We often say it, but we don't always value ourselves enough as a country: sustainable innovation isn't just an environmental duty, but rather, one might say, an opportunity for growth, and Italy isn't at all behind the times, as is sometimes thought. We're among the top three European countries for green patents, thanks primarily to manufacturing, but not only. At least, that's what some claim. the study "Competitive because sustainable", conducted jointly by the Symbola Foundation and Unioncamere, in collaboration with Dintec and the Guglielmo Tagliacarne Study Center. While it doesn't capture the full richness of Italian eco-innovation, through its analysis of green patents, the study offers valuable insights into the sectors and regions where innovation is concentrated and allows for a deeper understanding of the connection between green innovation and competitiveness.
Italy is therefore placed among the top three European countries for number of green patents Italy also ranks third in terms of the share of patented companies in the total (16,5 per 1.000 companies), after Germany (21,6) and Austria (18,9). This significant figure underestimates the dynamism of the production system, where investments in sustainability are constantly growing, with 578.450 companies making eco-investments between 2019 and 2024 (38,7% of the total). This widespread innovation is not always translated into intellectual property rights, also due to an industrial culture still poorly oriented towards the systematic valorization of research and development results.
Our country holds important patents in key sectors: sustainable mobility, where Italian patents account for 31% of all patents related to climate change mitigation; energy efficiency in buildings, where we exceed the EU average; waste and wastewater management, a sector in which we are traditionally among the most dynamic; and ICT technologies for climate mitigation, with a record increase of 270% over the last ten years.
The Northern regions – Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto and Piedmont – are driving this trend, strong in their manufacturing tradition and ability to transform research and industrial know-how into concrete solutions. Businesses are the main players, accounting for 81,9% of the published applications, followed by individuals (12,9%), while institutions account for 5,2%.
“Italy knows how to innovate and compete in the environmental sectors – he declares the president of the Symbola Foundation, Ermete Realacci – but it requires a leap in scale: it is necessary to invest more in research, support patenting capacity, strengthen technology transfer, and replicate the successful circular economy model in the areas of efficiency, electrification, and renewables. Only in this way can the country aspire to be a leader in European green innovation. The report "Competitive because sustainable" by the Symbola Foundation and Unioncamere also highlights the connection between green innovation and competitiveness. Indeed, Italian companies that file patents in green technologies stand out for their significantly higher competitiveness than those that patent in other areas.
“Italy has made great strides in green patenting (+44,4% between 2012 and 2022) but there is still a significant gap with Germany and France”, he underlines the general secretary of Unioncamere, Giuseppe Tripoli"Behind every patent lies an investment in research and innovation by companies, universities, and research centers, but investment isn't enough if intellectual property isn't protected with patents. And the credit and finance system is increasingly valuing their ownership as a capital asset for companies when granting loans."
Analyzing the sectoral distribution of Italian European patent applications in the green sector, manufacturing confirms itself as the main driver of innovation (59,0%), followed by sectors related to scientific research (18,8%), telecommunications and information technology (6,6%), wholesale trade (3,5%) and construction (3,5%).
At the technological level, there is a strong presence of solutions linked to the digitalisation of production processes and the efficient management of energy and environmental resources (12,0%). This is a set of innovations that contribute to sustainability. improving the efficiency of internal processes and reducing consumption, waste and emissions. Next in line are technologies for measuring and testing electrical and magnetic variables (7,3%). These are crucial solutions for ensuring high energy performance and accurate control of electrical infrastructures.
The third most important area is represented by technologies for the treatment of wastewater, sewage and sludge (6,5%), this sector confirms the centrality of sustainable water resources management policies, which are increasingly strategic in a context of growing attention to environmental protection. Followed by technologies related to bicycles and micromobility vehicles, covering chassis, steering systems, suspensions, and various devices that make these vehicles increasingly efficient and competitive. The fifth area, energy, includes solutions for AC and DC distribution networks, battery management and charging systems, multi-source power supply, and even technologies for wireless energy transmission.
The study also highlights the connection between green innovation and competitiveness: Italian companies that file patents in green technologies are significantly more competitive than those that file patents in other (non-green) fields. They generate significantly higher turnover per company (€382 million versus €41 million for non-green companies) and achieve higher productivity (€144.000 of added value per employee versus €92.000). From an export perspective, over half (57,8%) export, generating over €63 billion, with a strong diversification of their target markets. Furthermore, human capital is more qualified, with a higher share of graduates (29,7%, including 16,7% in STEM-plus disciplines). Finally, these companies attract more foreign capital: 41,9% have foreign participation, compared to 31,7% of non-green companies.
