PSD Services

INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE x

Role: Team Leader
Region: Africa, Central America (Caribbean), Pacific (Asia)
Year: 2020-2021
Client: FAO

Economic, social and environmental analysis, action plan and investment plan for the development of two value-chains in two ACP Countries (ref. FISH4ACP project).

Role: RIS3 monitoring system researcher
Region: Italy
Year: 2021
Client: University of Padova

Role: Lecturer
Region: Italy
Year: 2014-2019
Client: University of Padua

Lecturer in intercultural management in business at six editions of the Master in International Business for SMEs of the Department of Management and Economics of the University of Padua.

Role: FDI and domestic investment promotion expert
Region: Italy (Trieste)
Year: 2018-2019
Client: Area Science Park

The goal of ARGO, a multi-year programme, financed by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research, Ministry of Economic Development and the Regional Government of Friuli Venezia Giulia, is to build an open and inclusive innovation system that incorporates research and industry and brings economic development by coordinating the local high-tech R&D system with digitalization and high-end training in order to optimize resource use and attract domestic and foreign direct investments in new strategic projects based on a clear industrial development strategy. The programme has four components: Industrial innovation Harbour (port and industrial zone); High Impact Net (technopark, incubators and accelerators); Industry platform for digitalization (big data, IoT, advanced manufacturing solutions, data optimization and simulation); Technology platforms for applied and industrial research [open source description].

In the Industrial Innovation Harbour component, as a Consultant, my responsibilities include: 1) contributing models for the strategic planning of an Industrial Innovation Harbour including investments and based on the circular economy logic; 2) drafting the organizational model for and training personnel of a One Stop Shop to target and cater domestic or foreign direct investments.

Role: Team Leader, PSD Policy Expert and Feasibility Study Expert
Region: South East Asia (Vietnam)
Year: 2017-2018
Client: UNIDO (SECO financing)

Coordination of a through study on the feasibility of a household business registration reform.

Role: Research Assistant
Region: Europe (Denmark)
Years: 2012-2017
Client: Technical University of Denmark DTU (financed by European Commission FP7, Danish Innovation Fund)

In the framework of three research contracts, industrial metrology research was carried out at the Mechanical Engineering Department controlled condition laboratories aimed at large-size wind energy system drive- train component development in the “Drive Train Project” financed by Danish government and the “Traceable measurement of drivetrain components for renewable energy - ENG56” financed by the European Commission (FP7). Such research work encompassed planning, laboratory implementation, analysis and no. 3 peer-reviewed publications. Support was also given in drafting a Horizon 2020 proposal.

Role: PSD Policy Expert
Region: South East Asia (Vietnam)
Year: 2016
Client: Chemonics International (USAID financing)

In the framework of USAID Governance for Inclusive Growth, advice was provided on different regulatory topics requested by the Agency for Enterprise Development in charge of drafting the first national SME law, in particular on: the rationale for SME support and for an SME law; institutional coordination, monitoring; comparative analysis of different SME support models; industry and measure prioritization aimed at increasing economy competitiveness.

Role: SME Internationalization Expert
Region: Europe (Italy)
Year: 2016
Client: Invitalia (financed by the European Commission)

different studies were carried out to provide technical assistance to a central institution and four regional governments to enhance private sector internationalization through their Research and Innovation Smart Specialization Strategy (RIS3) in the framework of the National Governance Programme for the Public Administration Reform and Administration financed by ERDF. Analysis was carried out on identifying value-added products and prioritizing high-potential markets.

Role: PSD Policy and Feasibility Study Expert
Region: South East Asia (Vietnam)
Year: 2015
Client: Asian Development Bank

The ADB requested a through assessment of the potential for a national SME agglomeration policy (Corporate Synergy Systems) aimed at increasing inclusion of national SMEs in international value-chains and economy competitiveness through joint investments and collaboration with large enterprises. The assessment included regulatory framework, road map of achievements, comparative analysis of potential in 10 industries against different indicators, industry prioritization based on Input-Output national accounting tables forward- / backward-linkage industry assessment, involvement of national research centers, and benchmarking with international experiences. The assessment was completed with planning and budgeting.

Role: Stakeholder facilitator and PSD expert
Region: Western Africa (Senegal) 
Year: 2011
Client: World Bank (Finland)

The feasibility study for a national Agribusiness Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (AIEC) focused on business modelling, services, critical factors, location, target clients and stakeholders, governance, business plan and involvement of different stakeholders including MSME, private sector, national R&D centers and public specialized agencies. Services provided included stakeholder facilitation and design and analysis of a quantitative survey on agri-processing SME and licensed micro- entrepreneurs.

Role: Marketing Expert
Region: Middle East North Africa (Jordan) and Europe (United Kingdom)
Year: 2009
Client: Jordan Upgrading Modernization Project (financed by the European Commission)

The market study was requested by a Jordanian SME on highest potential EU markets for their product lines. A market analysis and a 110 respondent research were carried out in UK, Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg to prioritize access markets and draft an access strategy.

Role: Lecturer
Region: Central America (Guatemala)
Year: 2007
Client: ICS UNIDO

Lecturer at training courses on laser technologies for SMEs - course for Regional Intermediary Organisations (Guatemala, Perù, Colombia, Panamà, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Republica Dominicana) 

Role: PSD policy expert
Region: Europe (Russian Federation) 
Year: 2008
Client: CUOA Foundation (European Union – Russian Federation Tacis Programme)

The policy project “Development of financial markets: support to state policy aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the Russian economy” (EuropeAid/121435/C/SER/RU) included providing technical assistance to Federal and Regional authorities and development institutions in enhancing investment and investment-monitoring capacity for economic competitiveness. Services provided included (i) the coordination an international Team in the preparation of guidelines for the evaluation of national economy efficiency of investments of federal and regional development institutions in innovation, in consultation with Science and Technology Parks, R&D institutions, Academy of Science, private sector, regional government, regional development institutions and R&D funds; (ii) impact assessment on development institutions investments in inter-regional and inter-sectoral cluster formation; (iii) diagnostic on SME situation with central, regional Government, Chambers and firms, assessment of implications of quality difficulties in supplying to FDI.

Role: Team Leader and Feasibility Study Expert
Region: Southern Africa (Malawi)
Year: 2006
Client: ICS UNIDO

The coordination of a 9-member team led to a complete feasibility study on a national ICT telecentre infrastructure for rural communities, relying on an innovative gender- and age- sensitive quantitative methodology triangulated with participatory approaches that involved 700 community stakeholders and was published. The study included an investment business plan and was structured to be suitable for technical, informative and fundraising purposes. In 10 years, the Country established a network of more 50 telecentres nation-wise providing broadband service access to thousands in rural areas as well as small business development services.

Role: Investment Promotion and Coordination Support Consultant
Region: Europe (Italy)
Year: 2004-2005
Client: Sviluppo Italia Veneto Srl (now Invitalia)

After specific training in coordinated local development investment planning for FDI attraction, provided the national investment promotion/attraction programme with sector studies on strategic investment sectors (Machinery and ICT) in the Veneto Region, drafted an opportunity study for the expansion of a Science and Technology Park of Venice to include an ICT-focused wing, provided the Municipality of Venice with technical assistance for the establishment of two business incubators and a manual for the set-up and the start-up of SME incubators; supported the Agency in branch organisation, budgeting and work-planning.

Role: Value-Chain Investment Analyst
Region: Europe (Italy)
Year: 2004
Client: Progetto Verde Srl

The service rendered encompassed analyzing investments for the improvement of quality certification and marketing consortia in the framework of a joint inter-regional value-chain investment, to be financed by a public scheme for value-chain development (Contratti di Filiera) aimed at enhancing quality vs. volumes. The EUR 43 million investment plan aimed at benefitting 120 SME and a few typical origin protection consortia in three Italian regions: Veneto, Piedmont, Tuscany.

Role: SME Development Expert
Region: Europe (Italy)
Year: 2003
Client: Agitec SpA (former Agency for Technology Innovation)

Drafted a technology-rating index for SME innovation project proposals for public financing aimed at increasing public incentive efficiency by prioritizing proposals based on ranking their technological innovation content.

Role: Application Engineer
Region: Europe (Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, France)
Year: 1998-2001
Client: Carraro SpA

In the earth-moving, automotive and agriculture OEM tier-1 industry, coordinated innovative drivetrain development projects with Key Account Engineering & Purchasing Teams and corporate Engineering & Sales Department & Management Control Teams, provided technical-sales support.

Role: Head of Quality Control
Region: Europe (Italy) 
Year: 1996-2001
Client: Officine Meccaniche Galileo Srl

Beginning of work career in the ship-to-shore container crane design and fabrication industry, responsible for the work of 4 senior QC technicians, managed the reorganization and renovation of the Quality Control function, supported the Quality Assurance Director in ISO9001 certification and was trained in non-destructive tests for structural welding.