Lucca, 19 June 2024 – Plus six percent the value of production, which exceeds 2.6 million euros, of which approximately two thirds deriving from research and technological transfer activities, the EBITDA approaching 10%, for a total of 700 active customers. These are some numbers from the 2023 budget approved by the members of Lucensethe non-profit consortium company which, with its role as a research organisation, has been promoting and offering technology transfer services for innovation to businesses for 40 years.
Presenting the most significant data of the newly approved budget is the president of Lucense, the engineer Giovanni Gambini. “The company is growing, thanks to continuous investments in staff and laboratory equipment. Significant resources have been allocated to both the training plan (over 1,000 hours) and welfare policies. During 2023, three highly qualified young people were also hired, which allowed us to increase the workforce to 29 employees, and the infrastructure of the LUNET node and the equipment of the laboratories were further strengthened of the Paper Quality Center. As regards research and technological transfer activities in favor of businesses and the territory, 10 projects were launched in 2023, and another 7 were presented in the various active tenders”.
“It came to life after the first year of setup – continues Gambini – the sustainable development program of the production chains, which Lucense carries out together with the Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca Foundation, which has allocated one million euros for the three-year period 2022-2024, to finance innovation and technological transfer projects in the context of sustainability, with widespread repercussions on the supply chains involved. To date, 5 projects have been started which involve around 900,000 euros: two in the paper sector, one in the nautical sector, one in the stone sector, one in the footwear sector, in addition to the study on the figurine makers’ supply chain. The program will also develop in future years, in the belief that investing in policies to reduce environmental impacts is a determining factor for the competitiveness of businesses and the development of our territory”.
Considerable numbers also with regards to dissemination activities: on the topics of research and technological transfer for innovation 53 events were organised with 1,150 participants. Lucense is also very active in supporting specialization initiatives for the inclusion of young people in the productive sectors, with workshops and courses in the paper sector and the initiatives of the training and dissemination center of Living Mediterranean regarding sustainable construction, which saw the participation of over 360 students.
Lucense’s priority objectives are also those linked to corporate welfare. “The strategic tools to reach them – continues Gambini – are first and foremost investments to increase the competence of the staff and the efficiency of the equipment; innovation in services and products to strengthen competitiveness and increase profitability and ultimately economic and financial balance”.
