Pact for the Centre: Memorandum of Understanding between the financial institutions of Umbria, Lazio, Abruzzo and Marche

Pact for the Centre: Memorandum of Understanding between the finance companies of Umbria, Lazio, Abruzzo and Marche

The agreement, with Sviluppumbria as lead partner, was signed for the development of joint projects and actions between the regional in-house companies in central Italy

A memorandum of understanding between the regional in-house companies of central Italy - Umbria, Lazio, Abruzzo and Marche - to cooperate in the implementation and development of joint projects and actions on the themes of European and non-European programming, in the areas of innovation and research, ecological and digital transition, territorial marketing and integrated promotion, PNRR, institutional development contracts, tourism and culture.

This, in brief, is the objective of the agreement signed between the regional in-house companies in central Italy, signed in Rome this morning at the 'Europa Experience - David Sassoli' centre in Piazza Venezia, during which the director of the European Parliament's Office in Italy, Carlo Corazza, spoke alongside Sviluppumbria's CEO, Michela Sciurpa; Vittorio Calaprice, institutional relations of the European Commission's Representation in Italy; Roberta Angelilli, vice-president of the Lazio Region and councillor for Economic Development, Trade, Crafts, Industry, Internationalisation; Andrea Kirschen, senior Finance Manager European Investment Bank; Francesco Marcolini, president of Lazio Innova SpA; Giacomo D'Ignazio president of Finanziaria Regionale Abruzzese SpA - Fi. R.A.; Monica Mancini Cilla, director of Sviluppo Europa Marche - SVEM.

Designing and sharing good practices

The memorandum of understanding was signed with the aim of increasing the capacity of in-house companies to design and implement systemic interventions, in order to enhance "good practices" and initiate shared actions in the context of National Programmes, European and international Calls for Proposals. The duration of the agreement is one year from the date of signing and may be extended. "The Memorandum of Understanding, which was launched in 2021," emphasised Michela Sciurpa, CEO of Sviluppumbria, "represents an important joint commitment to regional and territorial development focused on sharing best practices and launching innovative projects, in particular on a number of themes, including European and non-European programming, innovation and research, ecological and digital transition, territorial marketing and integrated promotion, PNRR, tourism and culture. Our primary objective is to create a synergic network to foster the economic and social development of the regions of Umbria, Marche, Abruzzo and now also Lazio, which we are pleased Lazio Innova has joined. Through this agreement, we intend, therefore, not only to share our experiences and skills, but also to identify concrete opportunities to launch joint projects, both at local and European level. We want to enhance the capacities of our in-house companies to implement systemic interventions that have a significant impact on the territory'.

The remarks

"Signing of this agreement is an important sign of cohesion between the different entities in the country, in order to offer new opportunities for common growth and to develop coordinated programming in central Italy that is functional to the economy and society of the entire country. The objective is to network the different experiences and skills of the regional instrumental bodies, through joint programmes that will be developed around strategic themes to support the production activities, innovation and competitiveness of the regions involved,' said Roberta Angelilli.

"With this agreement, we are pooling the programming and intervention capacity of the regional finances to support the enterprises and citizens of central Italy. It is a new opportunity for collaboration that will produce synergies capable of creating innovation and development by optimising the various financial sources: from access to European funds to the PNRR and national funds. Central Italy has the ambition of presenting itself as the dynamic heart of the country, capable of activating new resources and investments," commented Francesco Marcolini, president of Lazio Innova.

"Extending the regional borders, in a systemic perspective with the entire Central Italian territory, is a necessary step to maximise relaunch strategies and competences. Thanks to the continuous comparison and collaboration with Lazio Innova, SVEM and Sviluppumbria, and starting from listening to the territories, we will be able to guarantee our regions a common growth, integrating the different competences of the four regional finances in what are the main development assets: European and non-European programming, innovation and research, ecological and digital transition, PNRR, development contracts, territorial marketing, tourism and culture. From this perspective, the 'Pact for the Centre' can become a development hub that will be able to best express and implement the potential of all our regions,' said Fi.R.A. S.p.A. President Giacomo D'Ignazio.

'The main aspect of this protocol is that it expands a network we were already working on as Marche, Abruzzo and Umbria. During some meetings in Brussels with commission officials, the need to present ourselves with visions that are broader than regional ones emerged. This is fundamental when we talk about infrastructure, think of the Ten-T corridor, but also of the corridor that will connect the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian seas, making central Italy a pivot for the development of southern Europe. The protocol is a first step that we will implement and refine, supported by regional councils and offices. SVEM will provide its expertise to strengthen projects and initiatives on a strategic territorial area for Italy, such as that of the centre,' highlighted Monica Mancini Cilla, councillor of Sviluppo Europa Marche - SVEM.

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'Umbria, Abruzzo, Lazio and Marche: Regional Financing together for the development of Central Italy'.

On Friday 5 April, at 11.30 a.m., at the Europa Experience space in Piazza Venezia 6 in Rome, a Press conference dwas held for the presentation of the cooperation agreement between the regional in-house atncies of central Italy - Sviluppumbria, FiRA, Lazio Innova, and SVEM - to implement and develop joint projects and actions on the themes of European and non-European programming, in the areas of innovation and research, ecological and digital transition, territorial marketing and integrated promotion, PNRR, institutional development contracts, tourism and culture.