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LOMBARDIA
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GEOGRAPHY AND DEMOGRAPHY
Lombardy is situated in the heart of Europe and is at the crossroads between the major East-West communications routes (between the Iberian peninsular and the Balkans) and the North-South routes (between continental Europe and the Mediterranean).The territory extends over a total surface area of 23,861 sq. km: Lombardy is the fourth largest region in Italy by extension, after Sicily, Piedmont and Sardinia. Lombardy is the Italian region that has the highest concentration of people, businesses and wealth: the region represents 15.6% of the overall national population with approximately 9 million inhabitants, with a demographic profile that has 24% of the population under the age of 25 and 17. 4% over 65.
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INFRASTRUCTURES
The road network in Lombardy extends for more than 28,000 kilometres (motorways pley an important role in it), while the railway system has an extension of 1,875 kilometres covering all the region. Lombardy has three international airports: Malpensa, Linate, Orio al Serio.
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ECONOMY
Lombardy is one of the FOUR "ENGINES" IN EUROPE: together with Baden-W Ürttenberg (Germany), Catalogna (Spain) and Rhône-Alpes (France), being one of the richest regions in the European Union, with a GDP pro capita (Euro 25,300 in 1999) some 35% higher than the European average. The Lombardy economy represents one-fifth of the Italian economy, with a Gross Domestic Product (Euro 229 billion in 2000) equal to 20.7% of the National GDP. Enterprises account approximately for 15% of the national total: there are an overall 740,000 (18.9% joint-stock companies, 23.4% partnerships and approximately 56% individual concerns). The crafts industry is ‘worth’ approximately one sixth of the regional economic system and accounts for between 18 and 20% of the overall sector on a national level. Lombardy is also the major Italian financial centre: the commitments and the deposits represent 25.8% and 23.4% of the national total, respectively. International trade is worth Euro 96 billion in terms of imports, equivalent to 40% of the national total, and Euro 73 billion in exports, 30% of the total. Approximately 40% of the Italian multi-nationals originate from Lombardy. 800 foreign and multi-national companies have their headquarters in Lombardy.
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LABOUR MARKET
8.4% of the total Italian workforce works in Lombardy, with an unemployment rate of 3.8% (2002) compared to the national figure of 9.5%. The employment rate is 51,1% (Female employment rate 39,9% and male employment rate 63%). Looking at the 2002 figures (in 1000), the number of employed in the agricultural sector are 77, in the industrial sector 1.613 and in the service sector 2.333.The sectorial employment distribution rate is: services (commerce, public administration, etc.) 58%, Industry 40,1% and agriculture 1,9%.
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DATA RELATED TO REGIONAL STRUCTURAL FUNDS MECHANISMS
ERDF objective applicable for the Region (1, 2): ob. 2 + phasing out. Total amount of ERDF funding for the current programme period (2000- 2006): 404.334.642,00 Euro (4.309.089,00 Euro ob.2 + 317.549,00 Euro phasing out).
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RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Lombardy is the region with the highest number of Universities and totals the highest expenditure in scientific research in Italy. The total R&D spending in the region (in % of GDP) is: 1,17%, divided in the following sectors: public sector 0,31%, Government 0,12%, University 0,19% and private sector 0,86%. |
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DATA RELATED TO REGIONAL PROGRAMME OF INNOVATIVE ACTIONS
The RPIA “MINERVA Financing and tutoring for the creation of new innovative enterprises” focuses on the first and the second of the three strategic themes : “Regional economies based on knowledge and technological innovation”, and “e-EuropeRegio: the information society at the service of regional development”. The programme was developed between 2002-2003.
Minerva was the means used by the Region of Lombardy, the Ministry of economics and finance and the European Fund of regional development in order to back new mechanisms to help entrepreneurs in developing innovation. The Programme was composed of six actions:
Regional forum on innovation;
Directory of expertise (skills);
Pilot observatory on technology watch e foresight;
New support schemes for start-up and spin off and to support company innovation;
Explorative awards to SMEs for innovative projects;
Support for market place;
There are also two transversal actions: Accompanying measure and Technical assistance.
The total cost is 9.162.000,00. Euro, 68% financed with public funding, the 32% co-financed by public and private partners.
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