THE CHINA AND ITALY JOINT RESEARCH AND LEARNING PROJECT (2006)

Project promoted by University of Ferrara in collaboration with: Facoltà di Economia - University of Ferrara (Italy) Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche - University of Firenze (Italy), Guangdong Institute of Development Studies (China), Zhongshan University (China) Under the auspices of: Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Guangdong Province Consulate General of Italy in Guangdong, UNIDO-IPO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization - Investment Promotion Office) With the support of: Regione Lombardia , Regione Toscana, Regione Emilia Romagna In association with: Toscana Promozione (Regione Toscana), Agenzia per la Cina (Regione Lombardia), CFR (Consorzio Ferrara Ricerche). The project focuses on the Chinese Province of Guangdong and on some selected relevant Italian regions. As the empirical literature on clusters in China is still lacking, new case studies will be developed for the project. Given the availability of a huge number of specific analyses on the Italian industrial clusters, material, data and all the relevant information related to existing case studies will be collected and processed. This comparative research will increase scientific knowledge and mutual understanding among Italian and Chinese scholars. The analysis will also provide relevant information to entrepreneurs and government officials both of China and Italy. In particular the research activity will highlight new opportunities to foster the economic and cultural relations between the two countries, between their regions and localities