ANCONA – Quality of investments, professional qualification of human capital and improvement of workers’ well-being: these are the key points of ‘Research and development to innovate the Marche’ tender which allocates a total of 54.6 million euros of PR ERDF resources 21-27 for research and development projects. With the decree issued today by the Marche Region, 228 companies (35 large and 193 SMEs) will be able to start operations in the next few weeks 96 strategic industrial research and experimental development projects for the competitiveness of the production system and the socio-economic growth of the Marche region. The admitted projects, which will be carried out within the scope of the regional intelligent specialization strategy, concern the home system, furniture and living environments (15), the fashion and personal system (14), mechanics and engineering (36), the agri-food system (8), products and services for culture and education (6), products and services for health (11) and the economy of services for tourism (6). Overall, the companies will support 92.5 million euros of investments in research and development.
“An important measure that generates just as many investments in the territory – said the President of the Marche Region, Francesco Acquaroli – in what is a key sector for the development and competitiveness of our economic fabric and our businesses”. “We have deployed significant resources – says Andrea Maria Antonini, Councilor for Economic Development – to support the competitiveness of businesses and enhance the best projects. We have also focused on streamlining procedures and reducing the time for the reporting verification phases. No intervention by the Marche Region has ever made available so many resources to incentivize businesses to invest in research and development. Any savings can be used to scroll through the rankings in order to satisfy additional projects”.
There are approximately 200 new hires of qualified personnel planned (researchers, PhDs, apprentices in higher education and research, graduates and specialized technicians) who will conduct analysis, design, testing and prototyping activities for the development of innovative processes, products and services. Around a quarter of the companies, during the implementation of the projects, will introduce initiatives aimed at improving the well-being of workers mainly by facilitating the flexibility of working hours, supporting the employee’s income and the health care of the employee and his family.
