Apulia is a welcoming, creative, sustainable and dynamic land, with an ever-increasing international standing.  It is a region that has managed to maintain its traditions and authenticity, whilst becoming at the same time technological and innovative, where the local government pays a lot of attention to citizen participation and environmental policies.

Apulia offers an incredible mix of ancient crafts, modern manufacturing industries, authentic Italian style and unrivalled quality, with an inborn inclination towards technological innovation, green and blue economies and creative industries.

In this region, the focus on boosting competitiveness keeps in step with the challenges of harnessing the fourth industrial revolution and becoming a year-long tourist destination, whilst guaranteeing one of the best welfare systems in Italy. In Apulia, the aim is to create the conditions for “a long happy life” for all, with no exclusions.

HIGHLIGHTS

Strategic business sectors

Knowledge and innovation economy

Aerospace

Green Economy

Mechanics and Mechatronics

Biotech

ICT

Economy of quality and Made in Italy

Food and drinks Sector

Fashion

Furniture and furnishings Sector

Apulia has always been the ideal gateway to the East. Suffice it to mention the “Indian Mail”, the renowned British company which, towards the end of the 19th century, used to sail from Brindisi to Bombay, connecting India with Europe.

Located in the southeast of the Italian peninsula, at the centre of the Mediterranean Sea, the region has forever been a crossroads for the major international east-west and north-south transport corridors.

Apulia is a logistics hub, at the heart of the Mediterranean Basin, for the transport of goods and passengers by air, sea, rail and road.

• 4 Airports:

2 international airports (Bari and Brindisi)

1 regional airport (Foggia)

1 industrial cargo airport (Taranto - Grottaglie), identified by the Italian government as an integrated logistics platform, to serve as a European test bed for UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), destined to become the first “spaceport” in Italy for commercial space transportation by 2020.

Around 80 international destinations connected by direct passenger flights.

Over 7 million passengers in 2017, handled by Bari and Brindisi airports.

• 9 Ports:

3 major ports: Taranto (transhipment container hub), Bari and Brindisi (transport of goods and passengers).

6 minor ports: Manfredonia (Fg), Barletta (Bt), Molfetta (Ba), Monopoli (Ba), Otranto (Le), Gallipoli (Le).

• 12,000 km road network, among the most efficient in Italy.
• 1,583.4 km railway network.
• An important multimodal logistics platform for the sorting and transfer of goods.
• An international conference centre and a growing business sector dedicated to incentive meetings.

Apulia is a young region, where the average age of the population rates among the lowest in Italy.

Apulia has a reliable and skilled workforce: it has an excellent education system, especially in technical areas, thanks to the contribution of specialist training in the technical high schools, whereas local universities produce high numbers of graduates in science and engineering.

Moreover, the regional government invests in higher education and youth entrepreneurship with specific policies and incentives.

Ageing index (as of January 2017):

• Italy: 168.7%
• Apulia: 162.1%

Graduate population (age range 30 - 34 years):

• Regions in the South of Italy: 19.8%
• Apulia 20.3%

Higher education and training

• 110 Technical institutes:
• 6 higher education technical institutes (Its) in the fields of mechanics and mechatronics (Bari), aerospace (Brindisi), logistics (Taranto), agri-food (Bari), tourism (Lecce), IT (Foggia-Bat).
• 2 schools of excellence in engineering:
  • Bari Polytechnic University (one of the three Polytechnic universities in Italy and the only one in the South).
  • University of Salento.
• Apulia is the only region in Italy with a degree course in food chain logistics engineering, jointly managed by the Universities of Bari and Foggia.
• 16,886 engineers registered in the Order of professional engineers at regional level (as of April 2018).

Regional government incentives for Youths

NIDI (Nuove Iniziative di Impresa – New Business Initiatives)

A public incentives programme which aims to support the start-up of micro-enterprises, based on investments ranging from 10,000 to 150,000 Euros.

PIN – Innovative Apulians

It’s an initiative aimed at young people who want to develop a new business idea, which offers funding of between 10,000 and 30,000 Euros, combined with a menu of free business services and skills training.

Pass Laureati – Graduates Pass

The initiative intends to enhance the creative, professional and work potential of young Apulian graduates by offering an “education bonus” to be used against the costs of enrolling in post-graduate master courses in Italy or abroad for an amount of between 7,500 and 10,000 Euros. 

The Apulia Regional Government offers a wide range of flexible incentive schemes, designed to facilitate and reduce the costs of investments in Apulia, whilst supporting business growth and innovation. Based on the nature of the investor (sme or large enterprise) and the type of business investment, the various schemes can make funding available towards the costs of investing in plant construction and machinery, R&D, business services and international business promotion.

The regional incentive schemes are ongoing and have no fixed deadlines for proposals, subject to the availability of funds.

The evaluation process is made easier, thanks to online procedures, which are set up on the regional web portal “Sistema Puglia”. There is an ongoing direct dialogue with the applicant companies, which can effectively speed up the implementation of their investment projects.

• targeted and flexible incentives, subject to budget availability;
• easier application procedures thanks to online procedures;
• direct dialogue between the investing companies and the regional agency Puglia Sviluppo Spa.

Programming period 2014-2020

The Apulia Regional Government has earmarked over 2 billion Euros for investments in local development and innovation.

Incentive schemes for business investments

• Programme Agreements
  Targeted at large enterprises, they foster regional development, competitiveness and attractiveness by supporting investments in machinery and building works, experimental R&D and, for joint agreements involving sme’s, in innovation and international business development.
  
  Funding is available for investment projects with overall costs in the range of 5 to 100 million Euros.

• Integrated Incentives Packages (PIA)
  
  PIA for medium-sized enterprises
  Targeted at medium-sized enterprises, they provide funding for investments in machinery, land and building works, R&D, as well as consultancy services for international business development, e-business.
  
  The PIA instrument aims to create employment, social stability and economic dynamism.
  
  Funding is available for investment projects with overall costs in the range of 1 to 40 million Euros.
  
  
  PIA for small-sized enterprises
  Aimed at small-sized enterprises involved in business development initiatives, they support the creation of new production units, the expansion of existing ones and the diversification of products and processes, by providing funding for investments in research, innovation and international business promotion.
  
  Funding is available for investment projects with overall costs in the range of 1 to 20 million Euros.
  
  PIA Tourism
  Targeted at enterprises of all sizes, they aim to improve the local tourism sector and increase all year-round tourist inflows by providing funding for the restauration and upgrading of historical and artistic heritage properties.
  
  Funding is available for investment projects with overall costs in the range of 1 to 40 million Euros.

• TecnoNidi
  Aimed specifically at technological start-ups and small-sized innovative enterprises which have been newly set-up or have been operating for a maximum of five years, this incentive scheme offers an aid package towards the costs of setting-up and developing investment plans in high-tech sectors in Apulia.
  
  Funding is available for investment projects with overall costs in the range of 25,000 to 250,000 Euros.
  
  
• Business incubators
  The regional agency Puglia Sviluppo Spa, member of the European EBN Innovation Network, makes available work spaces and business services to start-ups and innovative new businesses at the two business incubators, located in Modugno (BA) and Casarano (LE), offering competitive costs and 100Mbps ultrafast broadband.
  
  Availability notices are regularly published on www.pugliasviluppo.eu.
  

Some of the multinational companies that have already invested in Apulia

Centro Studi Componenti per veicoli - Bosch; Experis - ManPowerGroup; Fpt Industrial - CNH Industrial N.V; Ge Avio - General Electric; Getrag Spa - Magna International INC; Jindal films Europe Brindisi  - BC Jindal; Magneti Marelli Fiat Powertrain; Sanofi; Sipal - Fininc Italia; Sqs Italia - SQS Software Quality System AG; Transpod Italy - TransPod Inc; Merck Serono Spa – Merck Serono.

Foreign investors are mainly from Germany, France, Holland, India, Canada and USA.

Business Clusters

Aerospace / Quality Agri-food Jonico-Salentino / Quality Agri-food Terre Federiciane/ Environmental and Recycling technologies / “Dialogòi” - Communication, publishing,  graphic and paper industry / Sustainable Building / “La Nuova Energia” (“New Energy”) - Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency / Fashion / Flowers and ornamental plants / Information Technology / Natural stone industry / Furniture and furnishing Industry / Logistics / Mechanics / Yachting / Fishing and Aquaculture / Creative Industry / Tourism.

The territory of Apulia presents a number of areas which have been set-up for industrial investments. From the north to the south of the region, there are at least twenty well served “industrial zones” where it is possible to build new manufacturing plants or find existing ones for sale.

Nowadays the “Invest in Apulia” help-desk can assist potential investors in identifying suitable locations for their business investments thanks to the regional business location mapping database which was set-up and is managed by Puglia Sviluppo. The database also contains up-to-date information on the business services available in each of the industrial zones and the availability of local schools (technical institutes) and universities, as well as the presence of public and private research centres.

20 major Industrial Zones and agglomerations

• Bari-Modugno / Molfetta / Gioia Del Colle.
• Brindisi / Francavilla Fontana.
• Ascoli Satriano / Incoronata / Lucera / Manfredonia-Monte Sant’Angelo Agglomeration / Candela.
• Galatina-Soleto / Lecce-Surbo / Nardò-Galatone / Gallipoli / Maglie-Melpignano / Tricase-Specchia-Miggiano / Casarano.
• Taranto / San Giorgio Ionico / Grottaglie.

Bari-Modugno industrial zone

1,161 hectares of land; 20 hectares available for investments.

817 companies.

Brindisi industrial zone

2.700 hectares of land; 300 hectares available for investments.

239 companies.

Incoronata (Foggia) Agglomeration  

636 hectares of land; 82.5 hectares available for investments.

37 companies.

Lecce-Surbo Agglomeration  

260 hectares of land; 15hectares available for investments.

154 companies.

Taranto industrial zone

90 companies.

4 lots available.

These days in Apulia there is a real innovation-driven environment where the regional university and research network is highly integrated with local industry, allowing it to focus on both scientific and technological R&D.

The higher education system is an active part of the international research circuit, with which it cooperates in numerous areas.

Nanotechnologies, laser micromachining, magnetic resonance and advanced applied research techniques in aerospace, mechatronics, agri-food, renewable energy, biotechnologies and new materials, are at the centre of research activities in Apulia, contributing to continuous process and product innovation. Furthermore, breakthrough research results in the field of particle physics by local universities have gained worldwide recognition.

For the current programming cycle of European structural funds, the Apulia regional government has decided to focus investments in innovation on “intelligent business specializations” through the regional Smart Specialization Strategy which aims at enhancing the competitive factors and attractiveness of the region for inward investments and for young talents.

The regional innovation strategy is based on the “quadruple propeller” model which brings together research organizations, businesses, public administration and citizens, introducing the role of the citizen-user for the first time and therefore putting at the forefront the needs of the community.

The strategy identifies three areas of innovation as priorities: Sustainable Manufacturing; Human and environmental wellbeing; Digital, creative and inclusive communities. The choice is characterized by a vision of sustainability and proposes a new model of responsible economic development.

Broadband and ultra-broad coverage are the other factors boosting innovation in the region. Apulia is among the foremost regions in Italy for ultra-broadband coverage.

The regional “ecosystem” for innovation brings together numerous organisations and players, such as: Apulia Region, ARTI (Regional Agency for Technology and Innovation), InnovaPuglia, Puglia Sviluppo, Universities, Polytechnic University, public and private research Centres, Public laboratory networks, ILO (Technological Transfer Offices), spin-offs, innovative companies, start-ups.

• 4 Universities: 236 university courses.
• 1 Polytechnic University (the only one in southern Italy).
• Tecnopolis Technological Park.
• Ciheam (Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes), an intergovernmental organization that involves 13 Mediterranean countries: in Bari it has a centre of excellence for postgraduate training, applied scientific research and planning.
• Public research organizations such as the CNR, ENEA, INFN, Scientific Institutes for Research, Hospital and Health Care Research Centres, the Bonomo research centre, as well as research consortia and institutes renowned on an international level.
• 6 Technological Clusters: D.A.Re. Agri-food; Dhitech High Tech; Di.T.N.E Energy; DTA Aerospace; H-BIO Biotechnology; Medis Mechatronics.
• 5 Public and private research entities: Innovaal, MBLab, Textra, Risma, Ritma.
• 342 start ups (registered in April 2018).

Apulia is the 6th region in Italy and the first in Southern Italy for overall number of spin-offs (on 31.10.2017).

98% of the regional population reached by broadband.

87.9% of regional properties have ultra-broadband coverage (2018); average coverage at national level is 71.2% (source: Infratel Italia).

Thanks to regional government policies that have fostered industrial R&D, encouraging local businesses to invest in innovation and work together with public and private research organizations, today the overall value of investments in R&D being carried out with the support of regional funding initiatives has risen to over 37% of the total, more than double in comparison to the previous structural funding programming period (2007-2013).

The Apulia regional government has bolstered the network of social infrastructures. Companies investing and operating in Apulia are encouraged to make available kindergartens and childcare services or vouchers for employees, as well as to set up a parents’ support fund with private and public funding.

In addition, the regional government was the first in Italy to launch the “ReD” income support initiative for the unemployed as a means of fighting poverty and with the aim of supporting work and social integration. The regional ReD initiative supplements the national income support scheme, currently the “ReI” Income for Inclusion measure, increasing the amount of support and the number of families who can benefit at local level.

650 nurseries, as well as innovative services for early childhood support.

15,000 families per year receive benefit from the ReD initiative.

Poverty levels decreased by over 4% between 2015 and 2016; in fact, the numbers of individuals living below the poverty line has decreased from 21.9% to 17.6% of the regional population.

As with the other regions of Italy, the Apulia regional government is highly autonomous in various fields of legislation, administration and finance.  In addition to this autonomy, ongoing political stability in Apulia allows for the implementation of a series of long-term measures aimed at making the region more and more attractive for investors. This includes the efficient use of European structural funds for regional development.

Within the framework of the current European funding programming period 2014-2020, regional investments for development and higher education will be funded until 2023, based on:

• an overall available budget of 7.1 billion Euros (5.6 billion Euros of ERDF funding and 1.5 billion Euros of ESF funding).
• 11 specific themed objectives.
• 13 priority axes.

The regional operational programme sets out 3 macro-areas for investments, consistent with the 3 priorities of the Europe 2020 strategy:

- policies for research and innovation;

- policies for the reinforcing the regional context (infrastructure and environment);

- labour market, social inclusion and welfare policies.

The lifestyle of a territory represents the added value for those who decide to invest there. Places, culture and the quality of life have made the “Apulia” brand famous the world over. Today this region is an international destination for holidaymakers, for high-end corporate events and for real estate investments for a growing number of people deciding to move to the region from every corner of the world.

The Apulia regional government is investing in culture and tourism with two extraordinary programmes, both widely endorsed during the planning process by citizen participation.

Apulia was one of first regions in Italy to put forward a Strategic Plan for Tourism, “Puglia365”, a business plan that sets out the projects and actions to be carried out up to 2025, for promoting and enhancing regional tourism. The Apulia brand promotes the region as an experience to live for tourists, as a new authentic Italian destination, outwith the tourist circuits for the mass market and, above all, as a location to be enjoyed 365 days a year.

The Regional government has also launched a Strategic Plan for Culture, "PiiiL Cultura Puglia”, with long-term objectives for promoting and enhancing regional cultural heritage, which develops five fundamental themes: product, identity, innovation, business and work. The plan proposes a new model for economic development, based on culture.

15.1 million tourists in 2017.

Foreign tourism: arrivals +7.2%; nights spent +9,2%.

Domestic tourism: arrivals + 4.0%; nights spent + 4.2%.

6,885 hotels and tourist accommodation facilities (+9% compared to 2016), with overall sleeping accommodation for 272,000.

Increase in international and national air connections, thanks to regional support.

Cultural and creative industries:

• wealth created in 2016: 2.675 billion euros, 4.1% of overall regional added value.
• Overall no. of employees: 57.726.

For those who want to invest in Apulia, the future is 4.0.

The latest regional policies for economic development are focused on supporting business innovation. These policies are taking forward the regional strategy for innovation, “Smart Puglia 2020”, dedicated to bringing smart specializations to local industry and bringing local industry to a level of innovation 4.0.

To reach new heights of innovation, taking into account that local industry is not starting from scratch, the regional government offers support through incentives and other initiatives, aimed at boosting R&D activities, allowing local companies to achieve higher levels of added value and competitiveness on the road towards harnessing the fourth industrial revolution.

In this way, the regional government acts as an agent of change, by encouraging regional industry to embrace new technologies and local schools and universities to train for new professions and help develop new skills that meet global challenges.

Within this context, the Apulia regional government has set-up the TecnoNidi initiave, a pioneering grants scheme which is managed by the in-house agency Puglia Sviluppo and aims at supporting the creation and development of innovative start-ups, with a great potential for attracting small businesses as long as they invest in innovation and set-up in Apulia.