SPD Ob. 9 - "Enhance sustainable economic growth“ tackles the transition, for Reggio Emilia, from an industrial economy to a knowledge economy. To guarantee the competitive growth of a territorial system based on knowledge, the process of territorial attractiveness will have to be consolidated in more structured ways, promoting a more solid interaction between government institutions, economic and research bodies, fostering the development of territorial Hub as city’s one stop shop for investments and talents attraction.
The development of the Reggiane Innovation Park as a HUB for attracting investments and talents is the main pillar of this strategy. The main objectives are:
1- offer a comprehensive range of services and incentives that cater to the needs of businesses, investors, and skilled professionals. Additionally, integrating these efforts with the territorial value chains and crafting a compelling value proposition are key components for success.
2-build a strong value proposition, identifying and highlighting the unique strengths and advantages of the city, such as strategic location, skilled workforce, cost-effectiveness or specific industry clusters.
Collaboration with ART-ER will guarantee the solid interaction needed between government institutions as ART-ER being a regional agency that works with and on behalf of E-R Region and manages the regional services for talent and investment attraction. This is a key factor to make our territorial strategy effective.

The PI aims to identify ways to boost regional attractiveness and innovation capacity while utilizing limited local, national, and EU funds. It also aims to maximize the region's capacity for R&D, existing business potential, and company capabilities regarding the adoption and use of modern technologies. According to the strategy, there isn't a self-sustaining environment for innovation and entrepreneurship that would help increase the number of rapidly expanding businesses that are able to innovate. The document consists of office research of current domestic strategies and documents pertaining to boost regional attractiveness, innovation, and competitiveness along with an analysis of best practices from developed countries, mainly from the EU. An analysis of the regional context and innovation potential that determined the conditions for the development of innovation through the establishment of an innovation/entrepreneurial Hub by identifying key stakeholders and outlining the next steps for implementation. Based on four strategic goals and eleven strategic priorities, the regional innovation strategy should be able to accomplish the following objectives in terms of enhancing the inventive climate in the East planning region:
- SO 1: Development of innovative human capital;
- SO 2: Development of innovation culture;
- SO 3: Development of infrastructure to support innovation;
- SO 4: Development of private capital ready to invest in innovation.

The general objective of the PI is “the attraction and competitiveness of the economic system of Emilia-Romagna and the achievement of high levels of environmental and social sustainability, contributing to the implementation of the European strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth” (Art. 1). The key strategic pillars are the promotion of innovative and sustainable investments, with the creation of qualified employment and integration with the regional value chains and ecosystem.
The main tool provided by the law is the Agreement for the Settlement and Development of Enterprises (Art. 6). The Agreement allows putting together – in one procedure – incentives for different types of investment projects integrated in one investment programme. The Region published 7 calls for proposals “Attraction of investments in Emilia-Romagna” to get access to the Agreement since 2016.
The actions that can be financed are strictly related to the employment impact of the investment: Research & Development (mandatory), hiring of high-skilled employees (only for MSMEs), Research/Testing/Experimentation facilities, etc.. The Agreement also provides a timeframe and collaboration with local authorities and stakeholders.

The Regional Program (PR) Centru 2021-2027 has a budget of approx. 1.4 billion euros with 1.18 non-refundable EU funds for the development of the six counties in Centru Region. The investments support will finance both public and private sector. The programme has as its general objective the development of Centru Region so that it becomes a cleaner region, attractive for its inhabitants and tourists, with a competitive economy based on knowledge and innovation in which the care for the environment and the rational and sustainable use of resources becomes a priority. The program has 8 priorities and an important share of its budget is allocated to support the regional RDI and business ecosystem. Under the SO “Sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs and job creation within SMEs, including through productive investment”, one of the action addresses creation and development of business support infrastructure. Industrial parks could be more attractive and dynamic in creating opportunities and services aimed to lead to retention of impactful investments/of talents by integrating new services, practices into their strategy from the beginning and can act as Hubs for the attraction of investments and talents. The improvement of the policy instrument will target integration into the terms of reference of the call for industrial parks of the GPs and lessons learned from project partners for generating value added services and improve the approach towards the local development.

The Szombathely2030 policy instrument is a 10-year economic development program. It is designed to promote a resilient knowledge economy through various initiatives aimed at industrial change, environmental sustainability, talents and investments attraction/retention and the integration of smart city solutions. Key features relevant to the project:
Objective is to foster a high-value-added economy by supporting industrial change, enhancing the education and training ecosystem. This involves creating a multi-footed production structure and a knowledge-based economy while improving living conditions and a resilient local economy capable of withstanding crises by focusing on sectors like health, rehabilitation, and sustainability.
Priority Areas:
- Establishing a robust health industry with a focus on rehabilitation, supported by thermal baths and regional facilities
- Environmental Sustainability by emphasizing the circular economy, green transport, and smart city solutions
- Implementing smart city technologies such as sensory parking, traffic management applications, air quality and noise monitoring, smart pedestrian crossings
- Developing comprehensive emerging digital technologies education programs
- Enhancing living conditions through smart city initiatives and green infrastructure projects
- Creating high-value job opportunities in the health sector, smart city projects
- Involving residents in urban development projects and promoting inclusive policies.

This is the main strategic development document that sets guidelines for the future of the city, covering the strategic goals, objectives, and measures for its development. One of the three development priorities of Panevėžys city municipality set out in this plan is called "Education and Business Community Developing the Economy of the Future." It focuses on the retention and attraction of talent and investment, with a comprehensive system of measures planned to be implemented by different stakeholders until the end of 2027. The intended measures cover different target groups: talents including students studying in higher and vocational education institutions, adults seeking retraining, highly qualified persons living abroad, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises and their employees. This is the main policy instrument guiding public sector institutions, educational institutions, business associations, and NGOs in their joint effort to reach talent and investment attraction objectives. The plan also provides a framework for monitoring the progress of these objectives.

The Economic Action Plan 2023-2026 envisions a healthy and sustainable local economy. The transition to a circular economy, the creation of room for entrepreneurship, a future-proof labour market and the strategic regional positioning of Utrecht have been defined as the key priorities for the coming years. As the local and regional economy are rather intertwined, the city has taken a leading position to strengthen the relationship with multiple stakeholders to improve the investment climate and attract and retain talent.
The policy instrument will be revised at the end of its term. The continuation of the pillar growth in future proof sectors by focusing on talent attraction and retention and its innovation ecosystems, is guaranteed. The revision of the instrument will always include a continuation of efforts on talent attraction, retention and improving the regional innovation-ecosystems.
The Internationale Welcome Centre Utrecht Region is an operational programme coming forth from this ambitions. The city of Utrecht, by means of its economic affairs division, is primarily responsible for implementing this action plan.
One of the main goals of this initiative is to fulfil the demand on the labour market with international talent, both attraction as retention on the principle of a one shop stop: In the heart of the region a daily opened office has been set up where newcomers are able to register and ask any questions about living in the Utrecht region.