INNOVATION
The Operational Programme on Enterprises and Competitiveness aims to encourage economic growth and increase Italian enterprises' share of global production. "Innovation" seeks to grow investments in research and development, in a scenario where Italy lags some way behind the goals set at a European level, with a particularly serious shortfall in R&D spending in southern Italy, where it represents only 16.1% of total expenditure. The "Reinforcement of Research, Technological Development and Innovation" objective calls for proposals to access funding for projects in the less developed Regions (Campania, Calabria, Basilicata, Puglia and Sicily) and the transition Regions (Abruzzo, Molise and Sardinia). The Italian Ministry of Economic Development aims to encourage businesses to invest in Research and Development (R&D) by forging links and synergies between companies and R&D centres, focusing principally on promoting investments in product and service development, technology transfer, social innovation, environmental innovation, public service applications, the stimulation of demand, networks, clusters and open innovation through smart specialisation and in enabling key technologies. Managing Authority: Directorate-General for Incentives to Enterprises - Division IV (DGIAI) Address: Viale America, 201 - 00144 Rome, Italy Contact: Anna Maria Fontana E-mail: adg.ponic@mise.gov.it