Overview
The National Operational Programme (NOP) for Research and Competitiveness 2007-2013, co-funded with the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and national resources, promotes initiatives and projects for scientific research, industrial competitiveness and innovation in the four Convergence regions, namely Calabria, Campania, Puglia and Sicily.
The purpose of the Programme is to ensure that the potential production and implementation of levels of excellence in research and innovation are fully exploited in the four Convergence regions, thus guaranteeing lasting and sustainable development.
The NOP for Research and Competitiveness 2007-2013 consists of priority Action Lines, avoiding any further unnecessary complications or subdivisions. This streamlined procedure means that the operational management of the Programme's resources is now more efficient and dynamic.
The specific objectives of each Action Line are listed below:
ACTION LINE II - IMPROVEMENT OF THE INNOVATIVE CONTEXT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPETITIVENESS
ACTION LINE III - TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND COACHING
Action Line I includes structural interventions, the promotion of scientific and technological networks and incentives for business. The objective is to change specialised production in the Convergence regions by promoting the development and consolidation of sectors relating to science and technology.
Action Line II includes interventions that, on one hand, improve the focus on business innovation and development, and on the other, improve territorial appeal and competitiveness in order to increase the ability of local business to adapt their strategies to changes in the business context.
Action Line III includes interventions to improve the efficiency of planned measures, optimising the NOP's strategic management. Moreover, Action Line 3 includes interventions relating to best practices and knowledge transfer.
An important part, intersecting all Action Lines, is attributed to integrated actions for sustainable development and the information society. These are considered drivers of business innovation and capable of qualifying the business context in which the enterprises operate.
The Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR), in its capacity as Managing Authority (MA) and the Ministry of Economic Development (MiSE), in its capacity as Intermediate Body (IB) hold political responsibility for the NOP for R&C and are jointly responsible for its implementation.
Shared governance over the NOP for R&C between the two ministries favours the integration of research and technological development policies with policies for economic development and industrial innovation, and hence ensures consistent action and more effective measures.