Italian Case Studies on project generation: from endogenous resources to integrated planning Combining history and innovative territorial approaches INePS – GIFIP project Ugo Poli – Informest Vice President & Project Team Leader Novi Sad, April 2 nd & 3 rd, 2008

What is the Italian concept of Industrial District? ”Omogeneous productive contexts, featured by a high concentration of companies, particularly small and medium- sized, and by a peculiar internal organisation are defined local productive systems The above mentioned local productive system, characterised by a high concentration of industrial companies and by a productive specialisation of the system of companies, is defined industrial district.” (Article 6 of the Act No.140/1999 on “Local production systems, industrial districts and industrial development consortia”)

The urban and logistics upgrading of Sassuolo 1 Sassuolo: the “Tiles industrial district” in Italy A territorial system of 11 municipalities Two different provinces: Modena and Reggio Emilia Settled in the Region Emilia Romagna A surface of 485 square kms A population of inhabitants (+ 6,3% in the years 1991/1998) A development process moving from agricultural to industrial dominant economy

The urban and logistics upgrading of Sassuolo 2 Leader economy sector: the ceramic tiles industry District yearly turnover € millions 521 tiles factories - Over employees Annual output 590 million square meters of tiles 80% of the Italian production - Export rate 48% 25% of world production 499 local units manufacturing related mechanics employ people. 50 local units glazing and varnishing tiles employ people. National Association of Tile Manufacturers HQ settled in Sassuolo.

The urban and logistics upgrading of Sassuolo 3 Infrastructure in the area: ordinary roads system serving both resident people and ware transport railway network connected to Milan-Bologna backbone dramatic air and water pollution transport slow-down and increased productive and social costs The main objectives: to recover sustainable development to improve productive competitiveness

The urban and logistics upgrading of Sassuolo 4 The tool: “Urban upgrading and sustainable development programme” - P.R.U.S.S.T PRUSST tests an innovative methodology for territorial programming in a highly industrialised area as the tiles district is. Main co-financing partners in the programme are: Emilia Romagna Region Modena and Reggio Emilia Provinces 11 Municipalities Local Entrepreneurial Associations Civic NGOs

The urban and logistic upgrading of Sassuolo 5 PRUSST main activities: 1. Urban and environmental upgrading for the qualification of human dwelling; 2. Improvement of life quality through the rehabilitation of local rivers; 3. Planning and utilities provision to new areas for industrial settlement; 4. Planning and building of an innovative logistic network based on 4 inter- modal stores and delivery centres funded by private and public investments; 5. Decreasing of pollution by transport of final product of the tiles district; 6. Rationalisation of internal and external mobility of the district for the efficient transport of people and goods.

The urban and logistics upgrading of Sassuolo 6 The PRUSST in the tiles district aims the creation of a “sustainable town”. The model is the EU document on “The European Sustainable Towns” elaborated by European Commission expert team on urban environment. By promoting initiatives of moving productive activities and urban qualifying, PRUSST encourages transversal development in different sectors, having as a common basis the territory and improving its attractiveness.

The urban and logistics upgrading of Sassuolo 7 The methodology of PRUSST consensus building on strategic development based on awareness rising of the real needs of social players and citizens participation of all local actors to the decisional process of the development plan joining the public and private sides on shared, common targets and choices. PRUSST represents a success story of “concerted or negotiated programming”: the Italian innovative legal framework of policy making for territorial integrated development connecting public and private investments.

Promoting partnership based project generation: the Region Friuli Venezia Giulia for industrial districts development The industrial districts according to regional act No. 27/99 are: economic - occupational development frameworks economic - occupational development frameworks seats for promotion and co-ordination of local industrial policy initiatives seats for promotion and co-ordination of local industrial policy initiatives areas for wrapping up institutional, economic and social subjects areas for wrapping up institutional, economic and social subjects tools to strengthen of the productive system competitiveness and to pursue a more effective use of the existing industrial policy tools tools to strengthen of the productive system competitiveness and to pursue a more effective use of the existing industrial policy tools stakeholders for starting new initiatives and to promote the implementation of trans-regional projects. stakeholders for starting new initiatives and to promote the implementation of trans-regional projects.

Objectives of the regional support a) to increase technological ability, research, development and innovation, even through the diffusion of information and ICT; b) to set up common projects, particularly addressed to join initially different subjects; c) the improvement of human resources through training; d) the improvement of the district environmental conditions; e) the internationalisation of companies and getting them in new markets; f) the promotion of public works (infrastructures and engineering systems) featuring co-operation among public and private subjects; g) the reorganisation of territorial policies; h) the improvement of security conditions on-the-job; i) activities connected to the effect of technological innovations.

Representative body of the district: the District Committee and its tasks The District Committee represents the relevant Municipalities, Provinces and Chambers of Commerce, entrepreneurial associations and workers trade-union organisations. The District Committee performs the following tasks: Denomination of the districtDevelopment Programme Implementation monitoringProjects selection Executive empowerment of the ChairConsultation of stakeholders Standing partnership promotion

The Development Programme of the District The DP provides:  strategic guidelines  priority for private investments to be supported by public funding  priority infrastructures  access possibility to public funding Added values of the DP for the concerned industrial district: Consistency of projects of private initiative Speed up of administrative procedures Finalised resources in the Regional budget Programme agreement for the appropriation of public resources

Timing of the implementation of the Regional Act November 1999 Regional Act n.27 “For the development of Industrial Districts” March 2000 Industrial Districts Committee establishment October 2001 Approval of Development Programmes 2001/03 January 2002 Regional Budget appropriation for the I.D. November 2003 Application of District Committees for project funding August 2004 Decision of the Regional Government on co-financing up to 90% of projects cost January 2005 Innovative approach: the Agency for Industrial District Development (ASDI)

Two cases of the first regional financing Case 1District of Knife Legal entity>Municipality of Maniago 2 priority projectsRegional funding by project Total funding: Euro Case 2District of Food (Ham District) Legal entity>The Food Industrial District Appointed beneficiaryMunicipality of San Daniele Funding of the approved Programme Agreement on the district development programme: Euro

Thank you for your attention ! Ugo Poli Informest Vice-President