On Thursday, March 16 at 2:30 p.m., Villa Blanc, the new campus of the LUISS Business School, hosts a presentation of the new LUISS-Invitalia project, dedicated to analyzing and strengthening resources in Southern Italy, crucial for the growth of the entire country.
To develop research and training on themes related to the Mezzogiorno, LUISS and Invitalia, in collaboration with the Department of Economics and Finance and the LUISS School of Government, are launching two parallel initiatives: the Laboratorio LUISS sul Mezzogiorno, an observatory on innovation, business and development, and a second-level master’s degree program in Economics and Development Policy.
Participating in the event are LUISS Rector Paola Severino, LUISS President Emma Marcegaglia, economists Jean-Paul Fitoussi and Daniel Gros, Professor Romano Prodi, jurist Giuliano Amato, Minister for the Mezzogiorno Claudio De Vincenti, Minister of Economic Developement Carlo Calenda, Confindustria President Vincenzo Boccia, Invitalia Managing Director Domenico Arcuri, alongside additional representatives of Italian institutions and economics.
The Laboratorio LUISS sul Mezzogiorno, directed by Professor Stefano Manzocchi will focus on themes related to entrepreneurship and economic development in the South, while the master’s program in Economics and Development Policy will provide young professionals, already holding master’s degrees, with complete preparation in tools and methodologies necessary to guarantee real acceleration for Southern Italian business, from public policy to EU funding, big data analysis and information management.
The common goal of both initiatives is to fuel the debate on the South and contribute to pinpointing solutions to revitalize the local economy and boost employment after the 2008-2013 crisis, with goals of reaching pre-recession figures.
The South is already home to dynamic and promising niches where entrepreneurial initiative is met with good administration and use of structural funding. These areas will be just one of the focal points of the new research center.