Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ROME5589
2002-11-18 13:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY CLUSTER IN VENETO READY

Tags:  TSPL KSCA TPHY IT 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 005589 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR STAS/REYNOLDS AND OES/STC

WHITE HOUSE FOR OSTP/HALL

EUR/ERA FOR WAXMONSKY

DEPT PASS NSF FOR SENIOR ADVISOR FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY/ROCO,
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 05589 01 OF 03 181437Z
CHEMISTRY/ELLIS AND OIA/PIEROLLE AND HUDSON

PARIS FOR NSF REP SCHINDEL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPL KSCA TPHY KSCA TPHY KSCA TPHY IT ITTSPL ITTSPL
SUBJECT: NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY CLUSTER IN VENETO READY
FOR LAUNCH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 005589

SIPDIS

STATE FOR STAS/REYNOLDS AND OES/STC

WHITE HOUSE FOR OSTP/HALL

EUR/ERA FOR WAXMONSKY

DEPT PASS NSF FOR SENIOR ADVISOR FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY/ROCO,
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 05589 01 OF 03 181437Z
CHEMISTRY/ELLIS AND OIA/PIEROLLE AND HUDSON

PARIS FOR NSF REP SCHINDEL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPL KSCA TPHY KSCA TPHY KSCA TPHY ITALY'>IT ITTSPL ITTSPL
SUBJECT: NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY CLUSTER IN VENETO READY
FOR LAUNCH


1. SUMMARY. ESTCOUNS AND SCI SPECIALIST VISITED THE
UNIVERSITY OF PADUA NANOTECHNOLOGY PROJECT, A FRAMEWORK
AGREEMENT BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE STAKEHOLDERS TO DEVELOP
AN INTERNATIONALLY-COMPETITIVE HIGH-TECH CLUSTER IN VENETO
(NORTHERN ITALY). THE PROJECT, CO-FUNDED BY THE RESEARCH
MINISTRY, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND INDUSTRY, IS BASED ON
LEADING RESEARCH FACILITIES, HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY AND A GOOD
NETWORK OF INVESTORS. THE UNIVERSITY SHOWED GREAT INTEREST
IN COOPERATING WITH A US NANOTECHNOLOGY CENTER AND IN
PARTICIPATING IN A BILATERAL SCIENTIFIC WORKSHOP IN THE
FUTURE. END SUMMARY.


2. ON OCTOBER 30, THE UNIVERSITY OF PADUA BRIEFED ESTCOUNS
AND SCI SPECIALIST ABOUT THE NANOTECHNOLOGY CLUSTER PROJECT
BY THE UNIVERSITY RECTOR MORANDINI, PROF. RENATO BOSIO, AND
SEVERAL CONSULTANTS FROM MCKINSEY. THE IDEA OF A NANOTECH
CLUSTER WAS BORN AFTER A JOURNEY IN THE U.S. DURING WHICH
PADUA UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS VISITED UNIVERSITY-BASED
NANOTECH CENTERS. THE PROJECT WAS DEVELOPED BY MCKINSEY AND
A FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT WAS REACHED. THE RESEARCH MINISTRY
HAS ALREADY APPROVED CO-FUNDING OF THE PROJECT, AND THE
MINISTER IS EXPECTED TO SIGN THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT WITHIN
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 05589 01 OF 03 181437Z
NOVEMBER 2002. THE GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO JUMPSTART A
"VIRTUOUS CIRCLE" AMONG DIFFERENT ACTORS, INCLUDING RESEARCH
INSTITUTIONS, EXISTING COMPANIES AND START-UPS, IN ORDER TO
ESTABLISH VENETO AS A REGION OF EXCELLENCE IN
NANOTECHNOLOGIES IN EUROPE. ACCORDING TO THE PRESENTATION,
50 MILLION EURO WILL BE AVAILABLE BY THE END OF 2002 BUT THE
CLUSTER BUDGET IS EXPECTED TO DOUBLE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
NOTE: THIS WOULD BE THE SECOND HIGH-TECH CLUSTER FUNDED BY
THE RESEARCH MINISTRY; THE FIRST ONE IS THE INFORMATION

TECHNOLOGY CLUSTER IN TURIN. END NOTE.

--------------
WHY NANOTECH IN VENETO?
--------------


3. VENETO HAS BEEN ONE OF THE ENGINES OF ITALIAN INDUSTRIAL
DEVELOPMENT FOR THE LAST DECADES, WITH MANY SMALL AND MEDIUM-
SIZE COMPANIES FOCUSING IN EXPORTING NICHE TECHNOLOGIES.
MOREOVER, THE REGION HAS THE HIGHEST ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND
THE LOWEST FAILURE RATES IN THE EU. AMONG ALL THE
INDUSTRIAL SECTORS LOCATED IN THE AREA, MORE THAN 50 PCT IS
DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY NANOTECHNOLOGIES APPLIED TO MATERIALS.
IN ADDITION, MANY COMPANIES ARE ALREADY INVOLVED IN THE
PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION OF NANOCOMPONENTS, OR VERY
INTERESTED IN THEIR FUTURE APPLICATIONS. RECENTLY, SOME
LOCAL ENTITIES TOGETHER WITH THE UNIVERSITIES OF PADUA AND
VENICE, LAUNCHED A PROJECT CALLED "NANO FABRICATION
FACILITY", ON THE FOOTPRINT OF WHAT ALREADY HAPPENED IN
CERTAIN U.S. UNIVERSITIES (E.G., CORNELL). THE NFF MISSION
IS TO HELP LOCAL ACADEMIA AND COMPANIES TO INVESTIGATE AND
DEVELOP INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS OF NANOTECHNOLOGIES. IN
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 05589 01 OF 03 181437Z
ADDITION TO THAT, THE NFF WILL TRAIN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND
RESEARCHERS AS WELL AS EMPLOYEES OF INTERESTED COMPANIES.


4. SEVERAL RESEARCH ACTIVITIES ARE CURRENTLY BEING CARRIED
OUT IN THE AREA, SPANNING NANOTECHNOLOGY FOR MATERIALS,
NANOELECTRONICS, AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY. TWO LOCAL
UNIVERSITIES, PADUA AND VENICE, AS WELL AS RESEARCH
INSTITUTES, HAVE MORE THAN 500 RESEARCHERS AND PHD'S
CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN ACTIVITIES DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO
NANOTECHNOLOGY, WITH EXCELLENCE IN THE AREA OF THE
PROPERTIES (STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL) OF MATERIALS.
REGARDING APPLICATIONS, NANOPARTICLE COATINGS FOR AUTO-
LUBRICATING SURFACES, FOR GOLD AND SILVER PROTECTION
(IMPORTANT TO JEWELRY PRODUCTION),AND VERY THIN LAYER
COATINGS FOR LIGHT-ABSORPTION IN GLASS ARE CURRENTLY BEING
DEVELOPED, AS WELL AS A LIGHTER AND MORE RESISTANT
NANOSTRUCTURED TEXTILE FOR MOTORCYCLE CLOTHING. NOTE:
THERE IS A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF METAL AND OF TEXTILE
INDUSTRIES IN VENETO, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON METAL
ALLOYS AND ANTICORROSIVE COATINGS. END NOTE.

-------------- --------------
ACTORS INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT FOR A HIGH TECH CLUSTER
-------------- --------------


5. THE VENETO NANOTECH CLUSTER IS STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ7356

PAGE 01 ROME 05589 02 OF 03 181437Z
ACTION OES-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 DOTE-00
EB-00 EUR-00 OIGO-00 FAAE-00 UTED-00 VC-00 H-01
TEDE-00 INR-00 L-00 VCE-00 NASA-01 AC-01 NSAE-00
NSF-01 PM-00 ACE-00 TEST-00 R-00 PMB-00 SAS-00
/004W
-------------- 0A7D9A 181536Z /38
P 181320Z NOV 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6954
INFO ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
AMCONSUL MILAN
AMCONSUL NAPLES
AMCONSUL FLORENCE
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 ROME 005589

SIPDIS

STATE FOR STAS/REYNOLDS AND OES/STC

WHITE HOUSE FOR OSTP/HALL

EUR/ERA FOR WAXMONSKY

DEPT PASS NSF FOR SENIOR ADVISOR FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY/ROCO,
CHEMISTRY/ELLIS AND OIA/PIEROLLE AND HUDSON
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 05589 02 OF 03 181437Z

PARIS FOR NSF REP SCHINDEL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPL KSCA TPHY KSCA TPHY KSCA TPHY IT ITTSPL ITTSPL
SUBJECT: NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY CLUSTER IN VENETO READY
FOR LAUNCH

BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS. IN DETAIL:

EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS:

THE UNIVERSITY OF PADUA, THE "CA' FOSCARI" UNIVERSITY OF
VENICE, THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (CNR),THE NATIONAL
INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR PHYSICS (INFN),THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE
FOR THE PHYSICS OF MATTER (INFM),GALILEO SCIENTIFIC AND
TECHNOLOGICAL PARK OF PADUA, AND VEGA SCIENTIFIC AND
TECHNOLOGICAL PARK OF VENICE.

GOVERNMENT

THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, UNIVERSITY AND RESEARCH, AND THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT BRANCHES (THE REGION OF VENETO, PROVINCES
OF PADUA AND VENICE, CITIES OF PADUA AND VENICE)

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

FOUNDATION "CASSA DI RISPARMIO DI PADOVA E ROVIGO", AND
FOUNDATION "CASSA DI RISPARMIO DI VENEZIA".

INDUSTRIAL AND BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 05589 02 OF 03 181437Z

INDUSTRIAL FEDERATION OF VENETO, INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATIONS OF
THE PROVINCES OF PADUA AND VENICE, ASSOCIATION OF THE
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE OF VENETO, CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE OF
PADUA AND VENICE, AND MAJOR COMPANIES HEADQUARTERED IN
VENETO (E.G. BENETTON AND LUXOTTICA).

--------------
ACTIVITY TO BE LAUNCHED
--------------


6. THE MAIN ACTIVITIES TO BE LAUNCHED BY THE CLUSTER
INCLUDE: TALENT ATTRACTION AND TRAINING (ESTABLISHING AN
INTERNATIONAL MASTER'S IN NANOTECH, INCREASING NUMBER OF
PHD'S PER YEAR, OFFERING TEACHING POSITIONS TO INDUSTRY
LEADERS); INCREASE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND INDUSTRIAL
TESTING (HIRING INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN RESEARCHERS AND
STRENGTHENING EQUIPMENT AND INDUSTRIAL TESTING FACILITIES);
PROMOTION OF THE CENTER THROUGH INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS;
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND ACTIVE SUPPORT OF START-UP
COMPANIES.


7. ON NOV. 16, AS A FOLLOW UP OF OUR VISIT, PROF. BOSIO
SENT US A LETTER PROPOSING SEVERAL JOINT ACTIVITIES
INCLUDING THE ORGANIZATION OF WORKSHOPS TOGETHER WITH U.S.
UNIVERSITIES ON FUNCTIONAL OR STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES OF
MATERIALS, BILATERAL EXCHANGE OF RESEARCHERS, VISIT TO U.S.
NANOTECH RESEARCH LABS, AND PROMOTE BILATERAL INTER-
UNIVERSITY AGREEMENTS ON PHD'S PROGRAMS IN PHYSICS,
CHEMISTRY, AND SCIENCE OG MATERIALS.

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 05589 02 OF 03 181437Z

8. EMBASSY COMMENT: THE UNIVERSITY OF PADUA IS AMONG THE
FIRST UNIVERSITIES SERIOUSLY TRYING TO CLOSE THE NOTORIOUS
ITALIAN GAP BETWEEN UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND INDUSTRIAL
APPLICATION. A SPIN-OFF AND A PATENT OFFICE HAVE BEEN
ESTABLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF PADUA TO ENCOURAGE INDUSTRY
TO FUND APPLIED RESEARCH AND RESEARCHERS TO LISTEN TO
INDUSTRY NEEDS. THE ACTIVE INDUSTRIAL-ACADEMIC COOPERATION
IS SHOWN BY THE NANOTECH APPLICATIONS CURRENTLY STUDIED (SEE
PARA. 4 FOR DETAILS). THE NANOTECHNOLOGY PROJECT, BASED ON
LEADING RESEARCH FACILITIES, HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY AND AN
INFLUENTIAL SPONSORSHIP OF BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS,
HAS INTERNATIONAL AMBITION AND SEEMS TO BE ON THE RIGHT
PATHWAY FOR SUCCESS. THE UNIVERSITY SHOWED GREAT INTEREST
IN COOPERATING WITH A U.S. NANOTECHNOLOGY CENTER. EMBASSY
WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE U.S. NANOTECH CENTERS AND
THE NSF NANOTECH PROGRAMS, AND WORK WITH NSF, INTERESTED
U.S. ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS AND PADUA UNIVERSITY IN
ORGANIZING A SCIENTIFIC WORKSHOP TO EXPLORE COMMON AND
COMPLEMENTARY RESEARCH DIRECTIONS.


8. POST IS ALSO AWARE OF THE NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY
LABORATORY (NNL) LOCATED IN THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR THE
PHYSICS OF MATTER (INFM) UNIT OF LECCE UNIVERSITY (SOUTHERN
ITALY) AND CHAIRED BY PROF. ROBERTO CINGOLANI. THE 60-
RESEARCHER FACILITY IS FUNDED BY THE EU IV AND V FRAMEWORK

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ7357

PAGE 01 ROME 05589 03 OF 03 181437Z
ACTION OES-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 CIP-00 COME-00
DINT-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 ITCE-00 DOTE-00 EB-00 EUR-00
FAAE-00 UTED-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00
ITC-01 L-00 VCE-00 NASA-01 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSF-01
PM-00 ACE-00 SP-00 STR-00 TEST-00 EPAE-00 PMB-00
SAS-00 /005W
-------------- 0A7DA0 181536Z /38
P 181320Z NOV 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6955
INFO ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
AMCONSUL MILAN
AMCONSUL NAPLES
AMCONSUL FLORENCE
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 ROME 005589

SIPDIS

STATE FOR STAS/REYNOLDS AND OES/STC

WHITE HOUSE FOR OSTP/HALL

EUR/ERA FOR WAXMONSKY

DEPT PASS NSF FOR SENIOR ADVISOR FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY/ROCO,
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 05589 03 OF 03 181437Z
CHEMISTRY/ELLIS AND OIA/PIEROLLE AND HUDSON

PARIS FOR NSF REP SCHINDEL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPL KSCA TPHY KSCA TPHY KSCA TPHY IT ITTSPL ITTSPL
SUBJECT: NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY CLUSTER IN VENETO READY
FOR LAUNCH

RESEARCH PROGRAMS, THE INFM, MIUR, CNR, AND INFN. REGARDING
INDUSTRY LINKS, THE U.S. COMPANY AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES IS
SPONSORING 3 YEARS R AND D PROGRAM - AND 5 PHD'S - ON
PHOTONIC DEVICES. THE INITIATIVE IS CALLED "AGILENT
TECHNOLOGIES-UNIVERSITY OF LECCE FUTURES LAB". END COMMENT.

SKODON

UNCLASSIFIED

>
2002ROME05589 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED