Integration of industrial policies and sustainable development

World Bank Knowledge Economy Forum Ancona, 19 June 2008

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A model of industrial development

In the 60’s and 70’s, many firms came and settled in the Marche Region from other Italian regions or foreign countries, because of low labor costs

The know-how acquired over time, the capability to set out small but increase innovation, the relationship among local businesses (clusters) created a new “model”, often named after the region: “Marche Region Model”

In the 90’s many regional firms began participating in foreign businesses, mostly within their own manufacturing sectors, such as the metal-mechanics industry, agricultural and industrial machinery, clothing and footwear, electrical material and supplies

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A case of industrial cluster policy

Marche Regional Authority has promoted over the last years, and still does, the creation of a system capable of supporting the regional industrial clusters policy aimed at enhancing the reinforcement of the territorial attraction and economic competitiveness

Through this system Marche Regional Authority wants to give a concrete support to the technological innovation and sustainable development of local companies, to keep pace with globalization

This network of research and technological transfer centers, that became a due response to the demand of enterprises, is an instrument dedicated to the territory but destined to be spent even out of the region

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A case of public-private partnership

During the years the Centres have been developed to assume, together with the contribution of the laboratories they are equipped with, a fundamental role in the matter of research, tech transfer and quality certification (strategic factors) which maintain the high “Made in Italy” competitiveness level of Marches products in the global market

The strategic repositioning of the Centres really took place in light of backdrop changes in the last few years: globalization/growing integration of technological innovation processes; the development of ICT-based services and of the immaterial economy

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From “General Services”to “Technology Transfer”

• Market transformation resulting from globalization

• Move from local development of a defined territorial area to trans-local development in order to consolidate or create new conditions of competitiveness

• Move from an inward looking production and added value chain network to an outward looking network

• Marches and the “Technological Centre System”

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The Rational: an External Economy

The “Technological Centre” intervenes to:

– analyse needs– propose solutions– facilitate the process of internationalisation of SMEs– offer experience and advanced competence to the

regional enterprises

in complex socio-economic situations, which presentdifficulties in the development of local industries (operative

localpoint of reference) with otherwise strong potential forgrowth at a national and international level linked to the locally available resources

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The Methodology

The “Technological Centre System” is actively involved in:

• coordinated processes for broaching entrepreneurial and managerial development of the regional enterprises

• sustain the development of new products/processes for regional enterprises through investment in technology, quality certification, organisation/management, design and human resources

• development and organisation of permanent specialized structures aimed at offering firms continuity, stability and adaptability for initiatives of economic and local industrial development

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is a no-profit high-tech innovation Centre founded in November 1988 with PIM Funds (Integrated

MediterraneanProgramme).

• Meccano provides strategic services for the local innovation & development:

• a) high-tech services & advanced technology transfer• b) R & D services on strategic topics for SME • c) highly specialized training• d) quality services for improving quality standards of

small and medium size enterprises• e) internationalization

• … strategic factors to contribute to guarantee the competitiveness of regional SMEs, at local and international level

Meccano Group

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Thanks to (fully controlled and established in 1998), Meccano

operates also on the field of Quality Certifications and Voluntary Mark:

Operative instrument in the quality sector for materials, products

and companies.

International support through accreditations and technical-commercial agreements with quality marks.

Technical connection between product certification and company quality system certification.

Third part laboratory for enterprises and related products in all industrial sectors.

Meccano Group

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Accreditations and acknowledgements

• MECCANO is a SIT n.122/M Calibration Centre acknowledged by Italian Calibration Department inside the EA circuit for calibration of measurements instruments

• EQI is a SINAL n.0079 testing laboratory in the EA Circuit (European co-operation for Accreditation) for mechanic tests, electric safety and electromagnetic compatibility tests which are acknowledged in 35 countries members of EA (26 in Europe, 9 in the rest of the world)

CENTRO N. 122

Meccano Group

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Accreditations and acknowledgements

• Competent Body: acknowledged for the Electromagnetic Compatibility measurements and testing by the Ministry of Communication (EMC Directive)

• CCA (Cenelec Certification Agreement) e CB (Certification Bodies) for test on electrical household appliances and other apparatus (LVD Directive)

• Authorized Laboratory for international product marks such as NEMKO, SASO, GOST, UL, ETL, …

Meccano Group

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Meccano Group

Based on a quality management system in compliance with

standard UNI CEI EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005, EQI works as:

• Indipendent Third Party Laboratory• Operative instrument for quality certification

concerning materials, products and company management

• International support thanks to several acknowledgements and technical-commercial agreements with international quality marks

• Strategic link between quality certification and company management

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Benefits for SMEs

• Assisted export processes through specific product testings and inspections carried out in laboratories located in the cluster

• Technical-normative support on international product marks and certification according to specific country

• Promotion of companies competitiveness by constant improvement of product and productive systems’ quality and elimination of commercial barriers

• Ensuring that regional productions are in compliance with

technical rules required for sector and typology of product