The MAGNET project (Enhancing regional and local hubs for attraction and retention of talents and investments) has been approved under the Interreg Europe cooperation program. The project focuses on regional and local hubs for attracting and retaining investments and talents. These are strategic contact points that provide services and tools to support business competitiveness and territorial development. MAGNET aims to integrate activities related to attracting businesses and skills, and to strengthen relationships between different levels of territorial governance.
The project's activities focus on four sub-topics:
1. Organisational models of Hubs' contact points (back-front offices)
2. Stakeholder engagement to match the needs of the companies of local strategic value chains with the investment and talent attraction
3. Services/incentives managed/provided by the Hubs
4. Hubs’ value proposition and promotional activities
Interreg Europe projects prioritize the exchange of experiences among partners and the improvement of policies identified by project partners.
MAGNET involves seven partners. Emiilia-Romagna region is present with two partners:
• Municipality of Reggio Emilia (Lead Partner)
• ART-ER Attractiveness Research Territory (Partner and coordinator of the experience exchange). The Emilia-Romagna Region is an associated partner.
The other partners are:
• City of Utrecht (Netherlands)
• Centre for Development of the East Planning Region (North Macedonia)
• Panevėžys Development Agency (Lithuania)
• Agentia pentru Dezvoltare Regionala Centru (Romania)
• Pannon Business Network Association (Hungary)
The project launched in May 2025 and will last four years, with a three-year core phase and a one-year follow-up phase. The first online meeting took place on May 22nd, where ART-ER introduced the methodological tools. The official kick-off meeting is scheduled for October 2025 in Reggio Emilia.
ART-ER collaborated on the conception and writing of the project alongside the Municipality of Reggio Emilia. This project, therefore, saw the collaboration between the two regional contact points for attracting investments and talents: Invest in Emilia-Romagna and it-ER International Talents Emilia-Romagna.
Further Information: MAGNET project website
