THE PROJECT
ARTES participates to SPRING, the National Technological Cluster of Green Chemistry, shaped as a non profit organisation funded by Biochemtex, Federchimica, Novamont and Versalis. The consortium gathers over 100 associates, all realities operating in different ways in the field of bioeconomy and representing the entire Italian value-chain of “green chemistry”. This program fits in the European strategy for innovation for the 2014/2020 period.
In line with the European strategic agendas, Italy published the “Operative National Protocol – Research, Recommendation for development and strengthening of national technological clusters”, promoted by the Ministry of Education, University and Research, allowing the creation of the Cluster. SPRING is also directly inspired by the Innovating for Sustainable Growth: A Bioeconomy for Europe (COM(2012) 60 final) strategy, adopted by the European Commission on February 13th 2012.
ARTES’ PARTICIPATION
Since its very foundation, ARTES pays attention to the developments in theories, policies and experiences of the industrial districts. By planning and implementing the projectsa Alliance first, and N4f later, ARTES created new methodological frameworks and instruments for action in the areas or green innovation and territorial regeneration. During all of its history ARTES pursued those aims that are now being set also on a European level: the dismantling of the old productive and economic systems in favour of a new productive system based on innovation, sustainability, social cohesion, and diffusion of knowledge.
Starting from the publication of the “Operative National Protocol – Research, Recommendation for development and strengthening of national technological clusters”, ARTES supported and promoted the entrance of a network of firms, universities and research centres focused on “Natural fibres and new solutions from green and white biotechnologies and from a international and cross-sectorial perspective” into the partnership led by SPRING. Besides joining the consortium and present the N4f project, in line with the aims of SPRING, ARTES served the consortium with its experience about innovative clusters and supporting sustainable innovation. In fact, starting from 2013, ARTES directly contributed to the definition of the conditions for the development and success of SPRING.
AIMS
SPRING inaugurated the operational phase of its work with the presentation of May 14th 2014, and now it’s time to pursue the aims the cluster set. Namely: the definition of innovative projects for the development of integrated value-chains based on the sustainable production of biomasses and biorefinery processes with low environmental impact, meant to involve private and public research institutes as well as the local and agribusiness actors and the local institutions.
EXPECTED RESULTS
As indicated by the association, the following results are pursued with deadline 2030.
- To contribute to the definition of policies at all territorial levels and to the Cluster positioning at EU levels as a national referent on issues related to the European Strategy on Bioeconomy and on the portfolio of policies of interest for bio-based industries, and to define a national roadmap to foster the development of chemistry from renewable resources in Italy.
- To develop new innovation and value-chain models, maximising the opportunities offered by territories and local areas.
- To catalyse case studies on specific sectors, in which local areas become “laboratories” for the use of innovative products in fields of public interest, fostering the cross fertilisation with realities inside and outside the EU.
- To organise periodic moments of information and training and to realise regular activities of scientific divulgation and diffusion of the results achieved by the Cluster.
PARTNERS
Among the members of SPRING there are subjects, just like ARTES, that are involved in the transfer of technology and environmental communication, but also big industries, SME, universities, all the main Italian public research organisations that operate in the field of transformation and collection of biomasses, and eight Italian regions.
The complete list of members is available on the SPRING website.
