IL PARCO SCIENTIFICO E TECNOLOGICO DI SALERNO E DELLE AREE INTERNE DELLA CAMPANIA (PST)

1. IL PARCO SCIENTIFICO E TECNOLOGICO DI SALERNO E DELLE AREE INTERNE DELLA CAMPANIA (PST) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PARK OF SALERNO AND INLAND AREAS OF CAMPANIA www.pstsa.it

2. MISSION PST’s main goals are to encourage technological transfer and the spread of innovation and to promote co-operation among companies, research centres and local authorities. In an ever-changing market in which companies must remain highly competitive, PST is an important resource. It takes ideas, resources and project opportunities and makes them available to both private and public corporations in the region. The main sectors of intervention are: agroindustry, information and communication technologies, biotechnology and new materials.

3. THE SHAREHOLDERS PST is a co-operative joint-stock company funded by both private and public sector capital. There are 100 private company partners in addition to the University of Salerno and the University of Sannio and several major Local Authorities, including the Region of Campania, the Provinces of Salerno, Avellino and Benevento, the Municipalities of Salerno and Ariano Irpino, the Chambers of Commerce of Salerno and Benevento, the Provincial Tourist Board of Salerno and some consortia of municipalities in mountain areas.

4. INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PST’s key focus is to encourage companies to test and adopt technological innovation developed by researchers. The role of PST is to support local SMEs for: • promoting and integrating co-operative programmes for both industrial research and technological transfer • monitoring and analyzing the needs and the innovation potential and new financial opportunities; • promoting the “culture”of science and technology

5. VOCATIONAL TRAINING The labour market is looking for increasingly qualified human resources with highly specialized skills which can only be acquired through ongoing professional development. In this framework PST initiatives provide: • training courses for the development of new highly qualified professionals • business programmes for continuing training • training courses for public sector institutions

6. VOCATIONAL TRAINING To maximize benefits to the local socio-economic system, PST focuses on: • the start-up of integrated projects in our region • training of professionals on both a post-graduate and advanced technical level • the establishment, co-ordination and maintenance of networks among private and public institutions involved in training and job creation

7. VOCATIONAL TRAINING The training activities are developed together with transfer and innovation activities and are then followed up by internships with private companies and public institutions. The Training sector offers its expertise in: • analysis of training and development needs • planning of specific projects • project management • project monitoring and assessment In 2002, PST was officially registered as a Training Agency for both continuing training and vocational training by the Region of Campania in recognition of its vast experience and training facilities.

8. Offices BENEVENTO The Benevento branch office is located in the centre of the city. It has a 50-seat conference room with a link for video conferences; a 25-seat classroom and a laboratory with 16 computers.

9. The business incubator The Information and Communication Technology business incubator has its headquarters in Benevento. It offers a number of well-equipped work spaces for new high technology companies and provides these companies with basic services as well as performance monitoring.

10. The business incubator On request, companies working with PST can also obtain specific services related to their individual needs including feasibility studies for entrepreneurial projects; guidance in the creation of business plans; support for the development and improvement of business initiatives; training courses and promotional assistance. PST also helps firms obtain public funding and search for suitable business partners.

11. Since 2009, PST is a Europe Direct Centre which offers citizens information about all the matters concerning the EU, about European opportunities and ways to take advantage of them. Our Europe Direct Centre, in particular, orientates its territorial animation mainly to target groups closest to our institutional activities: entrepreneurs, qualified young resources, research centres, local Public Administrations. ED Centre takes active part in the Italian Network with 49 Europe Direct members, besides the European network with about 500 members, and have a tight link with the European Commission and Parliament Networks.

12. PST is the project leader of TECHFRAME, a Programme of technical and financial assistance for innovative enterprises, financed by the Ministry of Economic Development. The partners involved are the University of Salerno, the University of Sannio and the Regional Competence Centre in the field of ICT

13. Objective of the programme is to promote the birth and development of innovative businesses which offer highly specialised products and services in the development, integration and personalization of ICT instruments and solutions

14. The programme is articulated in two phases: The phase 1 is finished and it was addressed to aspiring entrepreneurs who wanted to verify and develop new business ideas. Through a specific competition, 45 ideas have been candidated. 30 of them have been selected and have received free assistance services for the redaction of technical, economical and financial feasibility studies.

15. The phase 2 is in progress and it reserved to small businesses, established for less than 3 years, with innovative development programmes. Further to a competition with detailed feasibility plans, 13 beneficiaries have been selected recently and they will receive free start-up assistance and direct financial support, technical and economical tutoring, access to the incubators present on the territory.

16. NEXT PROJECTS PST intends to start initiatives for the promotion of entrepreneurship among the students of secondary schools, through guidance activities and training courses for the redaction of business plans, in collaboration with local authorities, Chambers of Commerce and local SMEs. Through this study visit I wish to learn new teaching methods and instruments for the promotion of entrepreneurial behaviour and to see innovative approaches in entrepreneurship training in schools.