The industrial system of the province of Bologna consists of a large number of small and medium enterprises characterized by four distinguishing features:

* the capacity for networking, both within the industrial districts and the supply chains
* attachment to the local community, using local staff, subcontractors,services and infrastructure
* an effective, widespread international orientation
* owners' hands-on presence in company management

These assets make Bologna one of the most important provinces in Italy in terms of the number of manufacturing companies (more than 114,000).
In total the system's export volume in 2008 amounted to 11 billion euros.
Some industrial districts in the province of Bologna can boast world-leading companies in their respective lines of business.
The most consolidated sectors in the area - automated machinery, motor industry, mechatronics, electronics, fashion, agro-food - owe their success to the ongoing innovation of
production lines, industrial processes and services, and to being able to adapt to the constantly changing demands of markets and customers. Along with the above-mentioned activities
there are new fields of specialization in which Bologna excels. Furthermore, thanks to its strategic geographical location, Bologna offers many logistic advantages.
The two main emerging clusters are the health and medical industry and the culture and entertainment industry.
Both are part of the knowledge economy and,as well as manufacturing, both rely heavily on research, innovation and know-how.

In an industrial system such as Italy's, largely composed of a close network of small and medium manufacturing enterprises, business associationalism plays a fundamental role.
This is particularly true for Bologna, where a special brand of capitalism based on individuals and their families has developed over the years, and is widespread.
Unindustria Bologna with over 2,000 member companies is one of the largest enterprise associations in Italy.
Unindustria Bologna is a member of Confindustria - the Confederation of Italian Manufacturing and Service Companies. With 259 member associations, Confindustria represents 135,000
companies, accounting for more than five million individuals. Following a policy of system governance, Unindustria Bologna groups together manufacturing and service companies, as well
as construction companies through their provincial Association (ANCE Bologna).
The mission of Unindustria Bologna is to represent its members in relation to institutions, trade unions and banks. Unindustria Bologna is also a large organization employing more than
60 experts.
Operationally structured as a holding company, Unindustria Bologna offers a wide range of services to its members, operating throughout the territory as an authoritative player in
economic and social issues.

In addition to representative activities at a local level, Unindustria Bologna offers consultancy to its member companies, with more than 60 experts providing members with assistance in
the following fields:

* communication and media relations
* cost control and development of organizational solutions
* credit and finance
* human resource management
* industrial relations and labour law
* infrastructure, transportation and logistics
* innovation and R&D
* foreign trade and internationalization
* land-use, town planning and industrial development areas
* research and policy
* tax and business law
* workplace health and safety

In addition to the activities described above there are a number of Business Units - controlled, promoted or with the participation of Unindustria Bologna - that provide a variety of
specialized services.

FIDINDUSTRIA
Fidindustria - a collective credit guarantee consortium - supports the financial needs of the Bologna production system with its negotiation power, its relations with the banking system
and its acquired know-how.

UNIMPIEGO BOLOGNA
Unimpiego is a firm that mediates between the demand and supply of labour, offering qualified services to companies looking to fill staff requirements and people seeking employment.

CBEG and EICON
The consortia promoted by Unindustria Bologna to assist companies in meeting their energy requirements, bypassing the middleman and ensuring concrete advantages to member companies.

FAV
The Aldini Valeriani Foundation - also with the partecipation of Bologna City Council and the local Chamber of Commerce - promotes and enhances technical culture. The Foundation
organizes training programmes consistent with company requirements and promotes synergies between school education, professional training and the production system.

COFIMP
Cofimp - a consortium of industries to develop the competencies of human resources - is one of the largest training centres for businesses in Emilia Romagna. Cofimp offers customized
solutions to meet companies' training requirements focusing mainly on enterprise management.

PAY
PAY specializes in personnel administration management, offering a wide range of customized services.

CAFINDUSTRIA EMILIA ROMAGNA
Cafindustria offers complete tax assistance to member companies and their staff.

The province of Bologna covers 3.703 square kilometres and includes 60 municipalities. Bologna is situated in the middle of Italy and of the Emilia-Romagna region. Its position makes
it one of the most important logistic hubs in the Italian peninsula. Bologna and the surrounding districts can be easily reached by the following routes.

By motorway:
* A1 Milan-Rome
* A22 Modena-Brenner
* A13 Padua-Bologna
* A14 Bologna-Taranto

By train:
* Milan-Rome line (TAV - high speed railway)
* Venice-Rome line

By plane: Guglielmo Marconi International Airport

The province of Bologna in figures:
Population 976.175
Total employed 452.000
Participation rate
(15-64 age bracket) 74.1%
Unemployment rate 2.2%
Female participation rate 68.2%
Employed in industry 32.7%
Employed in the tertiary sector 59.7%
Per capita income 08 8 35.155

UNINDUSTRIA BOLOGNA
Via San Domenico 4 - 40124 Bologna * Italy
Via S. Serlio 26 - 40128 Bologna * tel. + 39 051 6317111 * fax + 39 051 356118
Piazzale Pertini 8 - 40026 Imola * tel. + 39 0542 644044 * fax + 39 0542 643971
international@unindustria.bo.it
www.unindustria.bo.it