Redefining Excellence: Made in Italy Faces the Test of a New Industrial Policy

Today marked the conclusion of the “Made in Italy Summit 2025,” the assembly that, thanks to the joint initiative of Il Sole 24 Ore and the Financial Times, convened the highest levels of Italy’s institutional and business worlds in Milan. The atmosphere was not one of celebration, but of strategic awareness. The central theme, “a new industrial policy for exports,” crystallized the urgent need for profound reflection. We live in an era defined no longer by linear globalization, but by creeping “neo-protectionism” and the redefinition of strategic alliances. In this scenario, Made in Italy is no longer just a cultural ambassador or an economic driver; it has become an asset of national security and geopolitical positioning. The discussions, led by figures such as the Minister for Enterprises Adolfo Urso and the CEO of DHL Express Italy, Nazzarena Franco, highlighted that product excellence alone is no longer a guarantee of success. Without a national strategy that actively supports the supply chains, even the most prestigious brand risks irrelevance in global markets.

Competitiveness Beyond the Product

The analysis emerging from the Summit is clear: competition has shifted from the individual product to the supply chain. The Italian “bello e ben fatto” (beautiful and well-made) now confronts structural bottlenecks that the pandemic, followed by international tensions, made evident. Logistics and infrastructure were extensively discussed. Nazzarena Franco’s (DHL) contribution was emblematic: in a world where the speed and reliability of delivery are integral to perceived value, Italy still lags. Our small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the pulsating heart of our exports, require integrated and digitized logistics platforms that allow them to compete with e-commerce giants and the production systems of other countries, which may be less qualitative but are certainly more efficient in distribution. The “new industrial policy” being called for is not, therefore, a return to old forms of state interventionism, but the creation of an ecosystem where logistics, ports, and digital networks are enablers of growth, not obstacles to be overcome by entrepreneurial genius alone.

The Dual Transition: Green and Digital

Another undisputed pillar of the debate was the “dual transition.” The presence of the Minister for the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, underscored how sustainability and digital are no longer options, but preconditions for market access. For Made in Italy, this represents both a challenge and an extraordinary opportunity. Sustainability is not just a regulatory compliance cost (like the impending EU rules), but a powerful marketing and positioning tool. The global consumer, especially in the high-end segment targeted by Italian excellence, demands transparency, traceability, and environmentally respectful production processes. Italy can and must position itself as a leader in this, making sustainability synonymous with quality. Simultaneously, the digital transition, discussed by figures like Corrado Passera of illimity, is fundamental. This is not just about e-commerce, but about the digitalization of production processes (Industry 4.0), the use of artificial intelligence to optimize inventory, and blockchain to guarantee authenticity and combat counterfeiting—a plague that costs our system billions annually.

Finance as the Engine of Dimensional Growth

The Summit unflinchingly pointed to one of the historical weaknesses of the Italian system: the size of its companies. While entrepreneurial “nanism” ensures flexibility and artisanal care, it also limits the capacity for investment in innovation, internationalization, and, indeed, the green and digital transitions. This is where the role of finance comes into play. Corrado Passera highlighted the need for innovative financial instruments capable of understanding the specific needs of SMEs and accompanying them on paths of growth, aggregation, and public listing. Industrial policy must constantly dialogue with the banking system and capital markets. An environment is needed that incentivizes mergers and acquisitions, supports supply chains with patient capital, and views the Stock Exchange not as a finish line for the few, but as an accessible tool to finance innovation. The State, for its part, must act as a guarantor and catalyst, using fiscal leverage and guarantee funds to direct private investment toward strategic export sectors.

The New Role of the State: Director and Guarantor

If the 1990s and 2000s were dominated by “laissez-faire,” the current context demands a return of the State, but in a new guise: no longer the State-as-entrepreneur, but the State-as-director. This was the message that emerged from the institutional interventions, including those of Minister Urso. The new industrial policy must translate into proactive economic diplomacy that defends national interests in European and international forums, combats unfair competition, and actively protects our denominations of origin and patents. It means investing massively in skills training (the “saperi” of Made in Italy) to ensure the generational turnover without which our artisanal excellences are destined to disappear. The 2025 Summit thus closes with a precise agenda: Made in Italy will win the global challenge only if it can act as a “system,” integrating production, logistics, finance, and policy into a coherent, long-term strategic vision. Excellence is not preserved, it is renewed; and today, renewal requires a courageous and innovative public-private pact.

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