““REGIONAL” POLICIESREGIONAL” POLICIESFOR HIGHER EDUCATION, RESEARCH FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, RESEARCH

AND INNOVATIONAND INNOVATION

CESAER - Milan, November 13 th, 2008CESAER - Milan, November 13 th, 2008

Prof. Adriano De Maio

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A.A. WHYWHY

B.B. WHATWHAT

C.C. HOWHOW

D.D.WITH WHOMWITH WHOM

E.E. FEEDBACK SYSTEMFEEDBACK SYSTEM

CONTENTSCONTENTS

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A) WHYA) WHY

Preliminary remarks:

More competitiveness among territories as regards “key factors” for the future (development, wellness of citizens etc.) 

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Due to:

Reduced barriers to mobility not only for informations but also for people, investments, activities (e.g. location constraints and opportunities are reduced also for production plants, globalisation),

“Location” now is a very important “decision variable” for every decision maker,

Evaluation of different options are mainly focused on “economic” aspects, but

They include a lot of “soft” or qualitative topics, 

A) WHYA) WHY

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Many environmental, economic and soft factors are strongly affected by policies of “local” government,

Very dynamic change of all the system (technological innovation, consumer behaviour, values, policy and strategy of different political communities, demography etc.),

Finally, the “structure of the system” is a closed loop positive feedback one (this means that the current dynamics is reinforced).

A) WHYA) WHY

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A) WHYA) WHY

So

A change in the trend is possible only if

a very strong impulse is affected, either external or

internal

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A) WHYA) WHY

Following these premises,

Government policies must be focused on attracting,

or, at least, retaining focal key factors for reaching or maintaining “some

future state” but

 

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A) WHYA) WHY

WHAT IS THE DESIDERED FUTURE STATE?

 and

 WHAT ARE THE KEY FACTORS?

 

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This means that education, innovation and research are only TOOLS, even if extremely important, for reaching the desidered objectives and are not themselves objectives. Their importance can vary for reaching the objectives (role of a region) and their weight can change. But, of course, in all the cases if a region wants to reach a future desidered state (a vocation), it is often (or always) in competition with other regions and, necessarily, must define its strategy and policies for education and innovation and, in many cases, also for research.  

A) WHYA) WHY

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Hypothesis: The region wants to be competitive in some “fields” in which science and technology based innovation is crucial.

Main question: what has to be the role of “regional” intervention?

B) WHATB) WHAT

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B) WHATB) WHAT

It depends on the present perceived “state”.

If it is considered fair enough, then the main aim is maintaining the “context variables” or “general environmental conditions” in view of supporting the growth pattern in a long term horizon, evaluating and monitoring the competitors policies, and new potential competitors;

If it is considered unfair, inverting the trend is necessary:

a strong pulse must to be given, due to the structure of the feedback system. This was in the past and it is also at present the “public policy” for underdevelopped countries (like, f.i. TVA or “cassa del mezzogiorno” in Italy, fiscal policy in Ireland etc.), now the intervention regards the innovative capabilities too.

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B) WHATB) WHAT

The interventions must concern all the key factors:

Education: both increasing the quality level of “regional”students, scholars, researchers, professors and attracting very brilliant people (students etc.) from all the world;

Investments in science and technology both in universities and research centers (private and public) and in industries;

High added value production activities (both hard and soft).

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C) HOWC) HOW

Main principles:Subsidiarity

Direct intervention (support in different ways) only on:

high risk, long term investments

strong asymmetry

starting high tech companies

Whole cycle of education must be considered (starting from elementary school)

Public administration as buyer of innovation

Substaining curiosity driven research

Strenghtening the strenghts has the highest priority

Starting from the point of view of different actors (customer needs) for improving the attractiveness (for people, investments, industrial activities)

Selecting the interventions: this implies that priorities must be given and ranking on quality must be made.

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Education:

• Defining “good curricula” for obtaining scientists and innovators at different levels (e.g. method vs. specialization, humanities and scientific topics, openness, curiosity, meritocracy etc),

• SWOT analysis regarding not only curricula but also behavior of different actors, selection and wages of teachers at school, international ranking (e.g. Programme for International Student Assessment - PISA) etc.,

• Identifying appropriate policies and implementing control systems,

• Inventing also new schools,

• Supporting brilliant students (and their families),

C) HOWC) HOW

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Curiosity driven research:

• Evaluating university and research centers,

• Defining (with them) the best way for supporting their research strategy, autonomously identified (e.g. facilities, grants, services etc.) and for improving their attractiveness with respect high level scholars, researchers, etc.

C) HOWC) HOW

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C) HOWC) HOW

Focused research and innovation:• Adopting a problem solving method,

• Definition (by the politicians) of problem priorities and main focuses

• For each of main problem areas:

long term- high risk research (usually multidisciplinary)

call for projects

call for competencies (regarding more complex projects)

call for applications

buy innovation

identify with different actors (from universities to SME’s) at various level of technology and with various types of innovation (product, process , market etc) the best way for supporting their strategy and for improving their competitiveness

•Intervening on “boundary conditions” for increasing innovation opportunities for companies, specifically involved in products and/or services consistent with priorities (problems to be solved).

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C) HOWC) HOW

PRIORITIES OF “REGIONE LOMBARDIA”• WELFARE (that implies health but not only, for instance, for aged people this

means also a “friendly house”) THE LONG TERM FRONTIER RESEARCH WILL BE: NANOMEDICINE

• ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

• FOOD

• HISTORICAL HERITAGE

• MANUFACTURE OF THE FUTURE

(MANUFUTURE)

• SECURITY

I CT

New Materials

Life sciences

Manifacturing

The working program related to R&D in the Region implies an exhaustive analysis of the existing structures and the single sectors’ foresight (Health, Food, Energy, Manufacture, Environment, Valorisation of Cultural Heritage, Security, Industry sectors on like Aerospace) as well as of the related technologies (ICT, Biotech and New Materials) with a view to define and set up strategic initiatives in line with the industrial development framework and the competences of the scientific system.

Industries (Aerospace, Textile, Steel, Chemical, Fashion, etc.)

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METHOD OF “REGIONE LOMBARDIA”•PRIORITIES (OBJECTIVES BOTH GENERAL AND SPECIFIC) ARE

DEFINED BY “POLICY MAKERS”

•THESE PRIORITIES ARE TRANSLATED INTO “SPECIFIC” PROJECTS BY A “SCIENTIFIC/TECHNICAL TEAM” (UNIVERSITIES,

COMPANIES, ETC.)

•MANAGEMENT OF COMPLEX PROJECT COMMITTED TO A PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM WITH A “CALL FOR COMPETENCIES”

•FOR “SIMPLE” PROJECTS THE USUAL “CALL FOR APPLICATION” IS USED

•A “CONTINUOUS” REPORT FROM SCIENCE/TECHNICAL STAFF TO POLICY MAKERS

•A “CALL FOR IDEAS AND FOR PROPOSAL” IS LAUNCHED (BOTTOM UP IS REALLY IMPORTANT)

C) HOWC) HOW

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Investments

•Research on the attractiveness determinants, focusing on existing companies with R&D investments and in “foreign” companies and investors strongly involved in the priority fields

•SWOT analysis regarding attractiveness determinants

•Adoption of a strategy regarding these determinants

C) HOWC) HOW

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D) WITH WHOMD) WITH WHOM

The Regional Government of “Regione Lombardia” supports research through the initiatives for:

  to attract and foster setting up of business with a high added-value, to enhance the exploitation of the existing human resources while at the same time recruiting young talented people;

 to encourage firms to connection with research centers and to support research also by means of agreements with international, national, regional research system;

  to invest in R&D.

E. g. “REGIONE LOMBARDIA” promoted, through IRER, project “Analyses of attractiveness in the Provinces of “Lombardia” for identify the critical and strength’s elements of system of research and Higher formation

Method: CEOs OF HIGH TECHNOLOGIES COMPANIES HAVE BEEN INTERVIEWED. INFORMATIONS OBTAINED WILL BE USED BY LOMBARDIA GOVERNMENT FOR TO IMPROVING POLICIES

•TO INCREASE COMPETITIVENESS OF TERRITORY”

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Strenghten the strenghts

Analysis of the position in the international competitive market of “quality” companies and of their opportunities

Determining the effectiveness of administrative constraints and other external factors (like, for instance, logistic, work rules, fiscal incentives, environmental bonds, international and local legislation etc.)

Defining a policy for improving their “global competitiveness”

C) HOWC) HOW

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D) WITH WHOMD) WITH WHOM

The limited amount of resources and international competition urge us in defining a set of “external alliances”

A definition of “with whom” and “against whom” is necessary (this is the main difference between internal and external alliances).

Agreement with allied regions and common strategy definition

Defining a method for implementing the policies and controlling the results.

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1. ALLIANCES (WIN-WIN) INCREASING ATTRACTIVENESS WITH COMPETITIVENESS

2. UTILIZING “SUPPORT PROGRAMS”

NATIONALE.U. (VII FP) OTHERS

3. WITH UNIVERSITIESPUBLIC AND PRIVATE RESEARCH CENTERSCOMPANIES (SINGLE AND/OR ASSOCIATED)

4. FOCUSING ON “EX-POST” EVALUATION WITH RESPECT TO:

OVERALL STRATEGY (IN-OUT BALANCE OF KEY FACTORSSPECIFIC PROGRAMS (WHAT ACTUALLY ARE THE RESULTS)THIS NEEDS “A PRIORI” DEFINITION OF EXPECTED RESULTS

OTHER ITALIAN REGIONS

OTHER E.U. REGIONS

OTHER COUNTRIES (OR REGIONS) OR ACTORS IN DIFFERENT

COUNTRIES BOTH ASSOCIATED OR NOT TO E.U.

C) HOWC) HOW

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C) HOWC) HOW

E.G. ALLIANCES OF “REGIONE LOMBARDIA”

1,5 MILLIONS EURO1.5 MILLIONS € 3 AGREEMENTS REGIONE LOMBARDIA and UNIVERSITIES OF

PAVIA, POLITECNICO AND CATTOLICA

20 MILLIONS € CNR20 MILLIONS €AGREEMENT CNR –REGIONE LOMBARDIA

2006-2007REGIONE LOMBARDIA

1,5 MILLIONS EURO1.5 MILLIONS € 3 AGREEMENTS REGIONE LOMBARDIA and UNIVERSITIES OF

PAVIA, POLITECNICO AND CATTOLICA

20 MILLIONS € CNR20 MILLIONS €AGREEMENT CNR –REGIONE LOMBARDIA

2006-2007REGIONE LOMBARDIA

Period 2004-2006:

Regional funds for biotech: 18 millions €

National funds: 8 millions €Period 2004-2006:Regional funds for biotech: 18 millions €National funds: 8 millions €

AGREEMENT MIUR-REGIONE

LOMBARDIA

206.80 75,50 68.50 62.80 total

4.50 1,50 1.50 1.50 other

87, .5 32,00 29.00 26.15 .Chambers of commerce

115.15 42.00 38 35.15 Regione Lombardia

Total

millions €

2008

millions €

2007

millions €

2006

millions €

206.80 75,50 68.50 62.80 total

4.50 1,50 1.50 1.50 other

87, .5 32,00 29.00 26.15 .Chambers of commerce

115.15 42.00 38 35.15 Regione Lombardia

Total

millions €

2008

millions €

2007

millions €

2006

millions €

•Agreements for supporting advanced post-graduate training of high-level researchers (with Universities of Pavia, Politecnico and Cattolica); •Agreement the system of national research CNR (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche);•Agreement of collaboration with the other italian regional governments (Regione Emilia Romagna and Regione Piemonte);•agreement of collaboration with MIUR (Italian Minister for Education, Universities and Research) for BIOTEC, NEW MATERIALS AND ICT•Partnership in projects and know-how exchange with other partners of EU (e.g. Roussillon-Languedoc, Flanders, 4 Motors of Europe) and not EU (e.g. NIH - USA, etc.)•Agreement with Universities and Institutions for carry out a nanomedicine center

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SUPPORT TO OTHER COUNTRIES OR ACTORS IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES BOTH ASSOCIATED OR NOT TO E.U.ACCORDING TO OUR GENERAL STRATEGY AND USING APPROPRIATE TOOLS

FOCUSES OF “REGIONE LOMBARDIA” ARE ALSO

•ENHANCING A BI-DIRECTIONAL

* EXCHANGE STUDENTS (undergraduate, post graduate, doctorship, post- doc but also for technical training)

SCHOLARS, PROFESSORS

SPECIFICALLY IN PRIORITY FIELDS: HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY, FOOD, MANUFACTURING

THROUGH GRANTS, SCHOL-AR-SHIP, ETC.

•DEFINING RESEARCH TOPICS FOCUSING ON PRIORITY PROBLEMS IN OTHER REGIONS

•SUPPORTING INVESTMENTS OF OUR COMPANIES IN OTHER REGIONS, MAINLY FOR:

* FOREIGN MARKET AND NEEDS

* OUTSOURCING OF PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES

C) HOWC) HOW

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ORGANIZATION CHARTR&D IN REGIONE LOMBARDIA

competitiveness

human resources

PRESIDENT

Integraded Planning Direction

Higher Education, Research and Innovation

Office

Research and Technology Transfer Unit

specific plans

SME and Cooperation

Sector

Representative of the President For Higher Education,

Research and Innovation -

Lombardy Region

HandicraftSector Health

SectorFood Sector

•Meta-districts (Materials, Biotecnologies alimentary, other biotechnologies , ICT, Design, Fashion)

•Regional Law 1/2007

•L.r. 35/96, L. s. 140/97, D. 297/97, voucher

• health programme • food programme

Education Sector

Environmental Sector

•Programme for air pollution reduction

Energy Sector

•Energy plan–new materials for building

•Ingenio Programme

•Education

•Masters and graduates

student’s Accomodation Public

Housing Trade Sector

• agreements of collaboration with the system of international, national, regional research

(CNR, MINISTRIES, ECC.)

• promotion of the centres of excellence by regional Law 31/96

•VII Framework Programme and promotion Technological cluster (Advanced Material,

Biotechnologies, ICT)

•Agreements for supporting advanced

post-graduate training of high-level researchers.

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E) FEEDBACK SYSTEME) FEEDBACK SYSTEM

Up to now in Italy and also, unfortunately, in EU there is not an effective control system on results.

There is a heavy evaluation system “ex-ante” but no evaluation is made on the obtained results “ex-post”.

This implies not only a possible waste of public money, not only a distortion in perspective (a lot of attention is given to writing the projects instead of obtaining the results), but over all we have not information for improving the system.

We need a feedback system both on short and medium term and on long term horizon.

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For medium and short term we need, first of all, that resources and all kind of interventions be consistent with a “project”, that implies a feasibility study and a clear definition of objectives (quality, time and cost), with milestones and control parameters (and tools and methods for measuring),

For long term feedback system the problem is easier, from a theoretical point of view. In fact due to initial statement, the general aim for a region is increasing its attractiveness.

So, if the balance sheet among input and output of key competitive factors (e.g. brilliant people, R&D investments, high added value activities) is positive the strategy is right, if negative is wrong.

The problem is how to define intermediate evaluation.

E) FEEDBACK SYSTEME) FEEDBACK SYSTEM

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ROLE OF HIGH QUALITY TECHNICAL ROLE OF HIGH QUALITY TECHNICAL UNIVERSITIESUNIVERSITIES

One of the Key factors for attractiveness

• High level education (master and ph d)• Research (both curiosity driven and demand driven)• Multidisc iplinarity• Science and technology foresight• Technology transfer• Joint research centers• New companies

CESAER - Milan, November 13 th, 2008CESAER - Milan, November 13 th, 2008

Adriano De Maio

A LOT OF RESEARCH A LOT OF RESEARCH MUST BE MADEMUST BE MADE

IT’S UP TO YOUIT’S UP TO YOU

GOOD LUCK!!!! GOOD LUCK!!!!