New Instruments for Internationalisation 2020-2021 Presented

Sviluppumbria presented New Instruments for Internationalisation 2020-2021 Action 3.3.1 ERDF ROP 2014-2020 at its offices in Terni on Friday 2 October 2020.

The event, with an audience in person and online, brought together numerous entrepreneurs and all trade associations for a total of over 90 participants.

The Regional Minister for Economic Development, Innovation, Digital and Simplification, Michele Fioroni, opened the event, noting the role of Sviluppumbria. As a regional agency for the economic development of the territory, Sviluppumbria have a central role in the process of relaunching Umbria. This will involve reviewing the mission, with the aim of making it more responsive to the strategic challenges of the regional economy. Sviluppumbria must drive change proactively as a facilitator of the transformation of Umbrian businesses in terms of innovation, technology transfer and internationalisation.

The Minister announced the extension of the deadline to apply under the Public Voucher Notice for Consulting Services – 2020 to 31/12/2020, new tools to promote the internationalisation paths of Umbrian SMEs. He then illustrated the characteristics of the new Public Notice to Present Internationalisation Projects by Participation in International Fairs taking place from 01/10/2020 to 31/12/2021, soon to be published in the BURU.

Michela Sciurpa, President of Sviluppumbria, stressed the importance of Sviluppumbria's role as a key player in Umbria’s economic development, with a renewed approach of the Agency, functional to the current guidelines of the Regional Administration. Sviluppumbria - continued Dr. Sciurpa - operates through 4 priority areas of intervention: business services, which will increasingly have to take on a push towards Umbrian companies in terms of innovation and technology transfer; internationalisation; tourism and integrated promotion; and activities related to the management of the regional real estate assets. In addition to its headquarters in Perugia, Sviluppumbria is present with offices in Foligno and Terni, and its territorial roots are of crucial importance in providing services and assistance to businesses, stakeholders, municipalities and trade associations. This seminar - concluded the President - is dedicated to new tools to support Umbrian companies wanting to undertake and strengthen their internationalization paths using consulting vouchers and international trade fairs.

The statements by the Regional Minister and Sviluppumbria’s President confirm a renewed and close collaboration between the Public Body and the Development Agency: a synergy strongly desired by both in the interest and in support of Umbrian businesses.

Mauro Marini, Coordinator of Sviluppumbria’s Internationalisation and Territorial Marketing Area, and Sonia Argenti of the Internationalisation staff, illustrated the technical characteristics of the new Notice.

The notice, which will be published in the BURU on 13 October, is intended to support the participation of Umbrian companies in international trade fairs with the aim of strengthening competitiveness, promoting internationalisation and export promotion. SMEs located in the region from 20 October 2020 until 31 December 2020 can apply for the Notice exclusively through the online service https://serviziinrete.regione.umbria.it/.

Applications may be directed to 1 or more international trade fairs, up to a maximum of 5, identified among those held in Italy and abroad, chosen by the applicant and taking place between 01 October 2020 and 31 December 2021.

Some details about the Notice:

•  participation in both digital and traditional fairs is allowed;
•  the temporal extension of the duration of the call;
•  a single application can request support for several fairs;
•  the budget is 2.2 M€;
•  the introduction of standard costs in the granting of the subsidy;
•  new-exporting companies, innovative start-ups, innovative SMEs and university spin-offs will be able to opt for reporting at real costs with a contribution of between 60% and 70% depending on whether the fair takes place inside or outside the European Union.