Ten Years of S3: RIR AIR at the Heart of Veneto Aerospace Innovation
“Ten Years of Smart Regional Specialization” event in Padua: results, challenges, and prospects for Regional Innovation Networks.
On Friday, September 12, 2025, the University of Padua hosted the event “Ten Years of Regional Smart Specialization”, a day of discussion on the results and prospects of the S3 strategy in Veneto. Among the participants was RIR AIR , which brings together 103 partners and currently represents the heart of aerospace innovation in the region.
Since 2014, the Smart Specialization Strategy (S3) has guided the Veneto region in focusing resources and investments on key areas of innovation. Over the past ten years, a virtuous collaboration between universities, businesses, and institutions has been consolidated, fostering the growth of strategic sectors and the creation of Regional Innovation Networks (RIR) , which are now key tools for technology transfer and competitiveness.
The event at Palazzo del Bo
The day was divided into two distinct parts. During the morning session , starting at 9:00 a.m., some of the region’s leading institutional and academic figures spoke. After greetings from the Regional Councillor for Economic Development, Roberto Marcato , the Rector of the University of Padua, Daniela Mapelli , the Rector of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Tiziana Lippiello , the Rector of IUAV University, Benno Albrecht , and the Pro-Rector of the University of Verona, Diego Begalli , the proceedings were opened by Dominique Foray , Professor Emeritus at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, one of the founders of the S3 strategy in Europe.
This was followed by presentations by Luciano Gamberini , full professor at the University of Padua, and Emanuela Lucchini , vice president of Confindustria Veneto, who discussed the model of collaboration between universities and businesses. The morning continued with the presentation of the book “The New Innovative Development Model of the Veneto. The Intelligent Specialization Strategy ,” edited by Santo Romano (Veneto Region) and Alessandro Minello (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice).
A roundtable discussion moderated by Dario Pellizzon followed , with contributions from prominent representatives of the business and academic worlds: Federico Zoppas (Zoppas Industries Heating Element Technologies, President of RIR AIR), Rita Steffanutto (Veneto Region), Valentina Beghetto (Veneto Green Cluster), Alberto Zanatta (Tecnica Group, ITS Digital Academy), Mauro Fanin (Cereal Docks, RIBES-Nest), and Franco Bonollo (University of Padua, iNEST Consortium). The session concluded with a light networking lunch at Caffè Pedrocchi.
In the afternoon, the meeting moved to the Nievo Hall, with a session dedicated to the role and projects of Regional Innovation Networks, offering a concrete look at the future prospects of the S3 ecosystem.
RIR AIR: Innovation soars high
In the afternoon, attention focused on RIR , with the presentation of concrete projects and innovative perspectives. These networks demonstrate how cross-sector collaboration is essential for generating value and strengthening the competitiveness of Veneto companies in international markets.
With its 103 partners , RIR AIR represents the Veneto aerospace network, capable of uniting companies, research centers, and universities in high-tech projects. Thanks to the work of President Federico Zoppas and Cluster Manager Michele Peterle , the network is pursuing initiatives ranging from applied research to technology transfer, with a strong focus on internationalization .
Indeed, RIR AIR promotes the exchange of expertise, access to foreign markets, and Veneto’s integration into the global New Space Economy . This approach allows the regional aerospace sector to strengthen its competitiveness and attract investment, consolidating Veneto’s role as a strategic hub for international innovation.
With the contribution of RIR AIR, the Veneto aerospace sector confirms its position as a strategic sector, ready to drive innovation , sustainability and global growth .
