Monica LuxaDear All,
The Chamber of Commerce of Cosenza (CC_CS) is a public body under Italian law representing the business system of the province of Cosenza, one of the largest and most diverse territories in the Mediterranean. The Chamber therefore has direct access to more than 100,000 registered companies active in the manufacturing, agri-food, construction, services, crafts and tourism sectors.
The Chamber has institutional functions of representation, promotion and development of the local economy, and manages business support services, facilitated finance instruments, and innovation, internationalisation and green transition projects. It works in close synergy with national and regional institutions and with national and European chamber networks, including the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), of which it is a partner through Promos Italia, the National Agency for the Internationalisation of Italian SMEs. We collaborate with the Municipality of Cosenza, the Calabria Region, universities (University of Calabria, “San Raffaele” Telematic University), research centres, Italian chambers of commerce, the Italian Association of Chambers of Commerce, major SME support bodies, national and international networks, European partners and business associations: a key requirement for the territorial anchoring called for by the call’s guiding theme, “Advancing territorial resilience”, and for the integration of results into local policies and strategies.
2. Interest in the call
The Chamber of Commerce of Cosenza intends to participate mainly as a partner in the Thematic Test projects to be submitted under Call 8 of the Interreg Euro-MED Programme.
We are particularly interested in the following missions and specific objectives (SO):
Mission “Strengthening an Innovative Sustainable Economy” – SO 1.1: developing and strengthening research and innovation capacities and the adoption of advanced technologies;
Mission “Promoting Green Living Areas” – SO 2.6: transition towards a circular and resource-efficient economy;
Mission “Protecting, Restoring and Valorising the Natural Environment and Heritage” – SO 2.7: protecting and conserving nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution.
3. Our added value
Technical expertise on the call’s themes
SO 1.1: support for the adoption of advanced and digital technologies in SMEs, innovation transfer from the research system to the productive system, and assistance with product/process innovation and internationalisation;
SO 2.6: circular economy and resource efficiency in production chains (waste, by-products, industrial symbiosis), technical assistance to companies for audits and transition pathways, awareness-raising and training;
SO 2.7: valorisation of the territory’s natural heritage (national parks and protected areas, coastlines, inland areas), pollution mitigation, urban green infrastructure, and networking with the managing bodies of protected areas and municipalities.
An ideal test territory
The province of Cosenza offers territorial contexts highly suited to the pilot projects required by Call 8: inland and mountain areas in need of resilience policies, valuable natural sites (Pollino National Park, Sila National Park, marine protected areas), medium-sized urban areas, a high-quality manufacturing and food-and-wine fabric, and typical Mediterranean challenges (climate change, hydrogeological instability, depopulation, seasonal tourism pressure).
Experience in transnational cooperation and in managing international and European Commission projects. A dedicated unit for the design and administration of EU funds, experience in communication and dissemination, event organisation, transferability and capitalisation of results; the capacity to coordinate multi-stakeholder working groups and to manage pilot activities in-house or through Promos Italia, of which the Chamber is a founding member.
4. Our contribution as a Partner
The Chamber of Commerce of Cosenza can guarantee:
pilots and field testing with companies and stakeholders in the Calabrian territory;
needs analysis and initial stakeholder engagement (preparatory activities);
dissemination, communication and SME involvement at national level and through the Enterprise Europe Network and the chamber networks;
transferability and follow-up of results into local policy instruments (chamber plans, memoranda of understanding, business services) and into regional strategies;
co-design and co-management: availability to contribute to drafting the application, also in the role of Lead Partner for projects consistent with the priorities indicated above.
Contacts
giuseppe.palopoli@cs.camcom.it clara.dambrosio@cs.camcom.it monica.luxa@promositalia.com
