opening of similar service structures (such as the
Technological Interuniversity Center of Brianza in Desio and the Agency for
Innovation in the Vimercate area).
• A specific initiative, co-financed by the E.U., will aim at encouraging technology
transfer to SMEs through the targeted placement of young graduates and researchers
in specific job situations within enterprises (Delcosi Project).
• Formal protocol agreements will be fundamental in establishing new relations
between university research and training structures and the local productive spheres.
The RITTS project foresees that the undersigners of these formal protocol
agreements will be the Provincia di Milano, Milan University, Milan-Bicocca
Universities, Milan Catholic University.
• Another important aspect of the RITTS project is the promotion of programmes
specifically geared to dealing with the problem of financing innovation. This is a
very complex area in which financial tools for SMEs are currently being tested (e.g.
the creation of an Innovation Venture Capital Fund and of the Italian Business
Angels Association).
• The overall group of planned actions as foreseen by the work groups, is
geared in particular to increasing the awareness of SMEs in relation to innovation
and to making their technological needs more evident by putting the enterprises
themselves in contact with supply structures.
Other actions foresee increasing awareness of the needs and characteristics of SMEs
for supply structures and, in so doing, increasing contact between the two.

11. 11
ACTION PLAN 1999-2001
ACTIONS WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN FINANCED AND ARE CURRENTLY BEING SET UP
Action Services and tools
to be set up
active subjects Other subjects involved Type of action Contents
Community Project
TRIP DELCOSI
2.2.1 Technology
transfer structures
2.2.3 training of
specific staff
Province of Milan on a local scale :
Milan Polytechnic
Euroimpresa
Legnano,SMEs;
on a national scale :
Freie Hansestadt
Bremen
Linz University (Land
of Upper Austria)
1) actions promoted
by the Province of
Milan-RITTS project.
-Experience and validate models of
technology transfer through personnel
(technology transfer “through heads”)
-Create an operational structure
capable of managing and monitoring
the placement of young
graduates/undergraduates in companies
Starting of the “Network for
the spread of innovation
within the Territory”:
POLITECNICO
INNOVATIONE
2.2.1 Structure of
technology transfer
Milan Polytechnic
Mip Consortium
BIC Sesto San
Giovanni
(See Innolab
programmes), SMEs
3) actions promoted
autonomously by
different actors who are
capable of integrating
and co-ordinating their
efforts through the
RITTS project
Setting up, by the Politecnico di Milano
and enterprises, of the Politecnico’s
interface structure
-the creation of a network for the
internal competency centres of the
Politecnico
Starting of the “Network for
the spread of innovation
within the Territory”:
PROGETTO INNOLAB
1.3.1 consultancy
services for the
creation of a
business scheme
2.1.1 increasing
awareness and help
for technical
adjustment
2.1.2 direct financial
help to define
technological needs
ASNM,
BIC La Fucina
(Sesto San
Giovanni)
Milan Polytechnic
(see Polytechnic and
Innovation programmes)
Innovation Relay Centre,
Milan Bicocca
University, National
Centre for Research,
SMEs
2) actions promoted by
companies involved in
the project and bodies
controlled by the
Province of Milan
actions promoted
autonomously by
different actors who are
capable of integrating
and co-ordinating their
efforts through the
RITTS project
The making of a specific service within
the BIC for innovation in connection to
Milanese Universities and the
Innovation Relay Centre of Milan

12. 12
ASNM INCUBATORS 1.4.2
Incubators
ASNM
(North Milan
Development
Agency)
Sesto San Giovanni
The Province of Milan
The Lombardy region
2) actions promoted by
companies involved in
the project and bodies
controlled by the
Province of Milan
The starting up of two recently
constructed incubators
EUROIMPRESA
INCUBATORS
1.4.2
Incubators
Euroimpresa
Legnano
The Lombardy Region
The Province of Milan
Legnano
2) actions promoted
by companies
involved in the
project and bodies
controlled by the
Province of Milan
Enlarging of the activity and of the two
existing Ampliamento Euroimpresa
incubators
POLITECNICO
INCUBATOR
1.4.3 consultancy
services to develop
industrial and
academic spin-off
Milan
Polytechnic
Milan 3) actions promoted
autonomously by
different actors who are
capable of integrating
and co-ordinating their
efforts through the
RITTS project
The starting up of an incubator by the
Politecnico which is specifically
oriented towards academic spin-off
INNOVATION CENTER
FOR MECHANICS AND
QUALITY PROJECT FOR
INDUSTRIALISED AREA
1.5.1 consultancy
services for
marketing
1.5.2 help to
improve quality
1.5.3 consulting
concerning access to
the enterprise
network (clustering,
internationalisation,
commercial,co-
operation etc.)
Service Center
from District n.14
SMEs 2) actions promoted
by companies
involved in the
project and bodies
controlled by the
Province of Milan
Creation of an association of
enterprises for the sub-supplying of
the mechanic sector in order to
purchase orders and for researching
sub-suppliers

13. 13
CREATION OF A OF
CONSORTIUM FOR
ACCESS TO
LABORATORIES IN
ORDER TO TEST
MATERIALS
1.5.2 help to
improve quality
1.5.3 consulting
concerning access
to the enterprise
network (clustering,
internationalisation,
commercial,co-
operation etc.)
2.1.1 increasing
awareness and help
for technical
adjustment
Euroimpresa
Legnano
Ansaldo Energia
S.p.a,
consortia of SMEs
2) actions promoted
by companies
involved in the
project and bodies
controlled by the
Province of Milan
Creation of a laboratory owned by a
consortium by an existing association
of enterprises
-The use by SMEs of the laboratories of
big companies
BIC-NET PROJECT 1.5.1 marketing
consultancy
services
1.5.3 consulting
concerning access
to the enterprise
network (clustering,
internationalisation,
commercial,co-
operation etc.)
1.7.2 promotion of
industrial culture
ASNM-
BIC La Fucina
IBM, SMEs 2) actions promoted by
companies involved in
the project and bodies
controlled by the
Province of Milan
-Creation of an intra-net among groups
of SMEs
- e-business experimentation

14. 14
SMALL
ENTERPRISE
OBSERVATORY
1.1.3 permanent
monitoring of the
needs of SMEs as
far as innovation
support and
services are
concerned
the Province
of Milan
APA, CNA, Craft
industry Union, API,
Milan Catholic
University
1) actions promoted
by the Province of
Milan-RITTS project,
together with other
partners.
Creation of a permanent observatory
for the service needs of small and very
small enterprises (micro-enterprises)
FORMAL PROTOCOL
AGREEMENTS
PROMOTED BY THE
PROVINCE OF MILAN
3.1 permanent
structures for
strategic
consultation and
orientation
The Province of
Milan
APA,CNA,Unione
Artigiani, API,
Milan Catholic
University
1) actions promoted
by the Province of
Milan-RITTS project,
together with other
partners.
Official stipulation for a collaboration
agreement between Milanese
universities and the Provincia di Milano

15. 15
ACTIONS TO BE SET UP SHORTLY
Action Services and tools
to be set up
Active subjects Other subjects involved Type of action
SETTING UP OF
AGINTEC:
AGENCY FOR
INNOVATION IN THE
VIMERCATE AREA
1.1.1 promotion
program for
innovation
1.4.3 consultancy
services for
industrial and
academic spin-off
1.7.3 strengthening
of technical training
2.2.1 technology
transfer structures
Agrate, Arcore
and Vimercate
local governments,
the Province of
Milan,
Trade Unions,
IBM,
ST
Microelectronics,
Alcatel
1) actions promoted
by the Province of
Milan-RITTS project,
together with other
partners.
Creation of an enterprise for
innovation, business spin-off, and the
training of SME personnel in
collaboration with some big companies
in the electronic and computer sector
CREATION OF INTER-
UNIVERSITY AND
TECHNOLOGICAL
CENTRE OF BRIANZA
2.2.1 technology
transfer structures
1.7.3 strengthening
of technical training
Desio local
government,
the Lombardy
Region,
the Province of
Milan,
SviluppoBrianza,
Milan
Polytechnic
Catholic University,
Istud, Commerce and
Tourism Higher
Education Institute,
Ispra Research center
3) actions promoted
autonomously by
different actors who
are capable of
integrating and co-
ordinating their
efforts through the
RITTS project
Creation of a new advanced training
centre where a number of universities
will participate
MEDIAPOLIS
MULTIMEDIA
DISTRICT
2.2.1 technology
transfer structures
ASNM, Sesto San
Giovanni, the
Province of Milan,
the Lombardy
Region, private
investors
2) actions promoted by
companies involved in
the project and bodies
controlled by the
Province of Milan
Creation of a productive area for
enterprises operating in the multimedia
sector

16. 16
MILAN
INNOVATION
PRIVATE FUND
1.6.1 financial
tools: venture
capital, seed
capital, risk
insurance, loans for
innovation etc.
Local banks,
European
Investment Fund.
La Fucina Bic,
Euroimpresa Bic
2) actions promoted
by companies
involved in the
project and bodies
controlled by the
Province of Milan
Creation of a venture capital fund for
SMEs
- A specific role for Milanese BICs is
foreseen so that they recognise
innovative financial enterprises
REGIO PARTENARIAT
EUROPE PROJECT
1.5.3 consulting
concerning access
to the enterprise
network (clustering,
internationalisation,
commercial co-
operation, etc.)
EBN
Madeira Region
(Spain)
The Province of Milan
Milanese BICs
1) actions promoted
by the Province of
Milan-RITTS project,
together with other
partners.
- Setting up of an inter-firm system for
co-operation at a European level,which
is supported by a framework of
European BICs
- Participation of Milanese BICs; this
initiative is promoted by EBN
ITALIAN BUSINESS
ANGELS NETWORK
1.6.1 financial
tools: venture
capital, seed
capital, risk
insurance, loans for
innovation etc.
La Fucina Bic
Euroimpresa Bic
Aosta Bic,
Trieste Bic
Private investors
1) actions promoted
by the Province of
Milan-RITTS project,
together with other
partners.
-setting up of the Italian association
IBAN (Italian Business Angels
Network) which will become part of the
European network Eban (European
Business Angels Network).
- improving the spread of experiences
to Business Angels in Italy by exposing
them to the best European experiences

17. 17
NEW PROPOSALS FOR ACTIONS
Actions Services and tools
to be set up
Active
subjects
Other subjects
involved
Type of action
COMPLETION OF THE T
NETWORK FOR THE
SPREAD OF
INNOVATION WITHIN
THE TERRITORY
2.2.1 technology
transfer structures
2.1.1 increasing
awareness and help
in technological
adjustment within
the enterprises
2.1.2 direct
financial help to
define
technological needs
Legnano Bic
CITB-Desio
Vimercate
Agency
Milanese
universities
1) actions promoted
by the Province of
Milan-RITTS project,
together with other
partners.
- Completion of the building process
for the interface structures of
Milanese Universities
- Development of an accompanying
structure for SMEs in order to guide
them towards innovation within the
Milanese territory.
JOINT
TECHNOLOGICAL
CHECK UP AND
SCOUTING
PROGRAMME ON A
LARGE SCALE
1.1.1 promotion
program for
innovation
1.1.2 basic
consulting
concerning the
innovation process
2.1.1 increasing
awareness and help
in technical
adjustment
2.1.2 direct
financial help to
define
technological needs
Institutions and
bodies involved
in the RITTS
project
4) actions to be set up
according to the
guidelines established
by the RITTS work
groups
- Creation of a programmes for
technology check to be carried out
on a considerable number of
enterprises which is to be followed
by more indepth checks until the
best technological solutions have
been found

18. 18
PROPOSALS FOR
IMPROVING THE
FUNCTIONING OF
FINANCING FOR
INNOVATION
1.1.3 permanent
monitoring of SMEs
as far as innovation
support and services
are concerned
1.6.1 financial tools:
venture capital, seed
capital, risk
insurance, loans for
innovation etc.
Institutions and
bodies involved in
the RITTS
project: experts
4) actions to be set up
according to the
guidelines established
by the RITTS work
groups
- Drawing up of a series of guidelines
for legislative bodies capable at a
local level of simplifying laws about
incentives for innovation and support
of SMEs.
TESTING NEW FORMS
OF PRIVATE FINANCING
FOR INNOVATION
1.6.1 financial tools:
venture capital, seed
capital, risk
insurance, loans for
innovation etc.
Private financial
institutions,
experts, industrial
associations
. 4) actions to be set up
according to the
guidelines established
by the RITTS work
groups
Creation an assessment group made
up of functionaries and experts from
private financial institutions; this is
carried out through the practical
examination of applications from
enterprises for financing coming from
support enterprises for financing
restructuring of their activities and/or
technological innovation. Situations
will be considered, and possibilities
for a positive response will be
studied.
INNOVATION
MANAGERS AND
DEVELOPMENT AGENTS
1.7.1 training for
services aiming at
increasing industrial
awareness and
helping to promote
quality
1.7.3 strengthening
of technical training
2.2.3 training of
specific staff
Institutions and
bodies involved in
the RITTS
project: experts
4) actions to be set up
according to the
guidelines established
by the RITTS work
groups
Training of 40 innovation managers
and agents for the promotion of local
development

19. 19
PREPARATORY
INITIATIVES FOR THE
TESTING OF THE
TRAINING
INVESTMENT LABEL
1.1.1 promotion
programme for
innovation
1.7.2 promotion of
industrial culture
Institutions and
bodies involved in
the RITTS project
4) actions to be set up
according to the
guidelines established
by the RITTS work
groups
Assessment of the practical
possibilities in the Italian context of
some foreign experiences in order to
make SMEs aware of the importance
of training for innovation. This
initiative is carried out by putting a
label on the investment one has made
in human resources (it is based on the
English experience“Investor in
People”)
TARGETED TRAINING
FOR ENTERPRISE
CLUSTERS
1.5.3 consulting for
access to the
enterprise network
(clustering,
internationalisation,
commercial
gathering, etc.)
1.7.2 promotion of
industrial culture
1.7.3 strengthening
of technical training
BIC, enterprise
service companies,
business
associations
4) actions to be set up
according to the
guidelines established
by the RITTS work
groups
- setting up of a specific task force in
charge of defining SME clusters and
planning training programmes
specifically geared for them
BENCHMARKING-
INNOVATION CULTURE
PRIZE
1.1.1 promotion-
oriented program to
innovation
Banking
foundations, the
Province of Milan
Universities, industrial
service companies
4) actions to be set up
according to the
guidelines established
by the RITTS work
groups
-Institution for an Annual Prise for
universities and research institutions
as well as, supply institutions which
have had the “best practices” in their
improvement of contacts with the
SME system
SECRETARIAT FOR THE
AUTONOMOUS
CO-ORDINATION OF
INNOVATION SERVICE
INSTITUTIONS
3.2 permanent
organisation to co-
ordinate the
operative bodies
Institutions and
bodies involved in
the RITTS project
4) actions to be set up
according to the
guidelines established
by the RITTS work
groups
Permanently establishing the work
groups which operated in the RITTS
project

20. 20
THE DESIGN OF A PERMANENT MONITORING SYSTEM FOR REGIONAL INNOVATION POLICY
On the basis of the guidelines established by the RITTS project a system for
monitoring regional policy and operational co-operation has been designed: the
Regional System for Innovation (Sistema Regionale d’Innovazione).
It can be outlined as follows:
•• to start up an advisory board, called Innovation Forum, that will guarantee
the overseeing and carrying out of the goals and programmes defined in the
action plan.
•• to start up an advisory board, called operational Task Force, that will oversee
the co-ordination among supply institutions and their involvement in the
action plan..
•• to start up a Technical Unit to begin and co-ordinate the initiatives referred
to the Action Plan.
The tasks of the different structures are summed up in the following diagram :

21. 21
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INNOVATION
FORUM
OPERATIVE
TASK FORCE
TECHNICAL
UNIT
ACTIONPLAN1999-2001
Adviceonthestrategies
Guidanceonthesetup
oftheActionPlan
Follow-up, set up
and conception of actions(2)
WORK GROUPS
POOL OF EXPERTS
Level of operative coordination
Istitutional Level of coordination
Level of partnership between the operators and
the setting up of actions (2)
(1)field of action #3 co-ordination
(2)field of actions #1 and 2 to increase industrial awareness,
transfer of technology
Analysis and feasibility studies on
the creation of a framework of the SRI (1)
Project
management
Help to
decision

22. 22
WORK PROGRAMME FOR THE CARRYING OUT OF THE ACTION PLAN
1999-2001
The Work Programme can be divided up into the 5 following stages:
1°Starting up stage: Starting up of monitoring structures
⇒ Innovation Forum
⇒ Operational Task Force
⇒ Technical Unit
2° Starting up operational stages of the Plan
⇒ Feasibility analyses for the setting up of the permanent SRI structure
⇒ Checking priority actions “underway ”which are foreseen in the Plan
⇒ Launching priority actions being set up and being planned which are foreseen in the Plan
3° Intermediary assessment stage for the carrying out of the Programme 1999-2001 according to two perimeters:
⇒ Strategic orientation of actions
⇒ Operational function
4° Permanent carrying out stage for the Regional System for Innovation in the Province of Milan
5°Continuation of the operational stage:
⇒ Checking priority actions “underway ”and actions being set up
⇒ Checking of actions being planned ”