Ex-ante analysis of potential users for the “Strategic Fashion Innovation” call for proposals

The study was conducted by Valentina Patacchini, within the IRPET’s “Production Sectors and Businesses” research area. The work is part of the Institute’s institutional program of activities and was carried out in agreement with the Productive Activities Department of the Region of Tuscany.

This study provides an ex-ante representation of the potential beneficiaries of the Tuscany Region’s “Strategic Fashion Innovation” call for proposals, aimed at supporting the relaunch and competitiveness of the sector through innovative, digital, and sustainable investments. The analysis integrates statistical and administrative sources (ASIA Imprese, AIDA, ISTAT permanent business census), following a multi-level approach: identification of formally eligible companies, verification of the availability of financial statements, selection of eligible companies that meet the employment (ULA) and economic-financial requirements, application of investment scenarios and, finally, estimation of the propensity to innovate among eligible companies, in order to identify a segment of entities that could most easily take advantage of the stimulus offered by the call for proposals. Of the nearly 29,000 eligible companies, approximately 8,500 have financial statements and just under 5,000 meet the employment requirement. The project scenarios further narrow the field to 3,713 companies in the most favorable scenario (small project, high innovation quota, external co-financing). Cross-referencing these results with Census data, approximately 2,600 companies, or 70%, show an actual propensity for innovation. The potential audience is concentrated in core manufacturing sectors (textiles, leather, metals) and fashion retail, with a prevalence of micro and small enterprises. The study thus provides a realistic and operational framework for guiding regional policies.