Page 15 - Investing in Bergamo EN

3

A STRONGHOLD OF INDUSTRY

From an international perspective, the industrial and manufacturing specialisation is
even more evident and noticeable.
A recent study (“Bergamo Manifattura d’Europa” – Fondazione Edison, Confindustria
Bergamo, Fondazione Symbola, 2015) ranked Brescia and Bergamo first and second
among the 1,294 European areas (NUTS 3) in terms of value produced by industrial
activities. The study (based on 2011 Eurostat data) considered territories with high
industrial concentration based on the following filters: value added and persons
employed in industry (excluding construction) > 30%, persons employed in industry >
20,000, value added per person employed in industry > 50,000 euro, total value added
in industry > 3 billion euros.
Among the first twenty provinces of the EU28, 10 are German, 9 Italian and 1 Polish.
The industrial value added by Italian territories was 65.6 million; German provinces
produced a total of 60.5 million.
The ranking changes when considering the value added per employee, which is higher
in some German provinces. The different hierarchy only partially depends on higher
productivity. There are two other more motivating factors. First of all, the headquarters
of some multinational companies are located in some of those territories with
significantly higher performances, which include the work of management and the
multiplying effects of financial and commercial activities. Secondly, they are the result
of a business organisation where the design and assembly of imported manufactured
goods prevails over direct production. 64.4% of products exported from Germany are
made in Germany, while exports made in Bergamo account for 80% of products
made in Italy (OECD 2015).
The study shows that the manufacturing specialisation characterises a large part of
northern Italy. In fact, it covers the entire foothills of Piedmont, Lombardy and Triveneto,
plus some territories of Emilia Romagna, which have a similar model of development,
although matured at different times and based on different specific abilities. However,
all these territories today have a high concentration of investments and employment in
mechanics.
About 10 years ago, the industrial associations of the most industrialised provinces
in Italy formed the “Club dei Quindici” to identify the best corporate practices and
territorial policies, to improve the range and quality of services provided to companies,
and to promote a shared lobby action. The Club dei Quindici also conducted experiments
to improve scientific and technical training in high schools.
The renewed focus on industrial policy for Europe is, at least in part, a result of the
action of the Club dei Quindici. In particular, the choice in the EU and Italy to focus on
clusters represents the adhesion to a proposal of industrial Italy.