The data on Italian GDP show a slow recovery from +0,4% in the first quarter of 2015 to +0,1% in the fourth quarter. Among its components, however, investments are still unable to restart after the crisis. Proof of this is their downward trend between July and September (-0,4%) and the propensity to invest which decreased from 20% in 2008 to just over 15%.
Constructions e means of transport had a more marked impact on the fall in investments (-40% and -65% respectively since 2008), while intellectual property, which includes investments in research and development, software and databases was less affected by the crisis effect, reporting an overall decrease of 4% in the last seven years.
In 2014 in Italy, spending on R&D amounted to 20,8 billion euros, up by more than 80% compared to 2000. Firms account for the largest share (56%), especially those operating in manufacturing. Public administrations, on the other hand, allocated almost 1% of total public expenditure to R&D, half of which to universities.
In comparison with other major European economies, the level of R&D expenditure in Italy is contained. In relation to GDP, the Italian 1,3% compares with the German 2,8% and the French 2,2%. Only Spain has a slightly lower percentage (1,2%). To encourage innovation and technological development in Italy, since 2014, various measures have been introduced to encourage investments in R&D and make the country more competitive in the international arena.
Wanting to use the number of patents deposited as a possible performance indicator, Italy ranks tenth worldwide. During the crisis, the amount of patents filed within the country by residents decreased by 10%. On the other hand, the amount that Italians have deposited with foreign offices has increased (+15%).
Going into the details of the sectors, as far as the private sector is concerned, in 2014 Italian companies spent around 11,5 billion euros on R&D. Of the total allocated by them, the majority was supported by those operating in the sector manufacturing (72%), followed by services of information and telecommunications (11%) and professional, scientific and technical activities (9%).
The manufacturing companies that invest the most in R&D are those that produce electronic products (15%), machinery and mechanical equipment (16%), motor vehicles and other means of transport (30%). Based on the number of workers, it can also be observed that, in 2014, the companies that invested the most in research and development had more than 500 employees (60% of total expenditure). The remainder is divided in a similar way between medium-sized and smaller companies.
The approximately 8 billion spent since public sector they represent 0,99% of total Italian public expenditure, the share of which has recorded a decrease of about 2005 pp on average per year since 3 (it was equal to 1,36%). The largest cut in expenditure is suffered by the transport sector, the value of which is halved compared to 2008, with an 8% increase in allocations to universities.
The share destined for them is equal to 43,8% of the total expenditure in R&D, while the remainder is addressed to industrial productions and technologies, protection and promotion of human health and exploration and use of space, which each make up approximately 10% of the total.
Looking at the values for macro areas60% of R&D expenditure is divided between the north-west and north-east, three-quarters of which is carried out by companies. In the center it is equally divided between the public and private sectors, while in the south (15,6% of total expenditure) universities occupy the largest share (more than 50%).
A regional level, in 2014, Lombardy was in first place for R&D expenditure, covering 21,6% of the total (27% if we consider only the expenditure made by businesses). The first four regions alone (Lombardy, Lazio, Piedmont and Emilia Romagna) account for about 60% of the total.
