Italy ranks among the top three European countries for the number of green patents. It holds the third position for the number of companies with patents, following only Germany and Austria. The country possesses significant patents in key sectors, such as sustainable mobility, where Italian patents account for 31 percent of the total patents related to climate change mitigation. Another standout is energy efficiency in buildings, where Italy exceeds the European average. Furthermore, Italy remains traditionally one of the most dynamic countries in the waste and wastewater management sector. Not to be overlooked are ICT technologies for climate mitigation, which have seen a record increase of +270 percent over the last ten years.
These figures—demonstrating Italy's capacity to innovate and compete in the environmental sector—emerged from the study "Competitive because Sustainable" (Competitivi perché sostenibili). The report was produced by Fondazione Symbola in collaboration with the Centro Studi Guglielmo Tagliacarne and presented a few days ago at the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy. It serves as a valuable tool for analyzing the sectors and territories where innovation is concentrated, while simultaneously clarifying the link between green innovation and competitiveness.
The analysis reveals that the innovative dynamism of the Italian production system is currently underestimated. This is due to a prevailing industrial culture that is not yet fully oriented toward the systematic valuation of Research and Development (R&D) results, which often results in inventions not being formally translated into intellectual property titles.
Regarding the geographical distribution of innovation, the four large regions of the North lead the way: Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, and Piedmont. These territories are bolstered by their strong manufacturing tradition and their ability to transform research and industrial know-how into concrete solutions.
The study also highlights the clear nexus between green innovation and competitiveness. Italian companies that file patents for green technologies distinguish themselves with significantly higher competitiveness compared to those patenting in non-green fields. In fact, they generate a much higher turnover per company—€382 million compared to €41 million for non-green firms—and record higher productivity, with €144,000 in value-added per employee versus €92,000. Regarding exports, 57.8 percent of these companies export, generating over €63 billion with strong market diversification. Finally, their human capital is more highly qualified, with a larger share of graduates (29.7 percent, of which 16.7 percent are in STEM plus disciplines).
According to the president of Fondazione Symbola, Ermete Realacci, Italy "needs a leap in scale." This requires greater investment in research, support for patenting capabilities, technological strengthening, and the replication of the successful circular economy model across the sectors of efficiency, electrification, and renewables. "Only in this way," he maintains, "can the country aim to be a leader in European green innovation."
