The Trentino strategy for territorial development is based on three key factors: research, training and innovation. These key words translate in projects that have made the Trentino innovation ecosystem a national and international point of reference. This is realized mainly through the creation of synergies among the Provincial government, the territorial education system, research organisations and industry. Thus, resulting in an integrated system that makes efficient use of major public and private investment in R&I (about 335 million euro per year, 1.8% of GDP) and long-term structural policy policies. ICT (key enabling technology), materials research, neuroscience, nanotechnology, biotechnology, genomics, agroindustry, environmental science and physics – both theoretical and applied to health and space – but also human and social science and the cultural environment are focal areas for R&I in Trentino.

During the current European programming cycle, Trentino concentrates its R&I efforts investing in the four strategic priorities identified in its Smart Specialisation Strategy: Agrifood, Quality of Life, Energy and Environment (clean tech) and Mechatronics. In these areas the aim is to give space to a technology push and help transfer the results of research activities to both local businesses and to small and large companies coming from abroad interested in setting up operations in the province. A key role in this process is played by several technology facilities run by Trentino Sviluppo (the Provincial development agency) and the local RTOs where research, training organisations and companies collaborate to promote mutual development, innovation, and the creation of new businesses.

The Mechatronics Hub (officially « Polo Meccatronica ») is an innovative centre set up and run by Trentino Sviluppo in Rovereto. It is focused on industry 4.0 and reflects Trentino's natural inclination towards mechanics and mechatronics. This is the sector that employs the highest number of employees in the Trentino manufacturing industry (almost 10.000), counting about 800 active companies and providing an important contribution to the exports of the region. Industrio Ventures, a start-up accelerator, and more than 30 companies are based there and carry out both applied industrial research as well as prototyping production. Polo Meccatronica hosts the ProM facility, e new technological infrastructure for mechatronics prototyping, where cutting edge advanced manufacturing machinery worth over 6 million euro is made available for local, national and international companies, as well as students, PhDs and researchers.

Rovereto has become an industrial innovation centre also in the field of green building, renewable energy, environmental technology, natural resources, and the circular economy. Currently the Green Innovation Factory hosted in the former Manifattura Tabacchi is a cluster where businesses, start-ups, and research and training centres can interact. It hosts over 50 business and research bodies, including the Microsoft Research Centre, a computational biology centre set up in collaboration with the University of Trento.

With the aim of supporting innovation and technology transfer in Trentino, the Autonomous Province of Trento promoted the creation of HIT – Hub Innovazione Trentino, a Foundation set up by the University of Trento, FEM (Edmund Mach Foundation), FBK (Bruno Kessler Foundation), and Trentino Sviluppo. HIT Foundation focuses its activities on advanced technology transfer and innovation. It acts as a catalyser for projects and supports its members scouting new funding and development opportunities. It plays a pivotal role in the implementation of the Smart Specialisation Strategy focussing on commercializing locally-developed technology, accelerating innovative businesses, and taking part to major national and European research and innovation programmes and projects.

https://ricercaintrentino.provincia.tn.it/eng

http://www.polomeccatronica.it/en

http://www.progettomanifattura.it/en

https://www.trentinoinnovation.eu/en/home/

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