English

The themes of research, development and innovation (RD&I), within the exclusive reference framework of the Regional R&IS3, are the core element of the ERDF ROP. Priority axis I supports the Lombardy region’s R&I system by making the most of those technological domains and regional areas of excellence and by incentivizing technology transfer mechanisms to create positive externalities in the enterprise economy. The resources assigned are commensurate with the Programme’s objective for the period 2014-2020 of diminishing the shortfall compared with the Europe 2020 strategy target in terms of R&D spending as a proportion of GDP.

Specific targets and corresponding actions

1 Increase businesses’ innovative activity (see para. 1b.1), raising the proportion of firms which engage in R&D in collaboration with outside bodies:

support for the buying-in of services for technological strategic, organizational and commercial innovation by companies (see para. I.1.b.1.1)
support for the economic exploitation of innovation by experimenting with and taking up innovative solutions in processes, products and organizational formulas, and by funding the industrial application of research findings (see para. i.1.b.1.2)
support for co-operative R&D activities to develop new sustainable technologies, products and services (see para. I.1.b.1.3)
2 Strengthen regional and national systems for innovation (see para. 1b.2) by raising the proportion of GDP spent on R&D overall:

system-wide measures to support Lombardy firms’ participation in national platforms for concerted action and technological specialization networks such as the National Tech-nology Clusters, and in projects funded under other European programmes for research and innovation such as Horizon 2020 (see para. I.1.b.2.1)
support for implementing complex R&D projects on a chosen few subject areas, and for applying functional technological solutions to the implementation of S3s (see para. I.1.b.2.2)
3 Promote new markets for innovation (see para. 1 b.3) optimizing public expenditure through more efficient services:

strengthening and upgrading government demand for innovation through support for Pre-commercial Public Procurement and Innovation Procurement (see para. I.1.b.3.1)
Main beneficiaries
Businesses (including business groupings), research institutions, Lombardy Technology Clusters, the Regional Treasury, the Lombardy regional government, local government, Research & Technology Transfer Centres (CRTT)

Putting in place the regional infrastructure needed to bridge the digital divide will pave the way to greater competitiveness. That is why Priority axis II will fund capital investment in enhancing the digital infrastructure by providing incentives for the development of superfast broadband networks, especially in Lombardy’s industrial areas, in accordance with the relevant national strategy.

Specific targets and corresponding actions

1 Reduce the digital divide between geographical areas, and roll out superfast broad-band more widely (see para. 2a.1), extending 100Mbps coverage:

helping to implement the “Strategic Project: Digital Agenda for Superfast Broadband” and other interventions planned to ensure the availability throughout the region of 30 Mbps connection at the minimum; speeding up the rollout in business districts, industrial areas, rural areas and Hinterland Areas, respecting the principle of Technological Neutrality wherever EU regulations permit
Main beneficiaries
The Ministry of Economic Development, the Lombardy regional government, telcos

Improving businesses’ competitiveness from the start-up stage throughout their growth and consolidation is part of the ROP’s overall strategy for the reawakening of the Region’s enterprise economy.

Priority axis III supports interventions to help SMEs in their business activities, with special attention to improving access to credit, and making the most of the Region’s tourist destinations and other attractions.

Specific targets and corresponding actions

1 Start-up and consolidation of MSMEs (see para. 3a.1), raising the three-year and five-year survival rate:

measures to support new business start-ups through direct incentives, by providing services, and using micro-finance arrangements (see para. III.3.a.1.1)
2 Raise the level of international activity in the economy (see para. 3b.1) by fostering quality enhancements:

export promotion projects to encourage individual firms and consortiums grouped on a geographical or industry basis (see para. iii.3.b.1.1)
setting up opportunities for Italian and foreign entrepreneurs to meet with a view to attracting inward investment and promoting commercial agreements; and other active information and promotional measures targeting potential foreign investors (see para. III.3.b.1.2)
3 Consolidate, modernize and diversify the Region’s production resources and arrangements (see para. 3b.2) by making the most of a strategic repositioning of Lombardy on tourism, culture and general attractiveness so as to raise the number of customers/visitors:

support for the development of products and services that complement the development and exploitation of identified cultural and natural attractions of the Region, not least by linking enterprises in the cultural, tourism, creative and entertainment businesses, and those concerned with the Region’s traditional products and typical produce (see para. III.3.b.2.1)
support for the processes of aggregating and combining firms into business networks, establishing a joined-up offering for tourist destinations (see para. III.3.b.2.2)
support for the competitiveness of firms in tourist destinations by action to improve the quality of the offer and introduce new products and services with strategic and organizational innovation (see para. III.3.b.2.3)
4 Reawaken the propensity to invest within the regional economy (see para. 3c.1), increasing that economy’s rate of innovation:

help for capital spending on machinery, equipment and intangible assets, and assistance with the processes of company reorganization and corporate restructuring (see para. III.3.c.1.1)
5 Improve access to credit, business funding and risk management in farming (see para. 3d.1), making them more readily available throughout the enterprise economy:

providing financial backing for the system of public guarantees for the expansion of credit, making the national and regional guarantee systems work together for greater efficiency by promoting rationalization measures which make joint credit guarantees even more efficient and effective (see para. III.3.d.1.1)
promoting innovative bonds for SME finance, and mentoring SMEs making use of them (see para. III.3.d.1.2)
helping to develop the market in venture capital funds for business start-ups at the pre-seed, seed and early stages (see para. III.3.d.1.3)
Main beneficiaries
Businesses (including business groupings), the Regional Treasury, “contract networks”, “personal networks”, clusters and other structured forms of business grouping, the Lombardy regional government, Chambers of Commerce, official local organizations, trade fair/exhibition organizations and operators, civil society organizations provided they are registered in the Administrative Register of Businesses (REA), bodies managing Protected Areas, joint guarantors, banks, venture capital operators and crowdfunding platforms.

To help cut carbon emissions and make up the shortfall compared with the target of the Europe 2020 strategy over the period 2014-2020, Priority axis IV supports measures to reduce energy consumption in the public sector (public buildings and public lighting) and interventions designed to promote strategies for cutting carbon emissions in urban and metropolitan areas, in keeping with the relevant regional instruments, the Regional Plan for Energy and the Environment (PEAR) and the Regional Plan of Action on Air Quality (PRIA).

Specific targets and corresponding actions

1 Reduce the energy consumed in government buildings and other residential and non-residential structures belonging to or used by the public, and increase the use of energy from renewable sources (see para. 4c.1), promoting lower energy consumption by government:

promote environmental efficiency and lower primary energy consumption in public buildings and structures: restructure individual buildings or building complexes, installing “smart buildings” systems (remote control, regulation, management, monitoring and optimization of energy consumption); cut polluting emissions, not least by the use of a better mix of technologies (see para. IV.4.c.1.1)
adopt technological solutions for cutting the energy consumed by public lighting networks, promoting the installation of automatic regulation systems (see para. IV.4.c.1.2)
2 Develop sustainable transport further in urban neighbourhoods (see para. 4e.1) by encouraging people to use public transport:

developing the infrastructure needed for the use of low environmental impact vehicles, including initiatives to provide charging hubs (see para. IV.4.e.1.1);
renewing the vehicle fleet (see para. IV.4.e.1.2)
Main beneficiaries
Local government and groups of local authorities, public-private partnerships, businesses, non-profit institutions, the Regional Treasury, official local organizations, companies within or majority-owned by the public sector, public organizations and owners or managers of areas used by the public, the Lombardy regional government, regional organizations, local transport/railway/SFR managers, regional railway network concessionaires, railway operating companies.

Priority axis V, dedicated to social inclusion and urban housing, stems from awareness of the existence of council house estates in the Milan Metropolitan Area characterized by deteriorating buildings and a concentration of disadvantaged people exposed to poverty, where public spaces are likewise degraded. The issue is tackled by action on a number of fronts ensuring sufficient dialogue to produce an integrated urban regeneration project using a joined-up approach which takes into account both the buildings’ physical state and the social and economic condition of the neighbourhoods. The implementation of Priority axis V will be supported by social interventions under the ESF ROP with up to € 20m of funding.

Specific targets and corresponding actions

The targets are all concerned with restoring the general soundness of the neighbourhoods in question, all located within the municipalities of Milan and Bollate.

1 Strengthen and extend economic activities which also serve a social purpose (see para. 3.c.1), in recognition of the importance of the point at which the economy and society meet; people are offered employment and support services:

support in starting up and consolidating business activities which have socially desirable effects and produce public goods/benefits not catered for by the market (see para. V.3.c.1.1)
2 Reduce the energy consumed in government buildings and other residential and non-residential structures belonging to or used by the public, and increase the provision of energy from renewable sources (see para. 4.c.1), improving the quality of public spaces (buildings and roads), not least in order to change the way these are perceived in a civic context:

promote environmental efficiency and lower primary energy consumption in public buildings and structures: restructure individual buildings or building complexes, installing “smart buildings” systems (remote control, regulation, management, monitoring and optimization of energy consumption); cut polluting emissions, not least by the use of a better mix of technologies (see para. V.4.c.1.1)
adopt technological solutions for cutting the energy consumed by public lighting networks, promoting the installation of automatic regulation systems (light-level sensors, remote monitoring/control systems for the lighting grid) (see para. V.4.c.1.2)
3 Reduce the number of families in poor housing conditions with particular social and economic problems (see para. 9.b.1) by supporting the rehabilitation of buildings and the improvement of the families’ housing:

measures to improve existing public assets and rehabilitate the stock of publicly-owned residential buildings to increase the availability of social housing and housing services for economically and socially disadvantaged individuals and households. Action on infrastructure to experiment with innovative social and housing models for the most vulnerable categories.
Main beneficiaries
Social enterprises (Law 118/2005), government, corporations owned or part-owned by the state or municipalities, businesses undertaking public projects under guarantee, official local organizations, publicly-owned housing agencies, co-operatives and social enterprises concerned with social housing generally

In keeping with the provisions of the Partnership Agreement, the Programme supports the National Strategy for Hinterland Areas which applies to those areas suffering from the effects of rapid demographic decline, geographical isolation and/or poor levels of essential citizen services (health, transport, education). Here planning is based on two pillars: strengthening citizen services (schools, health and transport) and constructing pathways for local development (tourism, craft production, etc.). The Lombardy regional government has identified two pilot areas, “Valchiavenna” and “Alta Valtellina”, which will be assisted in working out local development strategies to be embodied in formal agreements. Another two areas could be added later has had identified: “Valleys of Lario - Upper Lake Como” and “Lombard Apennines - Oltrepo Pavese”.

In recognition of the importance of the tourist industry as an engine of sustainable local development, Priority axis VI will provide Lombardy’s Hinterland Areas with the tools for redefining their tourist offerings, both in terms of infrastructure (restoration and exploitation of the local heritage), and in terms of intangibles, mainly organizational (promotional services, etc.). Another € 19m of additional funding will contribute to this strategy, from reserves on Priority axes I, III and IV and from the ESF ROP (€ 15m of funds allocated).

Specific targets and corresponding actions

1 Improve the condition of the cultural heritage in the areas which are to attract tourists, and the quality standards for making that heritage available and enjoying it (see para. 6.c.1) by getting local government to reorganize and reposition their cultural resources, to advertise their areas in the tourist market as recognizable destinations, and to work out strategies for making the most of the heritage by networking resources and operators:

interventions for the protection, economic exploitation and networking of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage in strategically important tourist areas so as to consolidate and promote their development processes (see para. VI.6.c.1.1)
support for spreading awareness and enjoyment of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage by creating innovative services and/or systems and by the use of advanced technology
Main beneficiaries
Local authorities within Lombardy associated in partnerships and qualifying for the National Strategy for Hinterland Areas (http://www.dps.gov.it/it/arint/), official local organizations, bodies managing Protected Areas, tourism promoters, museums, heritage managers, arts associations, tourism operators, government, networks and partnership for local tourism and promotion of the cultural Heritage

Improving the administrative capacity of the various bodies involved in implementing and running the Programme is fundamental to achieving the results and attaining the targets set. Priority axis VII funds technical assistance interventions in support of the activities of managing, monitoring, assessment, information/communication and control of the ROP so as to ensure that it is effectively and efficiently implemented.

Specific targets and corresponding actions

1 Support the implementation of the ROP in its main stages: planning, execution, surveillance and control (see para. VII. 1).

planning, execution, surveillance and control (Action VII. 1.1)
setting up recruitment arrangements to reinforce the staff engaged in planning and managing the interventions, having first specified exact criteria for implementation (see para. VII.1.2)
- assessment and research (see para. VII.1.3)
information and communication (see para. VII.1.4)
Main beneficiaries
Executive authorities and control bodies involved in implementing and running the Programme