Italy snatches the primacy of leading pharmaceutical producer from Germany, boasting a production of 31,2 billion euros compared to 30 for the country beyond the Alps. The greatest contribution to this result comes from Italian exports which are close to 25 billion.
The data was discussed in Rome during the public assembly of Farmindustria, the association of pharmaceutical industries which is celebrating its 40th birthday this year. On the level of exports, the president of Farmindustria, Massimo Scaccabarozzi, said: “We are the first in Europe for pharmaceutical production, thanks to the real driving force of exports. A made in Italy success that demonstrates the quality of our country system. And which has important repercussions: greater employment, especially for young people; more investments that create value in the area; synergies with related industries and universities; development of clinical trials that increase the quality of care and bring important resources to the National Health Service".
In fact, among the major exporters of the European Union, Italy recorded the highest percentage increase in pharmaceutical exports compared to the big names in the sector: 107% against 74%. Furthermore, in the national ranking by export of the technological poles of all sectors, the first two are pharmaceuticals - Lazio and Lombardy - and Tuscany and Campania are respectively in fourth and seventh place. Pharmaceuticals represent 55% of the country's hi-tech exports.
The pharmaceutical sector is also good on the employment front: employees in 2017 amounted to 65.400, of which 93% with permanent contracts and a good 1.000 more than the previous year. Hiring over the past three years has seen 6.000 new workers join each year. Maximum attention of the sector to youth employment for which, according to INPS data, from 2014 to 2016 the under 35 hired grew by +10%, well above the average therefore if we calculate that the general average stood at 3%.
Furthermore, with regard to young people, the association of drug companies coordinates a pilot project of School-Work Alternation, launched by the Ministry of Education, University and Research. The project aims to bring students attending the last years of high school into contact with companies.
Women's quotas respected in the pharmaceutical sector where employed women – and who often hold managerial roles – are 42% of the total, well above the average for the industry as a whole; 40% of these are managers and executives and 52% are researchers.
