Innovation ecosystems are local, regional or supra-regional networks of State and non-State universities, public research institutions, local public bodies, and other highly qualified and internationally renowned public and private actors, which focus on specific areas of technological expertise consistently with the specialisation of businesses and research in a given territory, thus promoting and reinforcing cooperation between the research system, production system and local institutions.
Ecosystems aim to facilitate technology transfer and expedite the digital transformation of production processes, while keeping in mind economic and environmental sustainability and social impacts at a local level. The allocated resources will be used to finance applied research and training activities that reduce the mismatch between skills acquired during university studies and those required by businesses, to transfer research achievements to businesses, to support the creation and development of start-ups and spin-offs by promoting incubation activities and services and venture capital funds.
Through a public call for applications, the MUR has awarded funding for the creation of 11 innovation ecosystems, 4 of which in the South. The projects operate within a hub-and-spoke governance model, with the hub carrying out management and coordination and the spokes carrying out research and innovation. The spokes submit regular reports to the hub, which in turn reports to the Ministry. Each ecosystem receives funding between €110 and 120 million.
The University of Bologna’s project
The University of Bologna is the proposer of the project for the Emilia-Romagna innovation ecosystem, submitted together with the other universities in the region, the National Research Council – CNR, the National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development – ENEA, the National Institute for Nuclear Physics – INFN, and the CINECA Inter-university Consortium, under the coordination of ART-ER Attractiveness Research Territory.
ECOSISTER – Ecosystem for Sustainable Transition in Emilia-Romagna obtained the highest score and ranked first in the national ranking for NRRP innovation ecosystems. This means that the Emilia-Romagna region will receive over €100 million to finance the ecological transition of its economic and social system.
UniboMagazine articles
- The first steps of the regional innovation ecosystem: The Foundation for managing resources and starting activities – 9 June 2022
- NRRP: The ecological transition project submitted by Unibo for Emilia-Romagna ranks first – 28 April 2022
