EIB Investment Report: Italian firms resilient and confident, but room for improvement on climate and innovation

Brussels – Corporate investment in Italy rose by 9.4 percent compared with pre-Covid levels, driven by public sector support, highlighting the resilience and confidence of companies to strengthen their activities, according to the latest EIB Group Investment Survey (EIBIS), which analyzed the strategies of some 13,000 firms across the European Union and the United States.

“The EIB survey shows that Italian companies are stepping up their investments in sustainability and innovation. Although the journey is not yet complete, it is clear that businesses recognize that the twin ecological and digital transition is not only a challenge but also a strategic opportunity. To strengthen the country’s competitiveness and autonomy, it is crucial to further accelerate investment in these areas,” said Gelsomina Vigliotti, Vice President of the Bank.

Detailed reports for individual EU countries have been published today. For Italy, the main data that emerged include:

• Innovation and digitization: Italian companies have adopted advanced digital technologies, such as big data, drones, platforms, and artificial intelligence, in a percentage similar to the European average (71 percent compared to 74). Construction appears to be one of the least digitized sector.
• Sustainability: investments to combat climate change are rising but remain below the EU average: 82 percent of Italian companies have taken measures to reduce emissions, compared to 91 on average in Europe. The use of renewable energy is good, but other environmental mitigation strategies are less widespread.
• Climate resilience: more than half of businesses have taken measures against extreme weather events (56 percent versus 48 in the EU). In addition, 46 percent are insured against climate damage, more than double the EU average (21 percent).
• Financing: Italian firms finance most investments through their resources, while reliance on external funding remains stable and above the EU average (52 percent versus 42 percent).

“European companies are making progress in combating climate change and digital transformation at all levels,” said Debora Revoltella, Chief Economist at the EIB. “However, to strengthen investment in the EU, we need a more cohesive and integrated single market,” she added.

 The full report for Italy is available here.

The survey results feed into the annual Investment Report, the flagship publication of EIB Group’s Economics Department, which analyzes the investment outlook for the European economy.

The next Investment Report will be released during the third edition of the EIB Group Forum in Luxembourg on March 5, 2025, an event gathering government, business, and finance leaders to discuss investment priorities in support of European policies, including industrial decarbonization, artificial intelligence, Capital Markets Union, security, construction, and EU enlargement. This year’s theme is Investing in a more sustainable and secure Europe.