Initiatives in this sector have already been implemented by the Commission.
In a significant move to strengthen Lombardy's entrepreneurial potential and attractiveness, Regione Lombardia and Invitalia have signed a strategic protocol aimed at developing Innovation and Development Zones (ZIS). This collaborative effort focuses on enhancing Lombardy's productive system through multiple strategic actions.
The agreement, signed in 2025 by Regional Economic Development Councillor Guido Guidesi and Invitalia’s CEO Bernardo Mattarella, establishes a coordinated operational partnership. The collaboration targets the creation and development of ZIS, which serve as innovation hubs designed to foster the growth of startups, innovative SMEs, and high-impact industrial projects.
The goals for this partnership are ambitious. They aim to strengthen the competitiveness of local enterprises by encouraging innovation, technological transfer, formation and training, and industrial development. The partnership also seeks to attract national and European financial and project resources to support these objectives.
Moreover, the collaboration will facilitate the regeneration of production areas, enhancing the territorial appeal of Lombardy. It will support the birth and growth of new companies within these innovation zones, and improve the territorial attractiveness for investments and talent. This, in turn, will solidify Lombardy's position in the national and international economic landscape.
The ZIS model aligns with the broader strategic industrial plan for Lombardy's economic relaunch, emphasizing governance mechanisms and integrated development actions as part of the collaboration's framework.
Bernardo Mattarella, CEO of Invitalia, recalls that in 2024, Invitalia supported over 62,000 businesses and activated almost €17 billion in public and private investments. He highlights that the collaboration focuses on creating synergies between regional and national measures and supports Lombard businesses, with particular attention to start-ups and innovative SMEs, complex industrial projects, and regeneration and productive investments with high impact.
Guido Guidesi, Regional Councillor for Economic Development, states that the collaboration with Invitalia is part of a strategic framework to further strengthen the regional productive ecosystem. He emphasizes that Lombardy is already a reference point at the international level, and the synergies aim to guarantee continuity to innovation. His goal with Invitalia is to create the best conditions for attracting investments and growing competitiveness.
The signed agreement is considered a fundamental piece to achieve the goal of supporting the capitalization of businesses, facilitating access to credit, and supporting investments. Regione Lombardia and Invitalia will collaborate to enhance local ecosystems and identify national and European co-financing sources for ZIS.
In summary, the initiative between Regione Lombardia and Invitalia consolidates a multifaceted approach combining innovation promotion, financial facilitation, and territorial development centered on Innovation and Development Zones to boost Lombardy's entrepreneurial ecosystem and economic competitiveness.
- The strategic partnership between Regione Lombardia and Invitalia, established in 2025, aims to attract national and European financial resources to support the ambitious goals of strengthening local enterprises, encouraging innovation, and developing Innovation and Development Zones (ZIS) in Lombardy's economic landscape.
- As part of their collaboration, Regione Lombardia and Invitalia will work together to foster the growth of startups, innovative SMEs, and high-impact industrial projects, and to regenerate production areas within Lombardy's Innovation and Development Zones (ZIS), with a focus on business finance and the productive system.
