The Development Program (DP) was set up in 2006 to diffuse the use of broadband Internet and to foster innovation by providing support to early stage Internet ventures.
In particular, the DP works at the level of infrastructure (i.e. bandwidth, server, hosting, housing, etc.) and sets out to support the testing – at a pre-competitive stage – of technologies, services, operational and business models Internet based.

The infrastructure provided by Development Program is based on:
- Network backbone (implemented within regional WI-PIE program).
- TOP-IX Cloud Computing platform.

The DP makes its resources available to all potential entrepreneurs in the Internet sector, leveraging an efficient and affordable infrastructure and an easy membership procedure.

The Development Program is:
- “Bottom-up” because it leverages “field” testing as main approach
- “Bits-On” because it offers infrastructural support based on its Cloud computing platform, enabling direct (i.e. “field”) verification of technological (and economic) feasibility and sustainability of Internet ventures plans.
- “Hands-On” because it supports a verification and learning process, based on the definition of measurable metrics, aimed at fostering growth and scalability of the Internet ventures.