Sviluppo Italia Toscana (Development Italy Tuscany) supplies services dedicated to the creation of new companies and the consolidation of the existing entrepreneurial framework by:

• Company incubation activities: the presence of logistical support within the structure of SI Toscana, with the aim of giving support to and encouraging the founding of enterprises. On a regional level, furthermore, the head office in Massa acts in the role of intermediate body in the management of the 1.8 measure of the Docup relative to industrial and pre-competitive projects;
• Economic, technical, commercial and financial assistance;
• Activity as agency of work formation (certified UNI EN ISO) which organizes courses and projects for the unemployed, for companies and public administration;
• Assistance and collaboration with nationwide public bodies to facilitate the relations between such bodies and the companies themselves;
• Management and co-management activities in connection with a number of special public laws:
  1. self-employment: legislative ordinance n° 185/2000 Titolo II (autonomous work, micro-companies, franchising);
  2. independent entrepreneurs: legislative ordinance n° 185/2000 Titolo I (production of goods and services to the companies, supply of services, takeovers in agriculture, company cooperatives);
  3. re-launching industrial areas: Ordinance n° 181/97;
  4. interventions in the agricultural and industrial sectors.
• The linking between local companies and the resulting assistance in the management of alternative investment opportunities (e.g., in holding to a European network of research and transmission centres, the office in Massa Carrara promotes transferral of technology on a local level by indicating European type competitions).
• A particular initiative is the participation in Erica, an association whose partners are at present: Sviluppo Italia Toscana (69.11), UNIPI (11.43), UNIFI (2.86), Mateco (16.6). The association works in and for the Apuan stone sector with a physical, chemical and environmental laboratory of analysis on marble and granite and a series of research and assistance services for the companies in this field.

For more information:
www.bicnet.it

In activity since 1994, the Incubator of Massa was designed to give support the birth of high-tech micro-companies (with special attention to Information and Communications Technology and the development of new products in the stone sector). It is divided into 30 spaces (at present hosting 22 companies):

The Incubator is situated in the ex-Dalmine area, in the heart of the Zona Industriale Apuana, between Massa and Carrara. Its proximity (400 m.) to the toll booth of the A12 Genoa to Rosignano motorway puts it in a particularly privileged position: Pisa Airport is 50 km. away, Florence 100, Genoa 120. As concerns local structures, the port of Marina di Carrara and the Rail Station in Massa are at about 4 km.

As a whole, the Incubator of Massa makes use of:

• A total area of 27,000 square metres (6,400 covered);
• Structures for business training 500 square metres;
• Hi-Tech Incubators: 1400 square metres;
• Production Area Incubators 2,600 square metres.

• An area for production companies (13 sheds / modules, for a total of 2,600 square metres;
• An multimedia experimental centre for new companies (12 spaces of 25 square metres;
• A hi-tech area for service companies (surfaces from 25 to 50 square metres).

In the productive area each shed has a surface of 200 square metres and can count on:

• Predisposition of outside electric lines which can be activated with an ENEL contract tolerating up to 100 kilowatts;
• Predisposition for outside telephone contracts;
• Double services;
• Independently managed anti-intrusion alarm systems;
• Fire systems, ratified by the fire services department, which turn on hydrants;
• Anti panic emergency exits;
• Data connection with high speed connecting cables.

The companies occupying the Multi Media Experimental Centre and the Hi-Tech Area are equipped with similar infrastructures to those foreseen in the productive area, with the added extra of independently operated heating and air-conditioning plants.
The companies hosted in the centre will also be able to make use of rooms for meetings and exhibitions, a centre for business training and a large internal and external car park.

For more information:
Sviluppo Italia site: www.sviluppoitalia.it
Sviluppo Italia Toscana site: www.bicnet.it