On February 25th & 26Th, representatives of the Southern Regional Assembly participated in a Talent4S3 study visit in the Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy, with activities taking place in Bologna and Reggio Emilia. The visit formed part of the Interreg Europe-funded Talent4S3 project, which aims to strengthen regional strategies to address brain drain and enhance Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3).
Representing the Assembly were Sarah Davoren, Dominic Walsh and Mary Molloy.
The two-day programme brought project partners together to explore innovative approaches to talent attraction, retention and development, with a strong focus on aligning skills and human capital policies with regional innovation priorities.
Day 1: Talent Attraction in Bologna
The study visit commenced in Bologna at the Mediateca “Giuseppe Guglielmi”, where participants were welcomed with an overview of the Emilia-Romagna Region’s innovation ecosystem and Smart Specialisation Strategy. Presentations highlighted key policy frameworks supporting talent development, including the Regional Talents Law (Law 2/2023), the “Talenti” Manifesto and the work of the regional committee dedicated to talent attraction and retention.
Afternoon sessions focused on practical examples of successful initiatives. These included local government services aimed at attracting and integrating highly specialised talent through coordinated economic development structures, as well as career development supports for skilled professionals delivered by regional universities and cultural institutions.
Day 2: Innovation and Skills Development in Reggio Emilia
The second day of the visit took place at Tecnopolo Reggio Emilia, a redeveloped industrial site now serving as a hub for research and innovation. Participants explored a range of initiatives designed to strengthen links between talent, enterprise and regional development.
Highlights included the Municipality of Reggio Emilia’s Reggio Hub project and the MAGNET initiative, both of which support the development of local talent ecosystems and foster collaboration between businesses and skilled professionals.
The programme also showcased several examples of good practice, including an international talent integration system (it-ER), a data-driven Skills Intelligence tool for mapping labour market needs, and Research-ER, which connects research institutions with industry and the wider innovation ecosystem.
A guided tour of the Tecnopolo facilities provided further insight into how strategic investment in infrastructure can support innovation, entrepreneurship and talent development.
Key Insights
The study visit offered valuable insight into how integrated policy approaches, targeted services and strong regional partnerships can effectively support talent attraction and retention. Emilia-Romagna’s experience demonstrated the importance of aligning talent strategies with Smart Specialisation priorities to drive regional competitiveness and sustainable growth.
Participation in the visit will directly inform the Southern Regional Assembly’s ongoing work in regional policy development and the implementation of Smart Specialisation Strategy objectives in the Southern Region.
Engagement in Talent4S3 continues to strengthen the Assembly’s involvement in European cooperation and reinforces its commitment to fostering a skilled, innovative and resilient regional economy.
