What generates more wealth than is produced by national markets? They are called hi-tech clusters, the latest generation of technology districts created by the digital revolution. They are operational in the United States, Israel, Switzerland, Germany and France. This opportunity has now arrived in Italy, based in Torino.
Our city has a long tradition in the telecommunications sector. Sip and Stet, the companies from which telephony in Italy developed, were founded here. Olivetti is located in nearby Ivrea. In 1999, Motorola chose Torino to establish its European research and development centre for cellular phones. In the same year the Polytechnic of Torino and the Compagnia di San Paolo set up the "Mario Boella" Istituto Superiore per le Telecomunicazioni. In 2000 there were over 3,000 companies active in the ICT sector. In December 2001, the Italian government, represented by the Minister for Research Letizia Moratti signed an agreement with Piedmont Region, Province of Torino and City of Torino, Fiat, Telecom, Alenia, Motorola, STMicroelectronics, University of Torino, Polytechnic of Torino, Compagnia di San Paolo, Fondazione CRT, San Paolo IMI and Unicredito to create southern Europe's first wireless district in Torino. Investment will be made for 130 million euro in 5 years to boost research, develop business ideas and the innovative finance needed to develop new companies.
Torino already has a broadband fibre optic network, partners like Colt and Atlanet and research centres like TiLab and the Fiat research centre (the two largest private research centres in Italy). The target is to double the number of researchers in 10 years, in the wireless sector alone, rising from 2000 to 4000, generating at least 50 new companies and raising the weight of the technology sector in the regional GDP from 5 to 10%.
In this sector as elsewhere, the major infrastructure investments for the 2006 Olympics (approximately 400 million euro just in technology) represent an important launch pad for the entire area.