The Consorzio per l’AREA di Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica di Trieste (herein after referred as AREA) is the public body that manages AREA Science Park, which is recognised as the Italian leading science and technology park. AREA was instituted with national act 'DPR 6.3.78, n. 102', and reformed with national act 'DL 29.9.1999, n. 381', and operates under the vigilance of the Ministry for the Education, the University and the Research. Members of the Board of Directors are: Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region, the Province and the Municipality of Trieste, the National Research Council, the regional Universities of Trieste and Udine, as well as several scientific and economic institutions. Area operates as an innovative territory development system with the tasks of: developing and managing the Park infrastructures and the equipment; promoting and supporting the settlements and the operativity of R&D centres, institutes and companies in the Park; encouraging the co-operation among its tenants and external companies promoting innovation and technology transfer; supplying the tenants with marketing, financial and legal assistance, specialised information services; supporting R&D projects carried out in the Park; coordinating and managing of national, Community and international initiatives and research programmes and of exploitation of research; promoting international cooperation. AREA will coordinate the STARNETregio project, due to its longstanding experience and credibility as Partner and Coordinator of numerous European Projects generating a successful and broad impact for European Stakeholders. A matter of fact supporting and evidencing the capability and efficiency of AREA in accomplishing its tasks are the coordination and the management of manifold international projects focused on research and scientific cooperation. Among these it is worth mentioning the project NOVAREGIO (contract nr. 030095), funded under the VI FP specific programme “Regions of Knowledge” aimed to enhance regional R&D expenditures and provide guidance to RTD policy makers through the better interaction between national and regional innovation policies. Along with the overall management and coordination of the project activities, AREA as main promoter of research activities as well as responsible body for managing and financing research programmes in the region, represents the region Friuli Venezia Giulia which is certified by a Letter of Endorsement of the Region (please refer to Annex I). To its main project tasks belong the structuring of the STARNETregio Network, including the coordination of the Liaison Offices established in all project regions and the set up of the International shipbuilding dissemination forum. Furthermore, AREA will gather information on the RTD and innovation policy management and the availability of financing for sector related research activities in the region, thus covering the governmental perspective of the information analysis. In addition, AREA will be the main developer and promoter of the joint Action Plan to be elaborated in the last project phase.