OUR STORY

The Technological District for Commercial and Pleasure Maritime Transport of Sicily was established in 2008 within the framework of the policies, strategies, and action lines promoted and adopted by the Region of Sicily in the fields of research, innovation, and technology transfer. It is a consortium company active in the commercial and pleasure maritime transport sector, operating according to the “triple helix” model through the creation of synergies between the business and research worlds. The District’s mission is to support: the development of scientific research and technological innovation activities according to a technological supply-chain district logic, capable of enhancing the regional territory’s strengths with a view to increasing the competitiveness of the Sicilian socio-economic system at both European and international levels; collaboration and technology transfer between universities, public and private research centers, and productive sectors. Within the framework of resource planning for the financing of research initiatives in Southern Italy, the Regional Strategy for Innovation in Sicily, approved by the Regional Government (Resolution no. 21 of January 27, 2003), highlighted the need to promote centers of excellence in research and innovation, considered of fundamental importance for supporting the competitiveness of the Sicilian industrial system. Accordingly, the Framework Program Agreement on “Scientific Research and Technological Innovation” of June 14, 2005, provided for the establishment of three Technological Districts: AgroBio and Eco-compatible Fisheries, Micro and Nanosystems, and Commercial and Pleasure Maritime Transport (CIPE Resolution no. 81 of December 20, 2004, in line with the outcomes of the Research Partnership Roundtable between MIUR, MEF, and Objective 1 Regions of September 30, 2004). To manage and coordinate the Technological District in the field of commercial and pleasure maritime transport, on April 9, 2008, the “Research Consortium for Technological Innovation, Sicily Commercial and Pleasure Maritime Transport S.c.a r.l.” was established as a non-profit consortium company, headquartered in Messina at the Institute for Advanced Energy Technologies of the National Research Council (CNR).