Lombardia regional officials are reviewing a proposal submitted by Associazione La Nostra Famiglia to establish a Zone of Innovation and Development (ZIS) focused on healthcare, rehabilitation, and longevity. According to reports from the region, the Lecco-based project is one of six candidacies sent to Regione Lombardia under a new industrial policy tool promoted by the economic development department.
Project Scope and Living Lab Integration
The proposal links clinical expertise, research institutions, and private enterprises to build advanced technologies in rehabilitation, biomechanics, and longevity. According to project outlines, the plan centers on a distributed Living Lab framework designed to share data and testing tools. This setup helps guide innovative medical devices and services through clinical validation and directly onto the commercial market.
As described by regional planners, a Living Lab functions as an open innovation ecosystem where citizens, businesses, public bodies, and academic institutions co-create and test real-world solutions. Additional components of the Lecchese proposal include specialized training programs, support for new entrepreneurship, and broader community wellness initiatives.
Regional Industrial Policy Goals
Regione Lombardia launched the ZIS instrument to strengthen regional competitiveness by fostering tighter integration among local businesses, universities, public agencies, and social entities. According to the department’s program guidelines, the zones aim to cultivate robust innovation ecosystems capable of competing at national and international levels.
The initiative is designed to generate specific economic and industrial outcomes across Lombardy’s territories:
- Fostering favorable conditions for business growth and innovative startup formation.
- Driving the exchange of knowledge and advanced technologies between manufacturers and research centers.
- Facilitating the acquisition of new skills to build a highly qualified local workforce.
- Attracting targeted investments and high-level technical talent to participating territories.
Next Steps in the ZIS Evaluation Process
With six candidate projects now submitted to Regione Lombardia, the economic development department will evaluate the proposals against regional industrial policy criteria. The selection process will determine which territories receive designation and support to implement their respective development zones, setting the stage for subsequent rollout phases across Lombardy.
