The Ministry of Economic Development provides the former 33,5 million euro is preferably used for digitization and technology transfer in favor of small and medium-sized businesses. This is the first installment of the investment envisaged by the Pnrr, which allocates a total 350 million euro for the strengthening of the existing Competence Centers and the creation of another 42 technology transfer centres.
"At least 4.500 small and medium-sized enterprises" involved
The decree signed by the number one of the Mise, Giancarlo Giorgetti, aims to “create in Italy a network of centers highly specialized in technology transfer and digitisation", it is read in a note. These centres, integrated at a European level, will have to "develop advanced production processes and models for industrial supply chains, through the provision of innovative services and the diffusion of 4.0 skills to at least 4.500 small and medium-sized enterprises".
The provision was sent to the Court of Auditors for registration and will enter into force after publication in the Official Gazette.
Two lines of action
Two lines of intervention are foreseen for the grounding of the investment:
- the first concerns the refinancing of the competence centres, for which the ministry will shortly publish the announcement;
- the second is related to co-financing of the European network of European digital innovation hubs.
The control room
To guarantee the coordination of the network of technology transfer poles, a control room has been set up at the Mise with direction, impulse and monitoring functions, aimed in particular at defining and monitoring the homogeneous quality standards and overseeing the implementation of investments.
Giorgetti's words
"We focus on investments in manufacturing 4.0 to accompany the digital transition of the production chains, especially in strategic sectors for the country's economy - he said Giorgetti – With this objective in mind, we have decided to invest in a national network of technology transfer poles in which the human factor plays a decisive role for the future of the manufacturing sector, strengthening the ability of the world of research and businesses to meet in the application of cutting-edge technologies”.
