The economic crisis has had negative effects on Italian business innovation, but the synergy between the public and private sectors can produce positive results. This was the affirmation by Director General of COTEC Claudio Roveda at the foreign ministry in Rome as he presented the 2011 annual report on innovation.
The report shows, for example, that the “spin-off” enterprises of universities and research bodies are growing in number, but remain relegated to small niche markets and fail to grow significantly in terms of revenue and employment. At the same time, cooperative relations between businesses, universities and research centres are increasing, and this route is indicated as having the greatest potential for success.
“Taking a chance on more incisive innovation policies can give markets new confidence”, underscored MFA Director General for the Country System Maurizio Melani as he opened the sessions, assuring that the government’s intention was to “follow this line”, despite the limitations imposed by financial rigour. The goal, he added, was to achieve that “knowledge society” outlined in the Lisbon Strategy the EU approved in 2000, which acknowledges the seminal role of education as an integral part of economic policy.
