Liguria is also among the innovation valleys selected by the European Union within the “European innovation ecosystems” program of Horizon Europe and the European Regional Development Fund.
The recognition will allow the regional body together with Filse, who together presented the candidacy, not only the opportunity to access a share of the 170 million foreseen by the instrument but also to exploit in the coming years the advantages deriving from European interregional collaboration to achieve shared actions capable of improving the transfer of research results to the market, supporting the creation and consolidation of innovative businesses and start-ups, increasing the level of access to cross-border infrastructures and skills, encouraging public and private investments in the topic of research and innovation.
«The Liguria Region has long since started a process, defined in the strategic lines of the ‘Smart Specialization Strategy’, to enhance the internationalization of businesses and the attractiveness of the Ligurian system – explains the regional councilor for Economic Development Alessio Piana -. The European Commission has recognized the validity of our candidacy, placing us among the European innovation valleys. An opportunity that will allow us to strengthen and connect our territory to other European innovation ecosystems, improving the coordination of investments and policies in research and innovation and encouraging the activation of interregional projects capable of responding to the needs of citizens and businesses”.
«The Liguria Region’s attention to development and innovation has never been as solid as in recent years – comments the interim president Alessandro Piana – With this further recognition, Liguria will take part in the most important decision-making tables, bringing the voice of citizens and entrepreneurs to Europe. We will therefore strengthen public and private investments in research, ensuring that every resource is used to support the economic system with particular attention to start-ups».
«The synergy between the Liguria Region and Filse is fundamental for obtaining this important recognition which rewards the value of the Ligurian ecosystem in the development of research and technological transfer, of which our BIC – business incubator – is a vital hub», underlined the president of Filse Lorenzo Cuocolo.
«We focused on the themes of robotics and the circular economy, on the value of the actors who develop innovation in Liguria, on the financial instruments made available by the system, on the collaboration between large and medium-sized enterprises and innovative start-ups in our territory and on the international networks of which FILSE is a partner in multiple projects», concluded the deputy general director of Filse, Maria Nives Riggio.
