The pandemic has not stopped companies in Emilia-Romagna. “In some cases the data are exciting – says Pietro Ferrari, president of the region’s industrialists -. Also in 2020, over 87% of companies made investments. And in 2021 the percentage is similar. 58% invested in training, 49% in research and development. Furthermore, in ten years, companies have doubled their investments in sustainability ». Ferrari has opened the third stage of Innovation Days, the Sole 24 Ore and Confindustria roadshow created to tell the story of the Italian economy. A stage followed by those of Lombardy and Piedmont and dedicated to the Emilia-Romagna production system.
Manufacturing vocation
System that is a model of excellence with a very strong manufacturing vocation. It shines in Italy, with R&D expenditure on GDP equal to 2%, as noted by Andrea Chiesi, president of Confindustria Emilia Romagna Ricerca. Even if within the European context it is in an intermediate position. «We still have room for improvement – says Chiesi -. We must improve our ability to collaborate and also make up for the number of graduates ».
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Shadows that do not obscure primates
Like that of contributing 13.1% to national R&D spending. And which, on the contrary, trace the path that leads to innovation, sustainability, training. That is to say, “the three pillars on which the regional production system is investing,” says Ferrari. The results of a Banca Ifis survey also demonstrate that companies continue to invest. 45% of companies continued to invest in the two-year period of the pandemic crisis, a percentage destined to rise to 49% in 2023. “Even in the sectors that suffered the most – says Raffaele Zingone, head of the central business department of the bank – we discovered drive to invest. Companies continue to focus on training and R&D, where we have registered an increase. And bank financing still plays a significant role in supporting investments ».
Digital innovation
From the province of Rimini to that of Piacenza, companies that have been the forerunners for digital innovation stand out in Emilia-Romagna. This is the case of the Bonfiglioli group (Bologna, reducers) which with the Evo project has digitized all production processes. Also building, as explained by Sonia Bonfiglioli, president and CEO of the company, “a new way of working: we trained all employees three years ago and we created an Academy for all-round training”.
Sustainable mobility
This is also the case of the Mercedes-Benz Italia plant, in the motor valley that extends between Modena and Bologna. And who has a clear idea of the development path. “Social responsibility, ethics and sustainability are the key factors to win in the future”, says the president and CEO of the car manufacturer Radek Jelinek, for whom the automotive sector is a sector that “has always generated widespread value through innovation, technological leadership, commitment to environmental sustainability and employment ». Many interventions at the Emilian stage of the roadshow, hosted by the Competence Center of Bologna Bi-Rex, one of the eight wanted at national level by Mise for technology transfer to companies.