On 18 and 19 February 2026, Bologna hosted the Transnational Meeting organised by CNA Emilia-Romagna within the Interreg Europe project NOTRE – Novel Methods Improving Production Innovation Potential, focused on senior care-related solutions.

The event brought together European partners to explore the strengths of the Emilia-Romagna innovation ecosystem. Over two days, visits, exchanges of good practices and networking activities fostered dialogue between research institutions, businesses and local stakeholders, highlighting the synergies that make the region a benchmark for applied innovation, including in senior care.

CNA Emilia-Romagna, in collaboration with CNA Bologna and CNA Imola, coordinated the meeting, promoting dialogue between international partners and local centres of excellence, with particular attention to technology transfer and SME innovation. The Emilia-Romagna Region, associated partner of the project, also took part, reinforcing links between regional innovation policies and European strategies for digital and sustainable transition.

The meeting opened at CNA Emilia-Romagna headquarters with a welcome by President Paolo Cavini, followed by a session on the regional research and innovation ecosystem led by Roberto Righetti, Director of ART-ER. He presented Emilia-Romagna as one of Europe’s leading regions in innovation capacity, research investment and business competitiveness, thanks to an integrated network of universities, research centres, technopoles, clusters and enterprises, strongly based on public–private collaboration. Project partners then shared updates on NOTRE activities and upcoming actions.

In the afternoon, the delegation visited DAMA – Tecnopolo Data Manifattura Emilia-Romagna, core of the regional Data Valley and key infrastructure for supercomputing, Big Data and Artificial Intelligence. Participants toured the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) High Performance Computing facility, one of the world’s most advanced computing infrastructures for meteorology and climate modelling.

Gianluca Capitani (ECMWF) illustrated the strategic role of High Performance Computing in producing accurate medium-range forecasts and supporting data-driven public policies. Mauro Penza, from the Emilia-Romagna Vice President’s staff responsible for the DAMA project, outlined the Technopole’s structure and future development, emphasising its role as a platform integrating advanced research, technological innovation and regional development. Eric Pascolo, HPC Expert and Solution Architect at CINECA, presented CINECA’s activities, focusing on Artificial Intelligence solutions for research and businesses.

Marianna Panebarco, President of CNA Formazione Emilia-Romagna, highlighted the strategic importance of training in supporting micro and small enterprises through rapid transformation. Beyond technical skills, she stressed the value of community, inclusion, wellbeing and ethics, describing training as a compass for responsible technology use and shared growth. In the afternoon, Global Health Connector Karolina Mackiewicz and Adriana Díaz delivered a transnational training session aimed at how to translate the ecosystem approach into practical steps for start-ups and SMEs focusing on procurement.

On 19 February, the programme focused on study visits to two centres of excellence in health and medical technology: Arte Ortopedica, specialised in prosthesis design and manufacturing, and CER Medical, a leading provider of medical gases for healthcare facilities and home care.

At Arte Ortopedica, owner Paolo Landini guided participants through the laboratories, where technicians demonstrated the artisanal production of customised prostheses, combining craftsmanship with advanced technologies and materials. Each device is handmade and tailored to the patient’s needs, with continuous support throughout adaptation and rehabilitation. The visit also included the gym dedicated to assisting patients during their recovery process.

In the afternoon at CER Medical, Alberto Paleari and his team presented the CER Group’s activities, centred on delivering safe, efficient and human-focused oxygen therapy services in collaboration with pharmacies, local health authorities (AUSL) and home care providers. The company’s vision of “social capitalism” combines economic performance with responsibility towards workers and the community. The oxygen therapy department emphasised listening, reliability, timeliness and empathy, and shared the good practice of the “Breathing Week”, offering patients an assisted holiday experience.

Across both visits, listening and empathy emerged as key values, reflecting a business model that truly places people at the centre while integrating innovation and social responsibility.