In the 2007 financial act the government passed the bill called INDUSTRIA 2015 aimed at assisting innovative industrial projects for enterprises, universities, etc. Specific decrees have already been approved with respect to the first three industrial innovative projects (PIIs).
The new system of aid established by the Ministry of Economic Development aims to provide the necessary funding for the PIIs relating to industrial property rights.
In order to benefit from the aid system, the project will have to provide for the presence, among the participating parties, of at least one research organization (universities/public or private research institutes). The project may also involve foreign parties. The project will therefore obtain aid for consultancy services relative to patents, licences and research.
In this first stage, projects relating to the following areas of PIIs will be evaluated:
- Energy efficiency: the bill allocates €200 million to assist in the development of innovative goods/services projects related to energy efficiency.
- Tenable mobility: €180 million is allocated for innovative goods/services projects that improve safety and eco-compatibility in means of transport.
- New technology made in Italy: €190 million is allocated for innovation projects in the areas of fashion, textile, furniture, home technology, alimentary and mechanics.
The new National Agency for Innovation will be the public body that has the task of evaluating the PIIs on the basis of the following criteria:
- the projects must represent innovative and technical-scientific progress;
- they represent the result of cooperation between the research and entrepreneurial world;
- they must be provided with an industrial development and protection of intellectual property plan; and
- they must be competitive in economic and technological terms.
Moreover, as already stated several months ago, the EPO and the Italian PTO concluded an agreement which provides that, starting from July 1 2008, Italian patent applications will be subject to a search report by the EPO, equivalent to the extended search report already issued for European patent applications. This new agreement will permit Italian patent applications to be stronger against infringers.
 |
| Micaela Modiano |
Modiano & Associati
Via Meravigli 16
Milano I-20123
Italy
Tel: +39 02 85 907 777
Fax: +39 02 863 860
info@modiano.com
www.modiano.com
