1. Emilia-Romagna Region and the Food-Cluster Initiative Cristiana Miglio OPENDAYS - BRUXELLES, 6-9 OTTOBRE 2008

2. 15% of the national food sector; employment of almost 50,000 people; 11,000 firms; Agro+industry: A.V. 27% of the total (national A.V.=22%) Products: fruits and vegetables, grapes and wine, cereals, processed food and seed cultivation, preserved tomatoes and by-products, canned and frozen vegetables, preserved fruit and fruit juice, meat and meat products Typical products: 14 PDOs, 11 PGIs. A SNAPSHOT OF THE AGRO-FOOD SECTOR IN EMILIA-ROMAGNA Emilia-Romagna generates 17% of Italy’s patents More than 150 research teams are active in the region on food topics Presence in the Region of the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) Presence of food formal networks and development agencies working on RTD promotion and local development. INNOVATION STRUCTURE FOR FOOD

3. CNR National Research Council 5 UNIVERSITIES ENEA National Body for New Technologies, Energy and Environment EMILIA-ROMAGNA: THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY A strong tradition of quality and technology La Cattolica University PIACENZA PARMA REGGIO EMILIA MODENA FORLI’ FERRARA RAVENNA RIMINI Bologna University Modena University Parma University Ferrara University BOLOGNA INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES AND PRODUCTS FOOD TECHNOLOGIES RAW MATERIALS FARM MACHINERY

4. THE EMILIA-ROMAGNA STRATEGY FOR R&D AND INNOVATION STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES  To enhance the propensity of existing productive systems towards research and innovation  To foster the development of a modern knowledge-based productive systems  To increase the jobs in R&D and Innovation  To enhance business and science cooperation  To strengthen the regional “knowledge community”  To develop the regional network composed by units engaged in industrial research and technology transfer

5. PRRIITT: REGIONAL PROGRAMME FOR INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER THE EMILIA-ROMAGNA HIGH-TECHNOLOGY NETWORK 14 Networked Laboratories and 8 Innovation Centers: Share knowledge and competences Generate highly qualified human resources Create more opportunities for research-industry partnerships

6. FOOD NETWORKED LABORATORY IN EMILIA-ROMAGNA SITEIA Food Safety, Technology and Innovation MISSION: support food industries at all level of the supply chain, with high levels of competence, services and knowledge-based innovation technologies New technologies for food safety Traditional products valorization Processes and new technologies for mechanic industry Raw Material quality and safety Microorganisms of industrial interest

7. EMILIA-ROMAGNA IN EUROPE AGFORISE AGroFOod clusters platform with common long-term Research and Innovation Strategy towards Economic growth and prosperity

8. Strongest link of the regional system with external RTD and food initiatives Possibility to share good practices and experiences acquired by other countries Creation of new opportunities for cooperation among different countries Open a wider window on the multifaceted aspects that may concern the food sector BENEFITS FROM THE EUROPEAN FOOD-CLUSTER New ideas for Partnerships and Innovation Projects Higher RTD project quality

9. THE KEYS OF SUCCESS Overcome the fragmentation of research among different Regions by a constructive dialogue and the clear statement of interests Enhance the dialogue between Regions and EC, which should act in the shape of a collaborative team Stimulate Regions to express criticisms and to propose new initiatives to the EC, in order to optimize future European polices addressed to the food sector

10. THANK YOU FOR THE ATTENTION Cristiana Miglio Aster Bologna, Italy cristiana.miglio@aster.it +39 051 6398179