In Tuscany regional initiatives fostering entrepreneurial skills are implemented according to the policy framework, the Integrated General Plan (Regional Law n.32/2002), providing a multi-annual programming activities on education, training and employment policies. The main aim of the Integrated General Plan is to create an integrated regional system that supports individual freedom and integration, right through to life long learning with the creation of more and better jobs, economically stable, qualified and protected in an environment with strong social cohesion.
One of the main objectives of the program is the development of human capital, innovation, entrepreneurial quality and labour productivity. In this context an important role is played by the Plan “GiovaniSì”, aiming at supporting young people's access to the most senior higher education and post-graduate and self entrepreneurship.
The main tools are:
With regards to the support of youth and female entrepreneurship, this is specifically expressed by the R.L. n.21/2008 and subsequent relevant amendments, which have strengthened the role of taking into account the impact of the economic crisis and the need to broaden the scope of applicability of the law.
The possibility of access to loans interests today all industries and regional intervention it’s not limited in activities designed to technological development and innovation. In addition to the measures provided by regional law 21, the support for starting self-employment among young people will strengthen as activated by specific micro-credit fund, aimed at providing small loans to young people under the age of 40 years (depending on the cases) who want to start their own business or to set up a cooperative or open a professional studio.
Finally an important infrastructure for promoting entrepreneurship in high risk markets is provided by the network of Innovation Poles. Innovation poles are defined as “groupings of independent undertakings -innovative start-ups, small, medium and large undertakings as well as research organisations- operating in a particular sector and region and designed to stimulate innovative activity by promoting intensive interactions, sharing of facilities and exchange of knowledge and expertise and by contributing effectively to technology transfer, networking and information dissemination among the undertakings in the cluster…” (ref. Community Framework for State Aid for R&D&I - 2006/C 323/01).
Their main activities are:
Within the network of Innovation poles are operating also technological incubators with the aim of scouting new ideas and promote pre-incubation activities. They cooperate strongly with academic and higher education organisations, providing facilities, technical tools and networking opportunities. Enabling students and researchers to structure better their business ideas, to check market opportunities, and to translate business modelling in business planning. Giving them the chance to be tutored in their spin-off and start-up phases.