RP - Regione Puglia

Puglia is a region of Southern Italy with a population of about 4 million and relies on a central geographical position within the Mediterranean Sea. The participation of Apulia Puglia in trans-European Corridors, international networks, European Programs for Territorial Cooperation demonstrates the Regional will to be located among the protagonists of future development processes.

In the Puglia Region Authority (www.regione.puglia.it), the Department of Economic Development, Innovation, Training and Employment represents a major player in the implementation of politics for technological innovation of SMEs, business development and research. With more than 100 officers and administrators in the recent years the Department has managed regional resources for research, innovation and information society policies 2007 – 2013. By means of its regional in-house company InnovaPuglia, Regione Puglia has gained experience in innovating deeply the modalities of interaction between local administrations, citizens and regional enterprises. As an implementing support for the programming period 2014-2020, Regione Puglia has identified priorities and challenges within the SmartPuglia 2020 strategic document (Smart Specialization Strategy for Research and Innovation) with a long term view strategy for a regional economic development based on the value of social responsibility and a dialogue among stakeholders; one of the three priority areas of innovation identified in SmartPuglia2020 is Sustainable Manufacturing.

In Puglia a twofold cluster approach has been implemented through Productive and Technological cluster/districts.

Technological districts have been identified as the main instrument of cooperation between the National Government and Italian Regions to achieve a development based on the knowledge economy. They are knowledge driven clusters characterized by a high-technology-content activities, as they include both research activities and industrial production and promote knowledge transfer and exchange and so the Region hosts now a relevant national research and innovation district in innovative manufacturing, such as MEDIS, the Apulia Mechatronics Cluster.

Regione Puglia has suitable and experienced staff members in the management of European and cooperation projects and in the implementation of the specific activities envisaged in the project.