Lisbon, 13th November 2007

Panel 1 – Transnational Cooperation in e-Business Initiatives

Conference “ICT Uptake for SMEs Competitiveness”

Action ENT/MAP/06/1.3

“Reinforcing synergies between public policies in support of e-business for SMEs”

Speakers: • Ms Claudia Poles

• Mr Maurizio Mancini

From Confartigianato – The Association of Crafts and SMEs of San Donà di Piave, Venice, ITALY

EU co-financed project

“Service Network to support SMEs”

“Service Network to support SMEs”

Coordinator:

Partner:

The Association of Crafts and SMEs of San Donà di Piave (ITALY)

The Chamber of Crafts and Trades of the Istrian Region in Pula (CROATIA)

“Service Network to support SMEs”DURATIONDURATION

6 6 monthsmonths

“Service Network to support SMEs”OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES

The project aims at carrying out a study to transfer the System of Integrated Services of the Confartigianato Association of the Eastern Veneto to the Istrian Region, analyzing its adaptability to its territory

through benchmarking actions. The final goal is to network the Croatian and the Italian

enterprises as well as the professional associations through the realization of a Web portal.

15.000 companies in Veneto, associate

members of Confartigianato

9.000 companies in Istria, associate members of the Istrian Chamber

“Service Network to support SMEs”TARGETTARGET

The project is in support of enterprises since there is the

need to assist in particular the SMEs to identify e-Business

opportunities and to implement successfully their

transformation towards e-Business

“Service Network to support SMEs”EXPECTED RESULTSEXPECTED RESULTS

THE REALIZATION OF A NETWORK

will draw enterprises closer to e-business

will allow them to expand their company limits, thus broadening the traditional market and allowing them to explore new markets at low cost and in real time

will permit them to have new marketing and communication chances, new customers and suppliers

“Service Network to support SMEs” PROJECT ACTIVITIESPROJECT ACTIVITIES

1. Best practices exchange from Confartigianato’s system of integrated services to the Chamber of Crafts and Trades of the Istrian region

“Service Network to support SMEs”PROJECT ACTIVITIESPROJECT ACTIVITIES

2. Study and analysis of the “territorial economic systems” of the Eastern Veneto and the Istrian Region through direct contacts, telephone surveys and questionnaires addressed to enterprises

“Service Network to support SMEs”PROJECT ACTIVITIESPROJECT ACTIVITIES

3. Realization of a communication portal for enterprises, so that they are enabled to receive integrated services (www.partenariato.itwww.partenariato.it)

“Service Network to support SMEs”PROJECT ACTIVITIESPROJECT ACTIVITIES

4. Vocational and information courses to draw the companies closer to the use of the computer network and to the state of the art ICT by best adapting the use of the technology to their needs and development requirements

“Service Network to support SMEs”PROJECT ACTIVITIESPROJECT ACTIVITIES

5. Dissemination activities for the whole project, in order to diffuse and promote results both in Italy and in the beneficiary country, as well as to transfer it in other geographical areas

International International Partnership Partnership AgreementAgreement

PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT FOR THE REALIZATIONPARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT FOR THE REALIZATIONOF A CENTRE OF EXCELLENCEOF A CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

FOR RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL TRAININGFOR RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL TRAININGTO SUPPORT SMALL ENTERPRISES, TO SUPPORT SMALL ENTERPRISES,

COMPETITIVENESS, INNOVATION AND LOCAL COMPETITIVENESS, INNOVATION AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

FOR THE REALIZATION OF A CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

TO SUPPORT SMALL ENTERPRISES, COMPETITIVENESS, INNOVATION AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT

ART. 1 - PURPOSE, INTENTIONS AND OBJECT OF THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

What we intend to pursue with the present Partnership Agreement is a punctual application of the principles in the "European Paper for Small Enterprises". The purpose is the realization of a Centre of Excellence for research and high quality training to support the territorial social-economic system and particularly small enterprises. The Centre would represent an authoritative reference specialized in the analysis, the study and the research on the themes of local development, considered as strategic resources aimed at promoting scientific and technological innovation and competitiveness. Objectives to be realized through this Partnership Agreement are specifically the following ones:

a) to make the public and private sectors aware of the systemic competition and innovation in the productive process of the different economic sectors;

b) to define the strategic directions and the mid to long term operative objectives of material and immaterial investments in the European regions;

c) to put at researchers disposal the logistic structures in order to enable them to develop projects from advanced research and superior specialist training;

d) to facilitate and sustain every initiative for the raising of public and private financial resources necessary for the realization of different system projects.

ART. 2 - SEAT AND LOGISTIC STRUCTURES

The Parties agree that the Lead Institution is the Confartigianato, the Association of Artisans and Small Enterprises of the district of San Donà di Piave, in the province of Venice, and the seat of the Centre of Excellence is established in the registered office of the Confartigianato Via Perugia 2, San Donà di Piave (VE). The subjects that join in this Partnership Agreement commit themselves to supply structures and places complete with relative furniture and equipment where conventions and courses of superior specialised training, programmed by the Centre of Excellence, will be held.

ART. 3 - ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES For an effective and efficient management of the project at issue, the Parties agree to avail themselves, when required, of the activity of other organisations and companies that will be from time to time individualized on the basis of their professional competence.

ART. 4 - DUTIES OF THE CONTRACTING PARTIES Parties that agree to the present Partnership Agreement undertake to participate in the community, national and local programmes that aim to the affirmation of small enterprises as part of the social and cultural fabric in Europe and to cooperate in supporting the European social-economic system. Moreover they commit themselves to create a network of connections between the Centre of Excellence, the local productive fabric, territorial bodies, public and private firms and scientific and cultural Institutions for the promotion of synergies, partnership projects, formative stages, experimentations and applications of the results of the activities carried-out by the partners of this agreement. They also undertake to publicise the results achieved by the Centre of Excellence with adequate communication campaigns.

ART. 5 - DURATION The present Partnership Agreement has a duration of 7 (seven) years from the date of signature.

At At the moment there are 45 partners from 10 European the moment there are 45 partners from 10 European Countries: universities, technologic parks, public Countries: universities, technologic parks, public authorities, development agencies, chambers of authorities, development agencies, chambers of commerce, professional associationscommerce, professional associations and credit and credit

institutionsinstitutions

Open to other organisations!Open to other organisations!

International International Partnership Partnership AgreementAgreement

OBJECTIVE: OBJECTIVE:

THE CREATION OF CONNECTIONS THE CREATION OF CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE “WORLD OF KNOWLEDGE ” BETWEEN THE “WORLD OF KNOWLEDGE ”

AND THE “WORLD OF ECONOMY”AND THE “WORLD OF ECONOMY”

Knowledge is the heart of the Lisbon Strategy: economic activities Knowledge is the heart of the Lisbon Strategy: economic activities operate and expand through the creation, the dissemination and the operate and expand through the creation, the dissemination and the use of knowledgeuse of knowledge

CZECH REPUBLICUniversity of Pardubice

CZECH REPUBLICUniversity of Pardubice

CROATIAUniversity of Split

Entrepreneurs Association of RovinjChamber of Crafts and Trades of Istrian

Region in Pula City of Rovinj

University of Rijeka

CROATIAUniversity of Split

Entrepreneurs Association of RovinjChamber of Crafts and Trades of Istrian

Region in Pula City of Rovinj

University of Rijeka

SLOVENIARegional Development Agency of Nova

GoricaTechnological Park of Nova Gorica

University of Nova GoricaUniversity Incubator of Koper

Koper Bank

SLOVENIARegional Development Agency of Nova

GoricaTechnological Park of Nova Gorica

University of Nova GoricaUniversity Incubator of Koper

Koper Bank

SERBIAAssociation of Entrepreneurs

and Industrialist of Serbia International Entrepreneurship

Academy of Belgrade

SERBIAAssociation of Entrepreneurs

and Industrialist of Serbia International Entrepreneurship

Academy of Belgrade

POLANDTechnical University of

Lodz

POLANDTechnical University of

Lodz

ITALYConfartigianato of San Donà di Piave

Chamber of Commerce of Venice“Ca’ Foscari” University of Venice

Veneto Innovazione S.p.A.CRACA - Regional Centre for the Crafts

Assistance and CooperationUPA - Provincial Crafts Union

CO.FIDI VenezianoCGIA - Jesolo

Confartigianato Services Centre of the Eastern Veneto

Cassa Risparmio di Venezia - Group Intesa/San Paolo

Banca Popolare Friuladria - Group Credit Agricole

Banca S. Biagio of the Eastern VenetoCISL - Italian Confederation of Workers

Union of the Eastern VenetoITIS “Volterra”, Technical High School of

San Donà di PiaveITIS “Luzzatto”, Technical High School of

PortogruaroConfartigianato of Portogruaro

Confartigianato of Riviera del BrentaFootwear Polytechnic Institute of Strà

ITALYConfartigianato of San Donà di Piave

Chamber of Commerce of Venice“Ca’ Foscari” University of Venice

Veneto Innovazione S.p.A.CRACA - Regional Centre for the Crafts

Assistance and CooperationUPA - Provincial Crafts Union

CO.FIDI VenezianoCGIA - Jesolo

Confartigianato Services Centre of the Eastern Veneto

Cassa Risparmio di Venezia - Group Intesa/San Paolo

Banca Popolare Friuladria - Group Credit Agricole

Banca S. Biagio of the Eastern VenetoCISL - Italian Confederation of Workers

Union of the Eastern VenetoITIS “Volterra”, Technical High School of

San Donà di PiaveITIS “Luzzatto”, Technical High School of

PortogruaroConfartigianato of Portogruaro

Confartigianato of Riviera del BrentaFootwear Polytechnic Institute of Strà

GERMANYInternational Graduate

School Zittau

GERMANYInternational Graduate

School Zittau

SLOVAKIAUniversity of Kosice

SLOVAKIAUniversity of Kosice

ROMANIAMehedinti County

CouncilUniversity “Transilvania”

of BrasovUniversity of Craiova

ROMANIAMehedinti County

CouncilUniversity “Transilvania”

of BrasovUniversity of Craiova

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINAUniversity of Banja Luka

University of ZenicaZEDA - Regional

Development Agency of Zenica

City of Zenica

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINAUniversity of Banja Luka

University of ZenicaZEDA - Regional

Development Agency of Zenica

City of Zenica

THE

NEW

WEBSITE

www.partenariato.itwww.partenariato.it

“Service Network to support SMEs”WEB PORTAL – WEB PORTAL – www.partenariato.itwww.partenariato.it

To search business partners and to internationalize the enterprises’ activity, to build stable business partnerships and to share e-business practices

Search engine for enterprises

“Service Network to support SMEs” WEB PORTAL – WEB PORTAL – www.partenariato.itwww.partenariato.it

To provide information concerning the EU Programmes, initiatives and instruments to face the process connected with the enterprises internationalization

Services and

information

“Service Network to support SMEs” WEB PORTAL – www.partenariato.itWEB PORTAL – www.partenariato.it

To carry out “Business audits” through direct contacts with entrepreneurs with the aim at understanding how the firms produce their competitive knowledge, at drawing enterprises closer to innovation and research, at favoring the interaction among different realities

Business audits

“Service Network to support SMEs”PROJECT RESULTSRESULTS

FROM THE PROJECT END ONWARDS

The use of the website

The request from enterprises for direct or on-line assistance

in the field of e-business or

internationalization

Cooperation with Croatian/Italian firms

Creation of synergies between enterprises of the 2

countries

The use of the information technologies and Internet by The use of the information technologies and Internet by enterprises for e-business and internationalization activitiesenterprises for e-business and internationalization activities

THANK YOU VERY MUCHTHANK YOU VERY MUCHFOR YOUR ATTENTIONFOR YOUR ATTENTION

Slides created bySlides created byMS CLAUDIA POLESMS CLAUDIA POLES

andandMR MAURIZIO MANCINI MR MAURIZIO MANCINI