Venice Cube
The City of Venice, in the framework of its policy for the promotion of business activities' development, with the financial contribution of the DOCUP 2000-2006 Veneto Region - European Regional Development Fund - Objective 2 - 2.1 Measure, realised in 2005 a new incubator for "innovative enterprises" in the area of the ex marine engines manufacturing plant Cnomv on Giudecca island. It is managed by the VENICE CUBE Consortium, founded by Sviluppo Italia Veneto and the 24 enterprises settled in the incubator, with the support of the City's Administration as responsible authority.
The aim of VENICE CUBE is to promote its own activities and its associates' activities, directed at sustaining and spreading business culture, and related in particular to small and medium enterprises in their start-up phase.
The enterprises settled in Ex-Cnomv incubator on Giudecca island are working in innovative fields such as telecommunications, research and development, training activities and services to businesses.
By the end of 2007 another incubator, co.financed by the Region of Veneto DOCUP 2000- 2006, measure 2.1, will be opened on the Giudecca Island, the Ex Herion incubator, which will be capable of hosting a maximum of 40 SMEs.
OTHER TECHNOLOGY / SCIENCE PARKS IN THE REGION
In the area administered by the City of Venice there is the scientific and technological park named VEGA (the VEnice GAteway for Science and Technology) which is the Venice City of Technology and Innovation, linking Universities, Centres of Excellence and the manufacturing sector in order to sharpen the competitive edge of the companies in national and international markets.
It was founded in 1993 by 34 partner organisations, including the local administrative bodies such as the City of Venice, the two Universities of Venice, numerous important public and private organizations, two banks and some small and medium companies.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
VENETO INNOVAZIONE, regional agency for innovation, is a non-profit shareholding company, with the aim of promoting and developing applied research and process and product innovation in Veneto production systems, with special focus on the small and medium companies, who wish to obtain high technological levels, improved environmental situation and train human resources.
To reach its aims of developing and spreading applied research and innovation, the company works through:
- Promoting, setting up and increasing study and research into processes and emerging technology;
- Improving the value of the research potential of the Universities and the NRC, of other research centres and companies, associations and organisations indicated by the associations;
- Setting up and running computer systems;
- Promoting initiatives aimed at creating new activities that develop, use and spread high technology;
- Managing agreements for developing and setting up operational projects and research and study programmes.
VENETO SVILUPPO
It was founded in 1979 as the operational arm of the Regione Veneto for the implementation of the Regional development programmes. Being a Regional financial body and in accordance with the Regional law and with the organization statute, Veneto Sviluppo has a special focus on the economic and social Regional framework and provides consistency and coordination with the Regione Veneto planning instruments.
The partnership is composed by the Regione Veneto (the majority stakeholder) and by 11 companies belonging to 9 different financial groups at national and local level.
The action of Veneto Sviluppo is carried out in three main "operational fields": management of instruments for small and medium companies in Veneto; provision of guarantees for middle term loans; operations on risk capital.
SVILUPPO ITALIA VENETO
It was founded in September 2002, offers services to support the local development and the Public Administration also by managing European, national and local funds opportunities. It acts as reference point for the attraction of investments in the Veneto Region, and it facilitates the local companies delocalization.
The close synergy and interaction with Institutions and Local Administrations (especially Regional Authorities) allows the Agency to access and exploit individual territorial vocations through the application of an integrated and coordinated model of development.
MOST IMPORTANT SERVICES
The local administration is by far engaged in addressing economic resources by supporting companies through actions that aim at reducing economic poverty in disadvantaged urban areas, according to article 14 former law 266/97 - the so called "Legge Bersani" - modified by ministerial decree 267/2004.
The past five years' interventional programmes, carried out through incentives policies, promoted the development of 286 companies - 74% of which are start-up companies, 35% are led by women, 56% have a majority of young entrepreneurs. Start-ups stood for 90% of the companies in the last call.
Three incubators stand among the activities for the support of start-up companies, and were promoted by the City of Venice: "Ex-Cnomv" incubator on Giudecca Island, "Ca' Emiliani" incubator in Marghera, and "Ex-Herion" incubator on Giudecca island (the latter foreseen for 2007).
Incubators provide companies with a seat at competitive costs for a three year period (renewable for other three years), several shared services, maintenance, switchboard / reception / correspondence and post delivery, management of conference venues. Upon request other services are available such as secretarial activity, assistance and operational consultancy for development and updating on European projects, support for creating business plans, feasibility studies on entrepreneurial projects, and guidance for submitting financing requests.
Recently, an integration to the Fifth Programme was approved; it concerns:
- Training activities for self-employment and enterprise creation,
- Interventions for the implementation of services in the field of technical and managerial assistance,
- Participation or creation of guarantee funds that encounter the aims of the regulation former ministerial decree 267/2004 for the companies settled in the incubators.
LINKS TO MOST IMPORTANT WEBSITES
http://www.provincia.venezia.it
http://www.regione.veneto.it/chann
http://www.venetoinnovazione.it
http://www.sviluppoitaliaveneto.it