Financed by Fondimpresa (Joint Interprofessional Training Fund comprising Confindustria, CGIL, CISL and UIL), the "Innovazione e Sviluppo del Sistema Produttivo e dei Servizi - TER" (Innovation and Development of the Productive System and of Services - TER) project was set up with the objective of promoting processes of innovation and development in Lombardy companies, especially smaller companies (less than 200 employees). Capitalisation of knowledge and orientation to innovation and economic development are what small and medium companies need in order to be competitive in the European arena. The project was the effective response to this need.

The company and intercompany training courses, which were 100% free of charge, were aimed at employees of member companies of Fondimpresa. Five general areas were covered in the courses: development of management systems, development of human resources, innovation in processes and in technologies, innovation in market relations, and development of basic skills and knowledge. With regard to innovation in processes and in technologies, the Fondazione Politecnico di Milano, in association with the Dipartimento di Elettrotecnica (Department of Electrotechnics) of the Politecnico di Milano, has offered training courses on: building automation and distributed sensor systems, principles of reliability for industrial systems, the role of the Energy Manager, tools for saving energy: white certificates and green certificates, technical aspects of securing electricity supply, quality of energy and quality of supply.

The project, which was conducted in 2008, was promoted by: the Association of Industries of Monza and Brianza, Assolombarda, Confindustria Alto Milanese, the Union of Industries of the Province of Como, the Union of Industries of the Province of Lecco, the Union of Industries of the Province of Pavia, the Union of Industries of the Province of Sondrio, CENTREDIL-ANCE Lombardia, regional trades unions and trade unions belonging to CGIL, CISL and UIL. Implemented by: MIP, Fondazione Politecnico di Milano, CEFRIEL, ASF (Associazione Servizi Formativi, Training Services Association), the Cattolica del Sacro Cuore University of Milan.