Assolombarda: Monza-Brianza a solid economic engine between global challenges and digital transition

Monza and Brianza confirm their economic resilience despite an uncertain global context. In 2023, the total turnover of the 1000 main companies in the area, analysed in the report Top 1000 di Assolombarda e PwC Italy with the support of Bpm bank, reached 71,4 billion euros. 93,4% of these companies closed the year in profit, marking a new record. However, the economic slowdown has made itself felt: in the third quarter of 2024, industrial production in Brianza decreased by 0,2%, better than the 1,0% decline in Lombardy.

Despite the difficulties, the exports showed strong dynamism, growing by 10,3% in the first half of 2024, against the 0,3% average for Lombardy. The driving sectors include electronics (+57,6%), pharmaceuticals (+22,6%) and chemicals (+13,1%), while fashion (-16,4%) and design-furniture (-1,7%) suffered contractions.

Investments and incentives: the requests of the territory

Alessandro Spada, President of Assolombarda, stressed the importance of measures such as Transition 5.0 and the introduction of a premium IRES to stimulate investments. The premium IRES, proposed to lower the tax rate from 24% to 19% for those who reinvest at least 70% of profits, would represent a driving force for corporate growth. According to Spada, "investing in innovation and digitalization is essential to make Brianza companies more competitive at an international level".

“The territory of Monza and Brianza has a solid structure, capable of resisting crises and able to achieve extraordinary results when times are favorable – explains Spada – “Today we are facing a complex and constantly evolving international context. To the international winds, Monza and Brianza's response is better than that of Lombardy, which is in line with that of the country: in the third quarter of 2024, the province's industrial production decreased by -0,2%, against -1,0% in Lombardy, compared to July-September 2023, but up to the second quarter of 2024 Monza's exports grew by double digits (+10,3% against +0,3% in Lombardy). To counteract the moment of general slowdown in the markets, the urgency is to return to stimulating investments which, as happened for Industry 4.0, are the key to growth. For this reason we hope that Transition 5.0, which allocates more than 6 billion euros, can soon be simplified and made available to our businesses. And, at the same time, work should be done to introduce the IRES Premium into the Budget Law, with a rate decreasing by five points, from 24 to 19%, in favor of those who keep at least 70% of profits in the company. Fundamental measures to encourage innovation in our territories and make companies increasingly competitive”.

The Future: Opportunities and Obstacles

One of the main obstacles for businesses remains the finding qualified professional figures: 83% of those interviewed consider it a “medium-high” risk. At the same time, theinterest in artificial intelligence: only 4,3% of companies in Brianza have already implemented this technology in their core processes, but the growth potential is significant, especially in areas such as automation and data analysis.

Secondo John Caimi, president of the Assolombarda branch of Monza and Brianza, “greater commitment is needed in training digital and technological skills to support the transition towards innovative production models”.

The Top 1000 companies of Brianza

In 2023, revenues of Top 1000 companies in Brianza are between 7,9 million and 3,98 billion euros, marking a maximum threshold below 2019 billion for the first time since 4. The total turnover amounts to 71,4 billion euros, with an operating income of 2,9 billion (+16,3% compared to the previous year), despite the entry of 200 new companies. The percentage of companies in Useful reaches 93,4%, a record, and 10 companies exceed annual revenues of one billion. The top 50 companies boast an Ebit margin above 24%, with the top six above 60%.

Le 15 main companies from Brianza in terms of turnover, they exceed 850 million euros, with 10 of them exceeding one billion. The 2024 ranking sees Esprinet SpA in first place with almost 4 billion euros, followed by STMicroelectronics and Mediamarket. Among the municipalities of the province, Monza leads in terms of overall turnover (12,4 billion), followed by Vimercate (10,5 billion) and Agrate Brianza (6,3 billion).

Despite global challenges, 524 companies already present in the 2017 ranking have increased their total turnover by 50%, reaching 52,5 billion euros in 2023. Among the best performing, Falduto F.lli Srl (+1089%) and Fresh Tropical Srl (+562%), reflect the territory's ability to excel in diversified sectors.

Our Common 55 of the province of Monza and Brianza are home to at least one of the top companies. The “billionaire municipalities”, with cumulative corporate revenues of more than one billion, are now 17. Monza leads in turnover with 12,4 billion euros, followed by Vimercate (10,5 billion), Agrate Brianza (6,3 billion), Desio (5,2 billion) and Lissone (3,6 billion).

Innovative startups

La Brianza hosts 138 innovative startups, 64,5% of which invest significantly in research and development. Among the most promising are Carsoon Srl, with a turnover of 7,9 million euros in 2023, and Oversonic Robotics Srl, specialized in the development of humanoid robots. These new entrepreneurial realities represent a concrete response to the challenges of innovation, with applications ranging from artificial intelligence to automation.

Monza and Brianza continue to prove to be a pillar of the Italian economy, but the road to sustainable growth requires investment, innovation and an education system that prepares for future challenges. With the support of appropriate fiscal policies and the adoption of advanced technologies, the territory will be able to maintain its role of manufacturing excellence, contributing to national and international competitiveness.