After World War Two, nearly 60 years ago, the European continent was in ruins and the north-eastern Italian Friuli Venezia Giulia Region suffered considerably. Starting from the early 1970s the regional government took steps to build its future.

 

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Success can be seen in the GDP of €20,700 per inhabitant, and in the fact that the region ranks among the most dynamic in Italy, thanks to a well-balanced industry structure. Thriving small and medium-seized enterprises operate in diversified sectors, ranging from mechanics, food, furniture to software and telecoms equipment. Large companies include: Electrolux (home appliances), Fincantieri (cruise ships), Danieli (steel engineering); Generali and Lloyd Adriatico/ Allianz Group (financial services) and INSIEL (software). Advanced logistics operators (Lloyd Triestino /Evergreen) are taking advantage of the growth of trade between continental Europe and the Far East, Turkey, the Mediterranean.

 

The quality of life is excellent. Friuli Venezia Giulia is an important tourism destination of the Adriatic. The Barcolana regatta is one of the largest sailing events of the Mediterranean. And nearby are alpine ski slopes, the Friuli hillside with great Italian white wines and San Daniele ham, and golf courses. There is a system of international schools plus international cultural festivals, opera and symphony theatres.

Support for innovation

Supporting technological innovation is one of the priorities for the region. The innovation growth rate is above the Italian average (120.9 vs. 100), with a leading positioning in high-tech patents (236 per million inhabitants) and R&D employment. The Trieste Science System has a global reputation due to international research labs (physics, life sciences, genomics, biopharmaceuticals, telecommunications and IT), its university, plus a highly skilled labour force. Enrolment at the university of Udine is growing fast. Venture Capital is available from investors, as well as incentives for R&D.

 

Notwithstanding its wealth and potential, the region is a cost-effective location. Annual rental in industrial premises is €104.64 /m2 (€54.91 /m2 in incubators); and salaries average €23,000 for R&D personnel, €55,000 for middle managers and €6.72 an hour for a manual worker.

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New opportunities

The government is investing in public infrastructure and preparing for major projects, such as International Expo 2008 (Trieste is a well positioned candidate) and the reconversion of the large area of the old port.

 

The advanced Synchrotron facility (new physics, nanotechnology, life sciences) has announced a €50m investment to build up a Free Electron Laser facility (a “European quicklist project” financed by the European Investment Bank). A Centre for BioMolecular Medicine is being launched by the Area Science Park and regional health research centres; a new technology park is being built in Udine. To exploit its key geographic location, the government is engaged in the development of the Fifth European Transport Corridor linking Barcelona to Kiev across the region by fast rail.

 

“Our economic potential and assets increase even more when we are considered together with nearby areas – Veneto, Carynthia, Slovenia, Istria (Croatia) – as part of a new borderless region sharing similar priorities for development”, says Riccardo Illy, governor of the region and coffee entrepreneur.

 

“The region is becoming one of the leading business locations in Europe. Hi-tech and advanced services clusters are emerging here in a variety of key branches.”

 

Sviluppo Italia Friuli Venezia Giulia belongs to the regional network of Sviluppo Italia, the national agency for enterprise and inward investment development, and operates a network of incubators. Together with the Italian Trade Commission, the agency recently set up InvestInItaly, a project that provides a strategic and practical point of reference to facilitate foreign investors’ location throughout Italy.

 

 

If you want to explore new business opportunities or receive further information, please contact:

Sviluppo Italia Friuli Venezia Giulia

Via Flavia 23/1, 34148 Trieste, Italy.

e-mail: info@sviluppoitaliafvg.it

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