ASTER – the Consortium for innovation and technology transfer of Emilia-Romagna Region – is composed by the Emilia-Romagna Regional Government, the six Universities and the National Research Centers located in the region, and the Regional Union of Chambers of Commerce, working in collaboration with regional Business Associations and Innovation Centers. ASTER works with enterprises, universities, research centers and institutions for the development of the innovation ecosystem of the territory.
Appointed by the Regional Department for Production Activities, ASTER was in charge of leading the regional Smart Specialization Strategy (S3) priority co-creation process in 2013-2014, while in 2018 it has led the regional S3 participatory evaluation process.
ASTER coordinates the Emilia Romagna High Technology Network, which represents the very heart of the regional R&I ecosystem. With its Industrial Research Laboratories and Innovation Centers, located in the Technopoles, the High Technology Network provides expertise, tools and resources for enterprises development. It is organized in six thematic platforms where enterprises and research centers gather around the most important industrial sectors identified by the Emilia-Romagna Smart Specialization Strategy(S3).