The artificial intelligence must be at center of industrial strategyand: companies that have already done so have seen a productivity rate 2,4 times higher than their peers, a 13% reduction in costs and, in the increase in productivity, a revenue-cost ratio improved by 4,5%, with targeted interventions. If we then also add tax simplification, capital, energy efficiency and bureaucratic simplification, we can also arrive at a salary increase of the workers.
It starts very pragmatically from the numbers Alvise Biffi, newly elected president for the four-year period 2025-2029 by the private assembly of Assolombarda, the association of the 7000 companies of Milan, Monza and Brianza, Lodi and Pavia which represents, says Biffi, "the economic heart of Italy with its 13,4% of the national GDP “a number that makes us proud and brings us great responsibility and can act as a tow to the rest of the country"
"We are like surfers who see a huge coming,” Biffi said during the press conference. “The first reaction is fear, but there are many elements that can be used and that can give the strength to row. That's when fear becomes adrenaline and enthusiasm".
Lombardy has what it takes to host a European AI testing center
The comparison with what other companies do in Europe must be a stimulus. "We are too far behind our competitors" says Biffi. According to Istat, the Italian companies that last year used AI were only 8 out of 100. “Our propensity for research and development, investment and innovation remains far from the leading regions German. According to the latest available data (2022), 539 euros per capita were spent on research and development in our country, for a total of 1,17% of GDP. In Bavaria, R&D spending on GDP is 3,37%, in Baden-Württemberg even 5,59%” observes Biffi.
Yet our territory It has all the potential to host a Europe's largest AI testing center, public and open. “Where in Italy, if not here, given that in our area 20% of the highest quality national scientific articles are produced, 20% of patents are produced, there are 9 universities and various research centers of absolute value, 22% of Italian innovative start-ups are concentrated” observes Biffi. “Furthermore, to stimulate investments in innovation by our companies, we are relaunching Industry 4.0: we are giving new and important resources to this measure, including investments in intangible assets such as software, unfortunately excluded from the latest Budget Law”.
The professional skills gap must be filled
Changing gear in innovation means also going through a transformation of the labor market that must include the integration of new technologies. AI is at the center of this transformation: about 40% of job advertisements in the territory are aimed at highly qualified figures potentially influenced by artificial intelligence technologies. “However, we have persistent gaps in terms of mismatch between supply and demand of skills” observes Biffi. For example, in 2024 44,8% of our companies reported difficulty in finding qualified personnel, especially in the technical-productive sectors, in healthcare professions, digital professions and in emerging professions: artificial intelligence developers, data management experts, energy managers, designers of low-emission systems”.
“It is therefore essential to invest in the knowledge economy to develop professional skills tailored for businesses, promoting training continues”, promoting “alliances between universities, innovation hubs and between European industrial regions”.
“Energy costs no longer sustainable: technological neutrality is needed”
Biffi is well aware of the crucial issue that lies at the root of every organization. “Together with skills,'energy, stable, safe and competitive, and the backbone of manufacturing and also the essential key to the digitization” says Biffi.
Not only does Europe have a higher energy cost than its main industrial competitors, such as the USA and China, but Italian companies pay one of the most expensive bills in Europe, even +50% compared to the main European partners. “We must make the national energy system more competitive, as well as independent, safe and decarbonised and a solid and pragmatic national strategy is needed, which valorises all available energy sources in a more balanced way, with a view to technological neutrality” says Biffi.
In short term, among the various actions, it is necessary decoupling the price of electricity from natural gas and accelerate the development of renewables already available on an industrial and competitive scale, such as wind and photovoltaic, going from the current 20% of the electricity mix to 50%. And, in medium-long term, promote the development of nuclear of new generation to ensure constant electricity supply to energy-intensive companies and support the development of green gas, biomethane and hydrogen, to facilitate the decarbonisation of hard to abate sectors.
Biffi's team
The newly elected president Alvise Biffi He is the CEO of the company “Secure Network” (BV TECH), which he founded, one of the first Italian companies involved in the offensive cyber security sector.
Together with Biffi, the vice-presidents who will be part of the Presidential team were elected, which will be composed as follows:
- Giulia Castoldi (BCS), Deputy Vice President with responsibility for family businesses.
- Paul Gerardini (Microsys), delegation to Credit, Finance and Tax;
- Arrigo Giana (Autostrade per l’Italia), delegation to Infrastructure;
- Nicoletta Luppi (MSD Italia), delegation to Europe and Life Sciences;
- Nicholas Monti (Edison), delegation to Energy Transition;
- Alexander Picardi (Nexting), delegation to the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics and Cultural Events;
- Agostino Santoni (Cisco Systems Italy), delegation to Education, University and Research;
- Martha Spinelli (K-Flex insulation), delegated to Welfare, Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations;
- Charles Spinetta (Aon), delegation to Organization, Development and Marketing;
- Veronica Squinzi (Mapei), Internationalization delegation;
- Giovanni Tronchetti Provera (Pirelli & C), Sustainability delegation.
As far as the advisor of President Biffi, Alberto Dossi (Sapio) has been appointed special advisor Energy Demand; Giuseppe Notarnicola (STMicroelectronics) special advisor Study Center and Foreign Investment Attraction. Massimo Di Amato (Maire) will be the President's delegate for Circular Economy and Environmental Technologies. Stefano Venturi (Cefriel) special advisor Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transition. Antonio Calabrò, President of the Assolombarda Foundation, will be delegated for Business Culture and Legality.
of the presidency team also includes Federico Chiarini (People on the move), President of the Young Entrepreneurs Group and Vice President with responsibility for Start-ups; Mattia Macellari (CATA Informatica), President of Small Industry; Fulvio Pandini (Isac - Italian Institute for Health, Safety and the Environment), President of the Lodi Office; Matteo Parravicini (Parà), President of the Monza and Brianza Office; Tommaso Rossini (RTA), President of the Pavia Office.
