Italy is one of the countries that has grown the most on the innovation front in recent years. To show the signal for a turning point, compared to our historical delays, it is now the European Commission, in the European Innovation Scoreboard 2021.
The picture, released on 21 June, shows that Europe’s performance in terms of innovation they continue to improve across the EU. And in particular in Italy, which with Cyprus, Estonia, Greece and Lithuania has grown the most since 2014: by 25 percentage points. Not only that: Italy had “a strong performance” especially in 2019 and 2021, that is shortly before and during the coronavirus emergency.
However, we are still in the yellow area, that of attention. We are among the “moderate innovators” (as the EU calls them), very far from the Scandinavian countries, which dominate the ranking, Sweden in the lead. But we are the first of that range. In the safety zone, one could say. We have worked hard, we can improve, but the path is right: Europe tells us so.
The improvements are particularly notable in the ultra-broadband sector (where in fact only in the last two years we have seen the first results of investments by telephone operators) and in generic innovation indicators. We have a search system on average well attractive, we are strong on SMEs that make innovation, says the European report card: “The improvement in Italian performance in the three-year period 2018-2021 compared to the previous years of stagnation gives us hope for the future and is the direct consequence of an intensification of interventions in favor of ‘innovation – Luca Carabetta (M5S) told us – The creation of the National Innovation Fund, the strengthening of the Transition 4.0 plan, the change of gear on the ultra-broadband plan and the push towards cashless are some of the main programmatic points on which the last 3 governments have believed and invested “.
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The weaknesses and the startup issue
Where are we weak? The report card shows chronicles and notes shortcomings: the low number of graduates and people with digital skills and the weakness in the export of innovative services.
Among the critical points, however, one area that many governments have committed themselves to stands out: the startup ecosystem. Our venture investment index it is half of what it should be (50 points against 96 which is our overall innovation index).
A result that will perhaps surprise those who put more hope in the incentives created by the latest governments, but it does not affect the insiders, who compare the dwarf proportions of our venture system with those of neighboring France.
I new obstacles to the online establishment of startups they are considered as a further hitch, which Italy did not need. At the moment, the 5 Star Movement (precisely through Carabetta) is trying to restore the old simplified rules through an amendment to the conversion into law of the Simplifications decree: “Much still needs to be done to allow Italy to compete on equal terms at the European level. The NRRR, amid huge resources and simplification measures, will help us to pursue these great objectives”, is the opinion of Carabetta.
But startups, the primordial humus of innovation, risk confirming themselves again in the coming months as the country’s sore point on this front. Although in a landscape of improvement: “There is a continuation convergence within the EU, with lower performing countries growing faster than higher performing ones, thus bridging the innovation gap between them, “the report reads. In the global landscape, the EU is outperforming competitors like China. Brazil, South Africa, Russia and India, while South Korea, Canada, Australia, the United States and Japan have a performance advantage.
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This year’s European innovation framework is based on a revised framework, which includes new indicators on digitization and the sustainability environmental, bringing it more in line with the political priorities of the EU. And Italy does better than the average on the sustainability front.
Thierry Breton, Commissioner for the Internal Market, said: “European innovations such as the technologies behind the new Covid-19 vaccines have been key to fighting and overcoming the current pandemic. EU performance in terms of innovation, this is a very positive sign. Investing in innovation means investing in our ability to be at the technological forefront for a sustainable, digital and resilient economy and society “.
Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, research, culture, education and youth, presenting the report recalled that “Europe’s commitment to innovation is demonstrated by its continuous improvement in innovation performance. All Member States and regions of the EU are investing more in innovation and the innovation gap in the EU is narrowing. Europe’s innovation capacity, Horizon Europe will promote excellence and support the best researchers and innovators to drive the systemic changes needed to ensure a green, healthy and resilient Europe. “
Elisa Ferreira, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, said: “Innovation is increasingly one of the deciding factors in promoting development and convergence across Europe. While these important reports highlight the progress made across much of Europe, a significant innovation gap still remains, in particularly for the less developed and peripheral regions innovation gap it is fundamental for economic, social and territorial cohesion. Cohesion Funds will continue to promote smart and territory-based innovation strategies “.
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