(Finance) – SMEs are the backbone of the Italian economy and play a very important role both economically and socially: the over 200 thousand Italian SMEs produce a turnover of over 1,400 billion euros, generate about a third of their turnover abroad (about 7 percentage points more than German ones) and contribute to almost half of national exports (45%, compared to 20% of German and French ones and 32% of Spanish ones). This is what emerges from the research “Objective SPARKLING. Future-proof Italian SMEs and supply chains” carried out by the SACE Research Office in collaboration with TEHAwhich analyses the transformations that will push the competitiveness of Made in Italy in the world: innovation 4.0, sustainability and export. The research was presented at the Cernobbio Forum by Alexandra RicciCEO of SACE, together with Alexander Terzullichief economist of SACE, and Lorenzo Tavazzisenior partner and head of the Scenarios and Intelligence Area and International Development of TEHA Group.
Thanks to the partnership with TEHA, on the occasion of the 50th edition of the Cernobbio Forum, SACE brings SMEs to Villa d’Este with a hub entirely dedicated to SMEs and their strategic role for the Italian economic fabric. “SACE participates in the Cernobbio Forum together with Italian SMEs, offering them the opportunity to virtually follow the three days of work, meetings and debates, and above all bringing to the attention of this authoritative context the importance and prospects for Italian small and medium-sized enterprises, grappling with the challenges and opportunities of the sustainable and digital transition – declared Curls –. At SACE, in line with the mission and objectives of our Industrial Plan TOGETHER 2025, we are already alongside 51 thousand Italian SMEs in their investment and sustainable growth projects in Italy and around the world and we expect to reach 65 thousand over the course of the Plan. We have exceeded 80 billion euros in projects supported alongside Italian SMEs and supply chains, generating an impact of 220 billion euros on the production system and supporting 1 million and 300 thousand jobs. The Study that we are bringing today to the Cernobbio Forum starts from this experience to increase growth opportunities for the national economic fabric”.
Digitalization, energy transition, cultural transformation – About 1 in 3 Italian SMEs (37%) – the research finds – invests in innovation and training and this increases a company’s export capability by 15%. According to SACE estimates, exports of Italian SMEs will grow by about 1.5% in 2024 and 3.5% in 2025, reaching 260 billion euros thanks in particular to the drive of medium-sized enterprises, the true engine of the supply chains. The East will lead the growth of foreign sales of SMEs this year: the Middle East and East Asia are the areas for which significant increases are expected, respectively +6.1% and +2.3%. North America will not be far behind (+3.8%), while growth will be flat towards the European Union, which still remains the main destination area. In 2025, greater dynamism will be shown by Sub-Saharan Africa (+10.1%).
A positive trend is also expected for large Italian companies, up to +3.8% this year and +5.8% in 2025. – “The over 200 thousand small and medium-sized enterprises play a fundamental role in the Italian economy, producing a turnover of over 1,400 billion euros, which generates almost 40% of the national added value” – he declared Thirds –. According to our estimates, exports of Italian SMEs will grow by approximately 1.5% in 2024 and 3.5% in 2025, reaching 260 billion euros thanks in particular to the drive of medium-sized enterprises. An export capability that can grow, focusing on two strategic levers: technological transformation, also in a sustainable way, and integration into multiple production chains.”
The role of supply chains for growth and the sectors of the future – Integration in supply chains is a key element for the competitiveness of SMEs, thanks to the interconnection of production processes. A potential that is largely untapped to date, considering that the majority of Italian companies (on average 4 out of 5) declare that they participate in only one supply chain. The Study has identified the 8 main supply chains with systemic relevance – industrial machinery, construction, agri-food, clothing, road transport, energy, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and treatments – which alone represent 56.4% of the Added Value, 52.3% of employment and 67.3% of exports of units with at least 3 employees. And it highlights, among others, the “supply chains of the future” relating to intelligent construction (smart building), agri-food (agritech) and renewable and alternative energy (such as offshore wind and hydrogen).
“The district model confirms itself as a fundamental pillar for the national production system. There is an evolution underway towards a growing integration along the value chains which – he explained Tavazzi – will allow Italian companies to face the challenges of an increasingly global and competitive market and to overcome some of the limitations of traditional districts. Specifically, we have identified some informal supply chains, i.e. not statistically recorded, and cross-sectoral, which cut across several sectors – on which Italy will be able to strengthen and consolidate its positioning in terms of employment activation, industrial production and projection on foreign markets. For example, we estimate that in the coming years the transformation of the building heritage in Italy in the direction of smart building could generate over 200 thousand qualified and specialized jobs, just as important prospects can come from the agritech supply chain and renewable and alternative technologies in which Italy is already at the top in Europe (2nd European country for Added Value in the sectors activated by floating offshore wind and second European producer of mechanical technologies potentially usable in the hydrogen supply chain)”.