Conference on the Networks of Enterprises
In December, the chapter organized a conference on the Network of Enterprises (NE) concept, which it held at the Scuola delle Trasmissioni e Informatica (SCUTI), the Italian Ministry of Defence telecommunication and information technology school. Maj. Gen. Pietro Primo, IA, SCUTI commander, gave the opening address followed by Lt. Gen. Pietro Finocchio, ITAF (Ret.), chapter president, who introduced the innovative characteristics of the subject of the conference, which began a dissemination process for a new and important model of aggregation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
In addition, Fulvio D'Alvia, head of RetImpresa in Confindustria, delivered an opening address and remarked that the need to organize networks of enterprises had already been proven by the existence of industrial districts. However, the main objective of the new concept of Network of Enterprises, recently legislated by the European Union and Italy, is to promote the growth of competitive capabilities by sharing knowledge and experience. The NE is a new tool that complements the existing forms of aggregation: Consortia and ATI's (Temporary Aggregation of Enterprises). Entrepreneurs now can decide which tool is better suited to their needs.
Some financial and fiscal advantages are also present in the legislation. More than 200 contracts have already been signed in the new form. A number of case studies were then presented. Alessandro Perillo, Aerosekur, reported about an NE in the aircraft maintenance and repair operations (MRO) field. He established an Evaluation Committee to support the aggregation of companies in the MRO area, according to the NE approach. The committee operates by contacting potentially interested companies and helps in the preparation of a business plan for the internationalization of the NE.
Riccardo Marini, vice president of Confindustria Toscana, reported on an NE in the biomedical area, which is an initiative led by Esaote—a well-known global player in this field, producing a wide range of diagnostic medical instrumentation. Esaote has created an NE (RIBES) and leads 13 SME's, suppliers of strategic components. Paolo Zanenga, Doctoral School in the Polytechnic of Turin, gave a new twist to the NE concept by mentioning an initiative that he helped to start as a founding partner: the TWG Lab, which aggregates the companies whose principal driver is innovation.
Cristiana Pagni, president, TECNOMAR Consortium and DLTM (Ligurian District for Maritime Technologies), also spoke at the event. This consortium is somehow an incubator of NE's. In her opinion, a strong cultural effort is necessary, since in her experience small companies often fight each other for small local contracts while ignoring bigger opportunities in the global market. An NE can be a first step toward a large corporation, but entrepreneurs must share a common vision and feel that their mission is to achieve a significant position in that global market. Giuseppe Quitadamo, head of NAD 2nd Department, and Gen. Finocchio closed the event with a summary of the topics that emerged.
In addition, Fulvio D'Alvia, head of RetImpresa in Confindustria, delivered an opening address and remarked that the need to organize networks of enterprises had already been proven by the existence of industrial districts. However, the main objective of the new concept of Network of Enterprises, recently legislated by the European Union and Italy, is to promote the growth of competitive capabilities by sharing knowledge and experience. The NE is a new tool that complements the existing forms of aggregation: Consortia and ATI's (Temporary Aggregation of Enterprises). Entrepreneurs now can decide which tool is better suited to their needs.
Some financial and fiscal advantages are also present in the legislation. More than 200 contracts have already been signed in the new form. A number of case studies were then presented. Alessandro Perillo, Aerosekur, reported about an NE in the aircraft maintenance and repair operations (MRO) field. He established an Evaluation Committee to support the aggregation of companies in the MRO area, according to the NE approach. The committee operates by contacting potentially interested companies and helps in the preparation of a business plan for the internationalization of the NE.
Riccardo Marini, vice president of Confindustria Toscana, reported on an NE in the biomedical area, which is an initiative led by Esaote—a well-known global player in this field, producing a wide range of diagnostic medical instrumentation. Esaote has created an NE (RIBES) and leads 13 SME's, suppliers of strategic components. Paolo Zanenga, Doctoral School in the Polytechnic of Turin, gave a new twist to the NE concept by mentioning an initiative that he helped to start as a founding partner: the TWG Lab, which aggregates the companies whose principal driver is innovation.
Cristiana Pagni, president, TECNOMAR Consortium and DLTM (Ligurian District for Maritime Technologies), also spoke at the event. This consortium is somehow an incubator of NE's. In her opinion, a strong cultural effort is necessary, since in her experience small companies often fight each other for small local contracts while ignoring bigger opportunities in the global market. An NE can be a first step toward a large corporation, but entrepreneurs must share a common vision and feel that their mission is to achieve a significant position in that global market. Giuseppe Quitadamo, head of NAD 2nd Department, and Gen. Finocchio closed the event with a summary of the topics that emerged.