Research and enterprise, how to get it right
A study by the Bank of Italy highlights the positive relationships and the challenges that need to be overcome in order to promote innovation in Italy
Innovation and business growth. But what kind of innovation? And which enterprises? And, above all, by which route? These are important questions that require careful consideration and do not have clear-cut answers. In fact, the answers change depending on the regions and social and economic systems involved. Monica Andini, Fabio Bertolotti, Luca Citino, Francesco D’Amuri, Andrea Linarello and Giulia Mattei of the Bank of Italy worked to try and answer these questions. The results of the efforts of this study group are summarised in the research paper ‘Ricerca, innovazione e trasferimento tecnologico in Italia’ (Research, Innovation and Technology Transfer in Italy), which was published a few weeks ago in the Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) series.
As explained in the first few pages, the work provides a systematic overview of the entire innovation chain in Italy, paying particular attention to the relationship between public research and the innovative capacity of the production system. The analysis is structured around three main themes: academic research in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics); patenting by private companies, universities and public research organisations (ERPs); and technology transfer initiatives. These areas are, of course, intertwined and are analysed to provide a reasoned summary of the state of the art and outline the strengths and weaknesses of each area, with the aim of strengthening the country’s innovative capacity. It is emphasised that this is a significant capacity which could grow in terms of dissemination and results by working more on relationships and effective technology transfer from research centres to companies.
This is certainly a question of organisation and resources, as well as a vision of the importance of consolidating the production and relationship culture that can enrich an area’s production system.
Ricerca, innovazione e trasferimento tecnologico in Italia
(The recent dynamics of productivity and the transformations of the production system)
Monica Andini, Fabio Bertolotti, Luca Citino, Francesco D’Amuri, Andrea Linarello, Giulia Mattei
Bank of Italy, Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers), no. 954 – July 2025
A study by the Bank of Italy highlights the positive relationships and the challenges that need to be overcome in order to promote innovation in Italy
Innovation and business growth. But what kind of innovation? And which enterprises? And, above all, by which route? These are important questions that require careful consideration and do not have clear-cut answers. In fact, the answers change depending on the regions and social and economic systems involved. Monica Andini, Fabio Bertolotti, Luca Citino, Francesco D’Amuri, Andrea Linarello and Giulia Mattei of the Bank of Italy worked to try and answer these questions. The results of the efforts of this study group are summarised in the research paper ‘Ricerca, innovazione e trasferimento tecnologico in Italia’ (Research, Innovation and Technology Transfer in Italy), which was published a few weeks ago in the Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) series.
As explained in the first few pages, the work provides a systematic overview of the entire innovation chain in Italy, paying particular attention to the relationship between public research and the innovative capacity of the production system. The analysis is structured around three main themes: academic research in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics); patenting by private companies, universities and public research organisations (ERPs); and technology transfer initiatives. These areas are, of course, intertwined and are analysed to provide a reasoned summary of the state of the art and outline the strengths and weaknesses of each area, with the aim of strengthening the country’s innovative capacity. It is emphasised that this is a significant capacity which could grow in terms of dissemination and results by working more on relationships and effective technology transfer from research centres to companies.
This is certainly a question of organisation and resources, as well as a vision of the importance of consolidating the production and relationship culture that can enrich an area’s production system.
Ricerca, innovazione e trasferimento tecnologico in Italia
(The recent dynamics of productivity and the transformations of the production system)
Monica Andini, Fabio Bertolotti, Luca Citino, Francesco D’Amuri, Andrea Linarello, Giulia Mattei
Bank of Italy, Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers), no. 954 – July 2025