An investigation into the state of health of Italian know-how and companies’ strategies to position themselves on international markets
Made in Italy is not just a label, a brand, but a cultural, social and territorial ecosystem. While waiting for the 2026 edition of the National Day of Made in Italy, scheduled for 15 April, the deputy minister of Mimit, Valentino Valentini, illustrates the Country Strategy contained in the White Paper “Made in Italy 2030”, which redefines the guidelines for Italian industrial development, where manufacturing, excellent and highly specialized Made in Italy, “pocket multinationals”, capital goods and circular economy represent the engines of growth. In a phase marked by geopolitical tensions, slowdown in global growth and redefinition of value chains, exports and internationalization remain fundamental strategic levers for the competitiveness of the Italian production system. Barbara Cimmino, vice president for Export and attracting investments at Confindustria, takes stock of how companies are dealing with the new dynamics of global trade. Finance is increasingly accompanying companies on their paths of growth, investment and international consolidation, as noted by Luca Di Benedetto, president of Finest, a financial company for the internationalization of Italian companies. Marco Ballarè, president of Manageritalia, explains how there is no “export without management”, an effective synthesis of the link between international growth and business leadership, with a focus also on SMEs.
Pharmaceuticals drives Made in Italy
In this issue of Osservatorio del Merito, where Italian excellence is celebrated, such as the Olympic champion and symbolic face of Milano Cortina 2026, Francesca Lollobrigida, the analysis focuses on the key sectors of Made in Italy. Matteo Zoppas, head of the ICE Agency, underlines that after two years of consolidation in an adverse context and despite duties, the euro-dollar exchange rate, war conflicts and all the current critical issues, the export of Made in Italy it closes 2025 with a value of 643 billion, up 3.3% compared to the previous year. Pharmaceuticals is the sector that has made the largest contribution to growth. For this reason, to celebrate the National Day of Made in Italy, Osservatorio sul Merito turns its spotlight on one of the excellences of the sector, responsible for highly complex Made in Italy technologies for the purification and filtration of compressed liquids and gases in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and life science industries. Continuous research in terms of technologies and materials combines with creativity and cooperation with customers and suppliers to design and create more efficient and sustainable advanced equipment and tools. In this sector, companies are faced with increasingly complex challenges: quality of raw materials; process safety and reliability of the materials used in the various production phases, including filtration systems. BEA Technologies offers its know-how in the production of filter elements, adopting innovative technologies. The key is creativity, combined with closer cooperation between customers and suppliers to design and produce new equipment, new tools and more efficient and sustainable solutions.
The souls of well-made Italian
The spearheads of our know-how (agri-food, fashion clothing, home furnishings, mechanical automation, automotive, but also new frontiers such as health economics, space and defense, blue economy and shipbuilding, tourism, creative industries) continue to create value, qualified employment and international reputation, moving between tradition and innovation. Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta and Ducati outline the strategic visions of symbolic realities of Industrial Made in Italy. Italian manufacturing convinces international markets for its unique combination of factors, which is difficult to replicate elsewhere. It is not just “Made in Italy” as a label, but a true production system with distinctive characteristics, including customization, service, reliability, flexibility and competence. In the welding and thermoregulation sector, SIMACO’s experience stands out, perfecting the fluid handling technology a industrial use. GNR updates on the technological evolution of optical emission spectrometry systems and X-ray technologies for the structural and elemental analysis of materials. Agri-food remains one of the supporting structures of Made in Italy. Tommaso Greco traces the entrepreneurial parable of the family company, which has made identity and social responsibility its guidelines of action: iGreco is rooted in Calabria, but now projected onto international markets with its wines and oils. In recent decades the olive sector has gone through an important process of evolution, as demonstrated by the new phase of development of the Apulian company Di Lecce Nicola, which invests in scientific research to support innovation and strengthen the quality of production. De Nigris Group, a historic leading company in the world of vinegars and condiments, has also focused on innovation, introducing pioneering products onto the market.
Environmental sustainability, central asset
The ecological transition now directly involves production processes, energy management, resource efficiency and long-term development models. There are many successful case histories. Sgarzi Packaging produces tailor-made packaging, with great attention to innovation and sustainability. The same commitment is shared by the Ival litho-cartotecnica, which creates lithographed cardboard boxes and cases for the clothing and footwear sector. Epta, a leader in commercial refrigeration with a global presence, has transformed itself into a strategic partner for the ecological transition, with its wealth of innovations and the use of sustainable materials. Eurotecno has chosen to give a digital twist to its sector, that of industrial rental, making the transition towards a full-electric and hybrid fleet. Wattover, an innovative startup, shows the way to transform the solar energy sector through Artificial Intelligence. Environmental sensitivity is the operational hallmark of Arpo, an architecture and engineering firm specialized in sustainable, innovative and locally rooted interventions. Arix, an Italian company specialized in the production of sponges, cloths and innovative cleaning solutions, focuses on natural, recycled and recyclable materials, investing in the research and development of innovative and eco-friendly products. Even fashion is increasingly green. Fumeo Carlo, whose accessories and ties exemplify the best of Italian craftsmanship, is attentive to environmental impact at every stage of the production process. Founded in the 1950s in the heart of Tuscan tradition, Manifatture Toscane Ta-Bru still today combines technological evolution and industrial vision, confirming itself as a partner in the international fashion supply chain. With its model, Mewa represents a point of reference in the European panorama for the supply and rental of textile services to the industry. Made in Italy also means design, building, construction. Tugnolo A&C unveils its growth strategy in the Italian and European plant engineering landscape. Center Lift illustrates how residential vertical mobility solutions today combine design, technology and manufacturing quality, integrating perfectly into existing architecture. VVA examines the direction taken in the sector of the complete renovation of offices, shops and residential premises. Dimore In Legno presents its personalized modus operandi, which proposes a different way of building in this material, while COVER APP explains why it focused on porcelain stoneware for indoors and outdoors. M@xol talks about its experience in supporting construction companies even on the most complex construction sites, marketing technical materials intended for special foundations and geotechnical works.
A showcase called Italy
Tourism is a further, fundamental, asset for enhancing Made in Italy. In this sector there are increasingly smart companies, such as Touristation, an operator that caters to companies in the tourism sector and end travellers, combining the convenience of packages with the experience of guided tours in the Italian capital. The You Know! project, one of the main operators of daily boat tours for small groups, is a candidate for a model of sustainable nautical tourism, with the aim of offering increasingly ethical and responsible experiences at sea. In the air transport sector, the Value Group of Milan explains how to manage delicate processes such as delays, cancellations and denied boarding. Actively contributing to the development and qualification of Alpine tourism is the experience of the Dolomiti Real Estate Agency, which for over 40 years has supported Italian and foreign clients in the purchase, sale and rental of properties in the valleys of Trentino Alto Adige.
In support of internationalization
Pok Service has revolutionized business travel for various business sectors, optimizing the logistics of their employees’ business trips; Dotwords Società Benefit redefines the role of the language service provider, establishing itself in the linguistic services segment. Tutor Consulting supports companies with business consulting and solution development services, putting the valorization of human capital at the centre, while AG Training presents itself as an enabler of the competitiveness of companies, intervening on a strategic asset such as training. Artificial intelligence will also make its impact felt in the world of work. With digital and data-driven solutions, Alveria introduces a new management of the HR area, enhancing talent, optimizing processes and supporting national and international companies in organizational growth and innovation. At a time when healthcare is called upon to combine innovation and sustainability, the path of Genomix4Life, specialized in genomics and applied bioinformatics, is significant, as it brings precision medicine into clinical practice, with a concrete impact on people’s health. It is a fundamental moment of transition for Made in Italy industrial policies. The Executive is doing its part and our country’s companies demonstrate that they are ready to adapt to complex international scenarios and strengthen themselves to further penetrate foreign markets.
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