1. Kick off Conference and Forum of CB integration of strategic projekt iCON Infrastructure and services in support of innovations iCON: Competitiveness of SMEs through Innovation and Collaborative Entrepreneurship Nataša Jakopič RDA of Northern Primorska Ltd Nova Gorica natasa.jakopic@rra-sp.si Gorizia, 30.11.2010

2. Applying the concept of “Innovation System” in Slovenia and Italy Innovation and competitiveness are based upon the efficient flow and interchange of technology, information and resources between people, businesses and agencies. Typical include : Universities and Institutes of Higher Education, Public Research Centres, Agencies for Innovation, Science and technology parks, Technology transfer offices, Business Innovation Centre, Business Incubators, Centers of innovation theme and sector (eg Technology "Clusters") Finance and Innovation Services.

3. The regulatory framework Comparison of the two systems Slovenian R&D system is based on centralized legislation and supported by the government and regional supporting organizations and agencies. Italian R&D system is based on: – regional organizations (increasing relevance) – National Interest Research Organizations

4. Preliminary Remarks SLOVENIA A NEW INNOVATION SYSTEM, STRONGLY INTERNATIONALLY ORIENTED, GOOD INNOVATION PERFORMANCE (14 IN EU ) WEAKNESS: TECHNOLOGY BASED ENTREPRENEURSHIP, FEW HIGH GROWTH FIRMS ITALY A MATURE INNOVATION SYSTEM, CRITICAL MASS, LARGE INVESTMENTS IN KEY INITIATIVES (AREA SCIENCE PARK, SINCROTRONE, CBM, VENETO NANOTECH). EMILIA ROMAGNA HAS INNOVATION NODES OF HIGH RELEVANCE TO LOCAL SMEs WEAKNESSES: TECHNOLOGY BASED ENTREPRENEURSHIP, LOW PRIVATE R&D

5. Universities SLOVENIA University of Ljubljana (overwhelmingly important), University of Maribor, University of Primorska (Koper) and University of Nova Gorica (the latter two are still small in size). ITALY Friuli Venezia Giulia - SISSA - International School for Advanced Studies (PhD programs and post-doctorate), University of Trieste, University of Udine. Gorizia hosts branch faculties of these two universities. Veneto - University of Padua, University of Venice and University of Verona Emilia Romagna - University of Bologna, University of Ferrara, University of Modena, University of Parma.

6. Research centers of national interest SLOVENIA In š titut "Jo ž ef Š tefan", National Institute of Chemistry (Kemijski in š titut), National Institute for Biology ( Nacionalni i n š titut za biologijo), Institute for materials and technology of metals (In š titut za kovinske t ehnologije in material e ), the National Institute of Agriculture (Kmetijski in š titut Slovenije), National Institute of Forestry (Gozdarski in š titut Slovenije), Science and Research Centre of Koper (ZRS: Znanstveno raziskovalno središče Koper – Univerze na Primorskem) ITALY 3 International Centers (United Nations) Friuli Venezia Giulia - AREA Science Park, Sincrotrone Elettra, OGS of Trieste. The CNR (National Research Council) operates 4 institutes. INFN has a Section in Trieste and a Group in Udine Group (at the Department of Physics). INFM operates observatory of Trieste (INAF - National Institute for Astrophysics) Veneto - CNR operates 6 institutes in Padua and Venice, 12 detached units, 9 territorial divisions, all based in Padua. INFN operates the National Laboratories of Legnaro (Padova) and detached units in Padua. Emilia - Romagna, CNR operates 6 institutes, 10 detached units, with headquarters in Bologna, Ravenna, Ferrara, Parma and Modena.

7. Technology transfer and applied research SLOVENIA Agency for Technology and Innovation (TIA) 5 Technology Parks : Technology Park of Primorska ( Š empeter/Vrtojba) - located in the iCON program area Technology Park Ljubljana PomurjeT e chnology P ark (Murska Sobota) Technology Park Celje (Tehnopolis) Tehnolo gy Park of Štajerska (Maribor) ITALY Friuli Venezia Giulia - Area Science Park, Friuli Innovazione (Udine), Polo Tecnologico di Pordenone, Agemont (Amaro / Tolmezzo), CBM - Consortium for Biomolecular Medicine in Trieste, CATAS (chairs) ; Veneto - VENETO VEGA (Venice), Gali e leo (Padova ), STAR ( Verona ); Emilia – Romagna - ASTER operates 6 Technology Park Structures and 57 “Innovation Nodes ”

8. Incubators SLOVENIA PIC - In c ubator Se ž ana, (region of program iCON) Incubator University of Ljubljana (LUI) Incubator University of Maribor (Tovarna podjemov) University Incubator of Koper (UIP univerzitetn i razvojni center in inkubator Primorske) ; r egion of program iCON Incubator network in the region of Savinja SA ŠA in c ubator (Velenje) Technology Development centre of Koroška ITALY Friuli Venezia Giulia – Incubator s: Friuli Venezia Giuli a, Innovation Factory (AREA Science Park ), Tecno Seed V eneto - Start Cube U niversity incubator, La Fornace di Asolo (Treviso), Venice (3 incubators), p rivate incubators of great success: H-Farm Silea, M31 (Padova) Emilia – Romagna - ASTER operates 2 incubators of We TechOff and incubator of Ferrara.

9. Regional Cluster Programmes SLOVENIA IN-PRIME is a regional innovation programme, operated by Soča Valley Development Centre Technology Platform for the Construction Industry Cluster of motor vehicle technology ITALY Friuli Venezia Giulia – CBM Technological District of Molecular Biomedicine, DITENAVE Regional District of Naval Technology V eneto - Veneto Nanotech, MDM Cluster DigitalMediale Emilia – Romagna - Hi-Mech District for High Mechanical Technology, ASTER High Mechanical Technology, Environment, Sustainable Energy, Food, Construction and Materials, Life Sciences and Health, Information Technology and Communication

10. Innovation Finance SLOVENIA - Slovenian Fund for Entrepreneurs (Podjetni š ki Sklad) - grants and Medium and Long-Term debt (loans and guarantees) -Public-Private Risk Capital Funds -Business Angels ( 3 private Venture Capital Funds ) ITALY Friuli Venezia Giulia - Friulia and Friulia SGR (risk capital) Veneto - Veneto Sviluppo (loans, equity, guarantees through COFIDI), 5 Private Equity Funds Emilia Romagna - public-private fund Meta-Ingenium, 4 Private equity funds

11. Thank you for listening Contacts: Nataša Jakopič natasa.jakopic@rra-sp.si natasa.jakopic@rra-sp.si Tel: +386 5 33 06 683 Projekt iCON sofinanciran v okviru Programa čezmejnega sodelovanja Slovenija-Italija 2007-2013 iz sredstev Evropskega sklada za regionalni razvoj in nacionalnih sredstev. Progetto iCON finanziato nell'ambito del Programma per la Cooperazione Transfrontaliera Italia-Slovenia 2007-2013, dal Fondo europeo di sviluppo regionale e dai fondi nazionali. Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze Kick off Conference and Forum of CB integration of strategic projekt iCON