Lombardy diverts 120 million European funds to strategic technologies

The European Commission today approved the Lombardy Region's proposal to divert EUR 120 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2021-2027 to strategic technologies. The region thus joins the STEP initiative set up to support specific interventions in three key areas of the double transition, green and digital, for improving the Union's long-term competitiveness and strengthening its resilience to global crises: digital and deep tech technologies, clean and resource-efficient technologies, and biotechnologies.

Like other regions (see Il Sole 24 Ore of 28 August), Lombardy, too, has amended its ERDF Operational Programme by inserting two new Specific Objectives. For the first objective - development of critical technologies in the deep tech and biotechnology sectors - 90 million euro are earmarked, with specific focus on artificial intelligence and critical medicines, pushing experimental development and stimulating partnerships between large companies and SMEs. Part of these resources is also aimed at encouraging investments by innovative companies, in particular start-ups and scale-ups.

The second objective introduced in the Lombardy regional programme - the development of critical technologies in the areas of clean and resource-efficient technologies - will receive the other reprogrammed EUR 30 million and will follow the main guidelines that emerged during the definition of a regional plan for strengthening strategic autonomy in raw material recovery. The first action aims to support the development and manufacture of technologies for the treatment and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment and batteries, and for the recovery of phosphorous contained in sewage sludge, issues of importance for the entire region. The second, on the other hand, aims to stimulate innovative enterprises (in particular start-ups and scale-ups) in the realisation of investments in clean, efficient and renewable technologies so as to ensure greater competitiveness of the territory in the future.

"Starting in early 2025, implementing measures will arrive in the form of calls for tenders, both non-reimbursable and subsidised," explained Alessandro Fermi, regional councillor for universities, research and innovation. "These are calls for tenders aimed at SMEs and, to a greater extent than hitherto, at large companies. Lombardy's economic system is among the most industrialised in the European Union, and holds the record at national level for the number of innovative start-ups and the number of patents filed. This is why we confidently face the challenge of joining the STEP platform, with whose strategic approach our programme was already in line,' Fermi added. "I believe that our region can represent the fulcrum of technological evolution, particularly for those technologies considered critical for greater self-sufficiency in European industrial supply chains, and open up new opportunities for innovation, scientific progress and the development of solutions for global challenges.

Part of the resources (EUR 50 million) will be allocated in the form of non-repayable grants, while the other EUR 70 million will be used for advanced financial instruments such as Venture Capital for innovative start-ups and scale-ups.