Emilia-Romagna is a strong manufacturing region aiming to regenerate the roots of its competitiveness in the framework of the knowledge and innovation economy. Following the Smart Specialisation approach, the effort is twofold: consolidating existing fundamental clusters by introducing Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) in their knowledge basis and innovation processes; and fostering the emergence of new, highly innovative industrial systems, able to attract new qualified employment. The regional approach is highly systemic, not oriented to single niche industries, but geared towards complex and integrated clusters around common themes. Emilia-Romagna’s Smart Specialisation Strategy represents an ambitious effort to position a manufacturing system on the frontier of the new social needs.
Silvano Bertini is in charge of the Emilia-Romagna Region’s Smart Specialisation Strategy as Head of the Economic Development, Industrial Research and Technology Innovation Unit of Emilia-Romagna. The views expressed in this article are personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development, Industrial Research and Technology Innovation Unit of Emilia-Romagna.
