A case of successful technology transfer in Southern Italy, in the ICT: The pole of excellence in learning and knowledge

Abstract

The authors offer a synthetic overview of some publicly funded organisations involved in actions of Research and Development (R&D) and Technology Transfer (TT) in Italy and, in particular, in the Southern areas. Some judgements have been formulated basing on several Stakeholders' opinions, crucial factors have been identified in the Italian TT experiences. The work illustrates a case of success in the ICT sector: the Pole in L&K, based in the Province of Salerno. This experience, was born within a department of the University of Salerno from the intuition of a Leader and a Team of young researchers, has conveyed into the creation of a non profit, public/private Consortium (CRMPA), which has lived the phases of a SME, characterised as an oscillating system: from the Entrepreneurial Model, to a model centred on Corporate Technology Assets. A participattory model spin-off, has been implemented, giving birth to other Consortia, and the CRMPA has evolved into a network structure over the National territory. The current phase presents a virtual organisation whose core is composed of the Embryo group and some spin-off structures, and the permanent halo strictly connected to the core. The model is inspired to the SMEs lifecycle to create an ITC Business Ecosystem in Central- Southern Italy. The work ends with some considerations about the desirability to use the Cases of Success model to implement TT actions, supported by both politics and concessional financing, able to improve the the competitiveness National Economic System. © Springer-Verlag 2011.