A wide talent pool with high-tech know-how
Italy is known for its skilled workforce including engineers, developers and designers. A wide talent pool with high-tech know-how is an unparalleled asset for the competitiveness and innovation of businesses providing high quality and cost-competitive resources.
Over 1 million university graduates (40% in STEM disciplines) in the last 3 academic years.
The Italian university system boasts a well-distributed presence throughout the entire national territory.
Explore more about the Italian academic landscape, as well as the educational offerings and research activities of Italian universities, on the dedicated portal UniversItaly.
Learning in Italy is a millennial-old tradition.
Four of the ten oldest universities in the world are Italian: Bologna (1088), Padua (1222), Federico II in Naples (1224) and Siena (1240). The first Conservatory in Europe was founded in Naples in 1808, and the world's first Art Academy was established in Florence by Giorgio Vasari in 1563.
Italian universities are a point of reference worldwide. According to QS Ranking 2023, Italian universities stand out in several domains, such as:
ITS are Higher Technical Academies created jointly by educational institutions and industrial players.
Over 6,000 highly specialised technicians per year.
€ 1.5 BLN investment in the NRRP is strengthening the role and laboratory facilities of ITSs.
Specialisations include:
Italy stands out as the European country with the highest number of manufacturing firms. This is explained by the Italian entrepreneurial drive, which has played a pivotal role in fostering a thriving landscape of SMEs characterised by solid innovation capabilities, high flexibility to anticipate and adjust to market demands, as well as a strong customer-centric approach.
Source: Eurostat (2022).
The Italian workforce stands out for its strong sense of belonging and enduring commitment to employers.
On average, Italians are more likely to remain with the same employer for an extended period if compared to some European counterparts staying with their employers for over a decade. The share of Italian employees with a job tenure interval of over 10 years amounts to 55%. This is of significant value to companies when investing in training and skill-developing activities to foster human capital growth.
Source: OECD (2022).
Italy embraces the challenge of the automotive sector transition towards sustainable mobility with a dedicated multiannual fund as well as a series of measures envisaged by the NRRP. Investing in Italy allows to take advantage of a solid industrial ecosystem in the field of vehicle and component production, a high level of R&D, a highly qualified workforce, as well as creativity and design expertise, recognized worldwide, and much more.
With an extraordinary manufacturing base, a rich legacy of scientific research, world-renowned universities, and a highly skilled workforce, Italy offers a fertile ground for cutting-edge breakthroughs and long-term growth in the Life Sciences sector. Thanks to its leadership role in a significant number of domains, Italy is nowadays a prime investment destination in Europe.
Italian Real Estate significantly contributes to the national GDP, witnessing a decade-long surge in corporate investments across various asset classes. This uptick is not just due to favourable financial factors like high yields and advantageous taxation; it is driven by the real economy's need for top-quality, sustainable spaces, structural enhancements that strengthen the value chain, and economies of scale.
Joining the Italian microelectronic ecosystem is a strategic and forward-looking choice. With a dynamic business landscape, characterised by the presende of industry leaders and a first-class workforce, Italy is committed to strengthening technology and supply chains within the European Union. To achieve this goal, Italy has introduced the "Italian Chips Act" and a "Chips Fund" to support businesses and increase the sector's competitiveness.
Italy boasts a unique leadership in producing high-quality and innovative machinery, counting over 18,000 companies in the Machinery & Equipment sector. This top-notch expertise spans various industries, with a particular stronghold in precision engineering, automation, and robotics. Thanks to its manufacturing excellence and first-class engineers, the country’s international reputation for quality and innovation is unparalleled.
Italy links Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe thanks to its geographic position. Upgraded ports handle diverse goods, ensuring a consistent flow of ro-ro, solid, and liquid bulk cargo; freight villages facilitate sustainable intermodal rail transport across Europe; and leading global players offer high-quality logistics services. Reinforced by public policies driving digitalization and sustainability, Italy offers one of the best logistics hubs to advance businesses seamlessly.
Thanks to its long-standing tradition and high technological prowess, the Italian aerospace industry provides an ideal business environment for companies aspiring to offer cutting-edge products and services. Italy offers a complete value chain, encompassing everything from design and component production to assembly and after-sales services. Moreover, it is the third-largest contributor to the ESA budget and its companies play a vital role in the success of numerous European space missions and programs.
The ICT sector is one of the most dynamic in Italy, with relentless market growth and promising prospects. Italy boasts a large availability of qualified human capital and world-class research infrastructure. In addition to high technical expertise, Italian creativity stands as an unparalleled asset for digital creative industries.
Being the third largest producer of renewable energy in Europe, Italy has unique competitive advantages to become one of Europe’s leading producer and user of clean energy and exporter of renewable and hydrogen technologies leveraging on highly specialized skills, an innovative ecosystem and a strong national industrial base ready to disrupt the market.
Italy stands as a globally recognized leader in Agricultural Production and the Food and beverage processing industry with unparalleled manufacturing expertise. It proudly boasts 854 unique PDO and PGI agri-food products and is home to over 51,000 specialized F&B companies, forming one of the largest industrial bases in Europe. Thus, Italy also offers a favorable business environment for creating, testing, and commercializing AgriFoodTech solutions.
Italy is renowned for its beauty, art, and lifestyle, which significantly influence sectors such as fashion, furnishings, and design. As the world's leading exporter of fabrics and fashion accessories, Italy is celebrated for the elegance and quality of its products. Investing in Italy means becoming part of the iconic "Made in Italy", synonymous with excellent craftsmanship, high design expertise, and top-quality productions.
Italy stands out with an 18.7% circular material use rate and an 83.2% recycling rate for all waste (leading among major European economies), entirely in line with Circular Economy principles and the EU's Green Deal. With a robust industrial base, Italy is an ideal hub for sustainability-focused businesses, promoting end-of-waste materials as valuable resources for sectors such as automotive, furniture, food & and beverage, textiles, and clothing.
The Chemical Industry stands as a cornerstone of the national economy, fueling innovation and economic growth. The dynamic industrial and innovation ecosystem, showcasing global excellence across various segments of this Industry, positions Italy as a prime destination for both production and R&D activities.
