Among CNR market oriented technological transfer activities, an important
role is played by the industrial research projects carried out by CNR
Institutes in collaboration with firms.
In particular - thanks to the national laws of support to the industrial
research, and above all to the Legislative Decree 297/99, which introduced
some innovations fostering the interaction between public and private
research - CNR Institutes become partners of the industrial subjects
in the carrying out of the projects. This initiative has many advantages
for the development and the integration of complementary competences
and for the technological transfer of knowledge.
Another strongly innovative instrument, within the framework of the
Legislative Decree 297/99, is the support to the creation of highly-technological
firms, originating from the world of the public research (research spin-off).
Moreover, the research provides for financial support to:
interventions in support of research and/or training projects which
are autonomously presented and which don't have time limits nor predefined
themes, and of projects proposed by highly-innovative new companies
(evaluation procedure);
interventions for research and training projects announced by MIUR (Ministry
of Education, University and Research). They detect thematic areas and
priority themes of intervention and they point out the selection criteria,
the time and cost limits for the development of themes (automatic procedure).
In the first two years of operativeness of the M.D. 593/00 (in implementation
of the legislative decree 297/99), several training and industrial research
projects were submitted to MIUR. In these projects, CNR Institutes are
proponent subjects together with firms and other public and scientific
Institutions. Moreover, CNR Institutes go on taking part to projects
presented by entrepreneurial subjects, as consultants.
12 research and training projects between CNR, firms, and scientific
institutions and 8 projects in which CNR plays a consulting role were
financed, among the first 85 projects approved by MIUR in the strategic
sectors for the industrial and agricultural South, the environment,
the cultural heritage and the transports.
RESEARCH SPIN-OFF
Research spin-off is an essential instrument for the transfer on the
market of technologies and competences and for the development of firms
which can compete in the highest added value sectors.
Among the first ten proposals for the constitution of highly-technological
firms financed by MIUR, three projects are presented by CNR researchers.
Companies are characterized by the participation of CNR research staff,
of the company staff and of the firms staff operating in the sector
of reference.
The fields of activity of the first two established companies are:
Organic Spintronics S.r.l.: optoelectronics, plastic electronics and
spintronics. The financed research project provides for the development
and the realization of inorganic and organic/inorganic nanostructured
devices for spintronics;
Li-tech S.r.l.: electromedical equipment with particular reference to
integrated diagnostic devices for images, gamma chambers, scintigraphyc
probes, automatic and/or robotized systems in the medical sector, supports
for laparoscopy and interoperation surgery.
The third company Mediteknology S.r.l., to which also INFM (National
Institute for the Physics of Matter) takes part, is being established
and it will deal with cytofluorometry, diagnostic, biotechnology, clinical
medicine in the ambits of microbiology, hormonology and protidology.
(Page edited by Ms.Daniela F. La NoceCNR - D.A.S.T. - Service IV
Relations with Industry and Services - Head of Promotion of the Industrial
Research and of the Technological Innovation)
