When we talk about technology transfer, the classic scheme that comes to mind is that of 'handing over' the knowledge and technologies developed by scientific research to the business world, which uses them to innovate and optimise its activities and thus increase its competitiveness.
The Guidelines published by the Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR) for the system initiatives of Mission 4 'Education and Research', Component 2 'From research to business' of the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) take a different view; the guidelines envisage the participation of private entities alongside the traditional public players right from the planning stage of the research initiatives and hence participation in calls for proposals.
The purpose of the Guidelines is to provide instructions (from the proposing party to the size of the funding, from the duration of the initiatives to the research themes and to the conditions to be met) and the procedures for participating in calls.
The Guidelines
The Guidelines issued concerning research and technology transfer are actually two, the latter relating more specifically to innovation in the health system.
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Guidelines for the initiatives of Mission 4: Education and research Component 2: From research to business issued by the MUR
These guidelines
- serve to govern investments of approximately 6 billion euros for the next five years in research in the supply chain
- provide funding for approximately 60 projects
- provide key information for participation in upcoming calls for proposals and expressions of interest.
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Guidelines for the initiatives of the Plan complementary to the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Decree-Law no. 59/2021) issued by the MUR and the Ministry of Health
These Guidelines refer to two specific initiatives
- Initiative A. "Research Initiatives for Innovative Technologies and Pathways in Health and Welfare", provides for the financing of research programmes to the tune of EUR 500 million, with the aim of setting up an innovative system to strengthen research on enabling technologies in the health sector in order to improve diagnosis, monitoring and treatment, including rehabilitation.
- Initiative B. 'Innovative health ecosystem', with funding of EUR 80 million, aims to set up clinical-transnational networks of excellence to strengthen national biomedical research, capable of pooling existing expertise through three macro-actions:
- a) creation of a network of technology transfer centres;
- b) qualitative and quantitative strengthening and development of life science hubs by geographical area (North - Centre - South Italy) in specific areas of intervention;
- c) creation of the Antipandemic HUB Foundation (APH), established by Article 1, paragraph 945 of Law no. 234 of 30 December 2021, for the management of and fight against epidemic/pandemic infectious diseases.
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The Guidelines for Mission 4 "Education and Research" contain key indications for 4 Measures
EXTENDED PARTNERSHIPS are diffuse networks of universities, public research bodies, other public and private entities engaged in research activities, recognised as highly qualified, finance at least 10 major cross-cutting fundamental and/or applied research programmes.
The themes for the programmes should be identified from among those listed below:
- Artificial intelligence: foundational aspects 9. Economic and financial sustainability of systems and territories
- Energy scenarios of the future 10. Models for sustainable food
- Environmental, natural and anthropic risks 11. Circular and sustainable Made-in-Italy
- Quantum sciences and technologies 12. Neuroscience and neuropharmacology
- Humanistic culture and cultural heritage as laboratories of innovation and creativity 13. Emerging infectious diseases
- Innovative diagnostics and therapies in precision medicine 14. Telecommunications of the future
- Cybersecurity, new technologies and protection of rights 15. Space activities
- Consequences and challenges of ageing
- Economic and financial sustainability of systems and territories
- Sustainable food models
- Circular and sustainable Made-in-Italy
- Neuroscience and neuropharmacology
- Emerging infectious diseases
- Telecommunications of the future
- Space activities
Each programme is expected to receive funding of between EUR 80 and 160 million.
NATIONAL CENTRES are diffuse networks of universities, public research bodies, other public and private entities engaged in research activities, recognised as highly qualified, develop frontier research in technological areas around the following themes:
- High-performance simulation, computing and data analysis 4. Sustainable mobility
- Agricultural technologies (Agritech) 5. Bio-diversity
- Drug development with RNA technology and gene therapy
- Sustainable mobility
- Bio-diversity
Each programme is expected to receive between EUR 200 and 400 million in funding.
THE ECOSYSTEMS OF INNOVATION are widespread networks of universities, public research bodies, local authorities, other public and private entities engaged in research activities, recognised as highly qualified.
No pre-determined themes have been identified, but an approach oriented towards major challenges, encouraging the creation of impactful innovation and entrepreneurship.
Funding of between EUR 60-120 million is envisaged for each ecosystem.
INFRASTRUCTURES
RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTUR
They concern facilities, resources and related services and include laboratories or large instruments or complexes of instruments for research, collections, databases, archives or structured scientific information, infrastructures based on enabling information and communication technologies.
They are organised as public entities or as a partnership/consortium.
They are created to be enjoyed by a broad, national, European or global audience through open access on a competitive basis.
The investment is not predefined.
INNOVATION INFRASTRUCTUR
They concern facilities, tools, resources and services, aimed at increasing competitiveness in research and technological development activities in industry and for public utilities.
They must be organised in the form of a Public Private Partnership.
The investment is not predefined, but the contribution of funding to public-private partnerships can reach up to 49% of the total capital investment and operating costs (including personnel).
There will be up to 30 research and technological innovation infrastructures.
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The Guidelines for the initiatives of the Plan complementary to the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Decree Law No. 59/2021) issued by the MUR and MDS contain the indications for both initiatives A and B mentioned above.
For both initiatives the participation of public entities supervised by the MUR or MDS is foreseen, but also of public entities not supervised and of private entities; the participation of private entities is indeed considered qualifying for the project.
RESPECT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: DO NOT SIGNIFICANT HARM
Both Guidelines refer to the so-called "do not significant harm" principle, provided for by Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union of 18 June 2020 in order to favour investments that do not cause damage to the environment. All interventions and investments foreseen by the Guidelines must be consistent with the DNSH principle; the respect of the principle shall be assessed both for the activities carried out during the initiative and for the expected impact of the innovation life cycle in a commercialisation phase. Compliance with the DNSH principle will be a specific point of assessment and verification by the MUR and MDS, both during the selection of project proposals and during the implementation of the approved investments.
FOCUS ON DISPARITIES
Finally, both Guidelines refer to the NRP as an opportunity to overcome certain disparities, as a cross-cutting objective for all missions. The selection criteria therefore include an assessment of the impact of projects on overcoming territorial, generational, gender and disability disparities.
The area of technology transfer, in terms of planning capacity and the timeframe required, also highlights the need for the private sector to work with the public sector in order to implement the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
This is a not-to-be-missed opportunity for our companies to play a leading role in the country's technological innovation and significantly increase their competitiveness on the national and global markets.
In the next articles we will make clear how private participation work in practice.