The National Operational Programme for “Research and Competitiveness” 2007-2013 (NOP for R&C) is Italy’s means of contributing towards the development of a European Union Cohesion Policy for Italy’s least-favoured regions. In this regard, Italy and the European Union have agreed that a significant part of European Structural Funds should be invested in research and innovation in the four Regions of the Convergence objective: Apulia, Calabria, Sicily and Campania. The objective is to transform these regions into drivers of social and eco-nomic development. EU Cohesion policy The 28 Member States of the European Union form a community and an internal market of more than half a billion citizens. The economic and social disparities among these countries and their 272 regions are striking, and have grown in the wake of the enlargements and the economic and financial crisis. GDP per inhabitant is under 75% of the EU average in around 25% of the regions.

I-AMICA, has four developmental objectives (OR – Obiettivi Realizzativi): promoting the strengthening of atmospheric/ marine-coastal/agro-forestry Observing Systems, improving parallel computing infrastructure, and strengthening air-quality services (forecast, advanced observations and analysis). I-AMICA fosters technology transfer actions to develop and integrate productive activities. The I-AMICA Observing Systems were integrated into international programs. A strong integration between public and private activities allowed the development of innovative environmental devices and instrumentation, thus favouring promotion and support to regional businesses.

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