This public-private alliance, coordinated by SMI – Sistema Moda Italia, the Textile/Clothing trade association, a member of Confindustria, aims to foster a more fluid, structured, and permanent dialogue between universities and the world of research and innovation with companies in the "beautiful and well-made" supply chains: textiles/clothing, shoes, leather accessories, eyewear, furs, goldsmiths, furniture and related accessories.

The agri-food and mechanical sectors will also be involved immediately.

The Cluster aims to support the economic and sustainable growth of these sectors, operating in line with EU strategic agendas and paying particular attention to the regions of Southern Italy.

Finally, the Cluster will represent the Made in Italy system in a coordinated manner, also at the international level, by promoting and strengthening collaborations and partnerships in research and innovation.

Twenty-two founding members have signed the articles of association:

Seven national associations, including the relevant product-specific Confindustria associations, CNA (National Confederation of Italian Manufacturers), and Confartigianato (Italian Artisans' Association),

Seven regional clusters, innovation hubs, technology centers, development agencies, and local representatives.

Eight research institutions and universities, including: the Polytechnic University of Milan, La Sapienza University of Rome, Federico II University of Naples, the University of Bologna, the University of Florence, and INSTM (National Interuniversity Consortium for Materials Science and Technology).

They will soon be joined by another 13 founding members (including: the National Research Council, ENEA, the Experimental Station for the Leather and Tanning Materials Industry, and other associations and universities), completing the starting team.

The founding members will have the important task of launching the Cluster's activities, refining and testing the organizational model (which is quite complex to take into account the multiple supply chains, sectors, regions, and stakeholders participating), and beginning to draft the three-year Action Plan requested by the Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR).

The initiative aims to immediately involve as many stakeholders as possible, with a focus on inclusiveness.

Many companies and numerous other research institutions have already expressed interest in joining, and 10 regions (Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, Marche, Puglia, Campania, and Umbria) pledged their support last year when the Cluster project was presented to the Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR).

Alberto Paccanelli, a textile entrepreneur from Bergamo with extensive experience in associations at the national and international levels, and a long-time leader in SMI on research and innovation issues, has been appointed President of the Cluster.

"Demands for authentic sustainability and the digital revolution are rapidly changing the landscape in which Italian lifestyle companies operate," emphasizes President Paccanelli. "To accompany and support them in this phase of profound transformation, the Cluster will act as a catalyst, enabling the worlds of research and industry to work synergistically in the fields of applied research and technology transfer."

The Made in Italy Cluster project was submitted to the Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) last October, and only at the end of July did the Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR), formally recognize the validity of the proposal and choose it over the competing consortium.

Along with the Cluster project, the Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) also awarded maximum scores to the two pilot projects that the partnership had simultaneously submitted: the first, called GIOTTO, focuses on the circular economy and involves the Fashion-Textile and Wood-Furniture supply chains; The second, called FUNK-ITALY, focuses on the technical functionalization of materials for applications in three supply chains: Fashion-Textiles, Leather-Footwear, and Wood-Furniture. These projects are already in the implementation phase and are only awaiting completion of the ministerial economic/financial review.

The Cluster's activities will begin in December and will initially focus on organizing all operations and raising awareness of the Cluster and the opportunities associated with its initiatives among manufacturing sectors and the research community.

"The more representative the Cluster is, the more effective its work will be in creating research networks and collaborations on the multiple fronts of transversal innovation, embracing sectors that until now have operated in parallel but which have much to share. This also applies to a vision of the future," summarizes President Paccanelli.