The Regional Council has decided to join the platform for strategic technologies for Europe (STEP) established by Regulation (EU) 2024/795 through the reprogramming of the PR ERDF ESF+ 2021-2027 which will make it possible to make available a total amount equal to €471,530,666.97. The STEP platform was established at European level with the aim of supporting investments in knowledge-intensive sectors and technologies capable of supporting the strategic autonomy of the European Union and reducing its dependence on third countries.
Joining STEP represents a particularly relevant opportunity for the Puglia Region which can further consolidate its attractive capacity and favor in the long term the expansion of current production specializations towards higher levels of innovation which can act as a driving force for the entire Apulian economy, with positive effects from an economic, employment and social point of view.
“Within the scope of the activities envisaged by the STEP Platform – underlines the vice-president of the Puglia Region with responsibility for community funds, Raffaele Piedmontese — we have considered it useful to allocate important resources to financing productive investments in strategic technologies with particular reference to digital technologies, zero-emission technologies and biotechnologies”.
“Joining the STEP platform – adds the regional councilor for Economic Development, Alessandro Delli Noci – will offer important opportunities intended to consolidate and expand the results achieved to date in the regional industrial policy which, through the use of incentive tools aimed at companies of all sizes, has been able to support the development of important investments in the Apulian productive fabric, as well as the attraction of large national and foreign industrial groups.”
 to encourage investments in technological innovation – PugliaLive – Online information newspaper){kind=link}