La valutazione del Contratto di programma SGS-Thomson

This article contains the main results of an evaluation study of the effects of a conspicuous financial support provided by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance to STMicroelectronics (through a “Contratto di Programma” - CP) - during the period 1997-2000 – to implement a large-scaled industrial and R&D project in the area of Catania. The study has been carried out using both quantitative and qualitative evidences collected through an ad-hoc survey. The overall picture emerging from this study is largely positive: the industrial project has been successfully completed and the contractual commitments fulfilled. Furthermore, the CP has produced clear “additional” economic and technological outcomes with no crowding-out effects. Some problematic points have nonetheless emerged. The largest and more visible effects of the CP have been captured by SGS-Thomson and much less by the local economic system as a whole. Furthermore, over the last decade the nodal role played by ST in the so-called Etna Valley has been further reinforced also as a result of the effects produced by this CP. The strong dependence of the local economic system on STMicroelectronics represents at the same time a strength and a weakness of the Etna Valley model.