Nanotechnologies are already known to be the leading technology drivers of the next industrial revolution. Veneto, the region in North Eastern Italy which includes Venice, is one of the most entrepreneurial regions in Europe. It has been the engine of the Italian industrial development for the last decades, with plenty of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) focusing on exporting niche technologies. Many of these SMEs use or produce materials that will be affected by nanotechnologies. Moreover, Veneto universities (University of Padua, University Ca’ Foscari of Venice and University of Verona) have excellent research groups concentrated in nanotechnologies applied to materials.
That’s why in 2002 MIUR (the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research) decided to create in Veneto a high-tech cluster focused on nanotechnologies applied to properties of materials: Veneto Nanotech. The cluster is equally funded by the central government and by regional and local administrations, for a total of 60 million Euros.
Its main goals are:- to create an international area of excellence by attracting and training talented students and researchers committed to nanotechnology applied to materials;
- to build internationally excellent R&D centres devoted to applied research projects;
- to transfer technology to existing business and to develop new technological entrepreneurship (start-ups and academic spin-offs).
In the medium term, Veneto Nanotech will create a virtuous circle involving research institutions, innovative companies and private and public investors to foster leading entrepreneurship in nanotechnologies applied to materials.
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