THE INCUBATOR SYSTEM IN THE PROVINCE OF FERRARA

Incubators are technologically equipped areas designed to provide support to new enterprises located in the industrial areas of Cassana (FE), Copparo, Ro and San Giovanni di Ostellato. They host approximately 20 enterprises, which have been coached from the entrepreneurship promotion phase to the start up phase.
This system is managed by SIPRO Agenzia per lo sviluppo - Ferrara.

SPIN-OFF CENTRE

The spin-off centre has been set up within the Faculty of Economics, designed to foster the enhancement, support and development of a new and innovative type of entrepreneurship, as well as the development of technological transfer projects. The main objectives pursued by the Spin-off Centre are: the enhancement of research, for it to be applied to entrepreneurial activities; the protection of the copyrights owned by the University; the creation of new job opportunities for University graduates and PhD holders.

THE UNIVERSITY OF FERRARA

The University of Ferrara is one of the most ancient Italian universities: it was founded in 1391 by Marchese Alberto V d’Este under the auspices of Pope Boniface IX.
It encompasses 8 faculties, 20 departments and several other university branches. Its research activities are constantly growing and important scientific results have so far been achieved with relevant practical repercussions on major sectors. Over the past few years the number of patents have progressively climbed along with the number of spin offs.
Year after year, the University of Ferrara is chosen by an increasingly larger number of students, thus now exceeding the threshold of 20,000 students. The student/teacher ratio is one of the lowest in Italy and a wide range of services, cultural and leisure activities are provided, also in collaboration with local authorities.
The University offers as many as 74 graduation courses and a large number of master, PhD and specialisation courses. A few graduation courses are decentralised in the branches of Rovigo, Cento, Argenta, Comacchio, Pieve di Cento, Faenza, Bolzano and San Marino.
Important co-operation relationships have also been established with local authorities and enterprises that facilitate research and technology transfers.




RESEARCH CENTRES

Consorzio Ferrara Ricerche
It is an association between the University, local authorities and private enterprises. It is part of the Aster system and it is networked with other technological research and development entities of the Emilia-Romagna Region. It is a non-profit organization, whose task is to promote and develop specific research projects in the fields of health, environment, biotechnologies, technological innovation, training and many other domains.

Ciras
It is the International Environment Research and Development Centre. Its scope of activity concerns the protection, promotion and enhancement of wetlands as well as research and experimentation on water resources.

Consorzio Impat (Association for the promotion of high-tech enterprises)
It is an association between ENEA, the University of Ferrara and Tecnopolis. Its aim is to enhance and promote the creation of researchers’ spin-off enterprises, based on the results achieved by research activities especially in the ICT sector.

Giulio Natta Research Centre
The Giulio Natta Research Centre is situated within Basell. It has focused its manufacturing activities concerning catalysts, processes, products and applications related to polyolefins since 1950.
600 researchers work in the Centre, 180 out of whom are graduates in Chemistry, Physics and Engineering.

Imamoter
Imamoter (Institute for Earth-moving Machines and Off-Road Vehicles) is a centre connected to CNR (National Research Centre). It resulted from an agreement between this public research body, local authorities and private enterprises. The Centre works in many areas, ranging from power transmission to structural mechanics. It shares its experiences both with the University, other research centres and directly with enterprises.