SMeDiS, which stands for "Sviluppo Competitivo del Mezzogiorno attraverso il Dialogo Sociale," is funded through the Public Notice of the Italian Ministry of Labor for the enhancement of skills and professional abilities of delegates/operators from social partners in the field of social dialogue.

The project aims to promote social dialogue practices and strengthen the effectiveness of industrial relations in crucial phases in terms of constraints and implications for the economic and social system's growth. These phases include resolving cases of corporate crises and restructurings, as well as planning and governing cohesion and territorial development policies.

The project proposes the development of a training program for managers and representatives of Confindustria (Italian Employers' Federation) who operate in the Convergence Objective Regions in the processes of local bargaining and consultation. This training program is designed to:

• Develop social dialogue practices.
• Support integrated active labor market policies.
• Foster industrial policies.
• Enhance the effectiveness of local training systems.

The target audience for this project includes managers and representatives of Confindustria who operate in the 25 territorial association offices in the Convergence Objective Regions and who are involved in local bargaining and consultation processes.

The territorial scope of the SMEDIS project corresponds to the Convergence Objective Regions of the 2007-2013 programming period. These regions, including Calabria, Campania, Puglia, and Sicily, are designated as less developed regions in the context of the Structural Funds programming for 2014-2020 under the Europe 2020 strategy.

Project Partners The project is implemented by Sistemi Formativi Confindustria in close collaboration with Confindustria's Labor and Welfare, Regional Policies and Territorial Cohesion, and Industrial Policies Areas. Additionally, project partners include SFC's associates, LUISS, and Spegea.