Benefit Corporations and business networks: innovation and collaboration for growth

(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Benefit Corporations and business network contracts are two legal instruments provided for under Italian law; whilst they may appear quite different, they share some unexpected commonalities: from the importance placed on innovation and training to the positive impact on their local communities. Although they stem from different legal premises and business models, they contribute to shared growth: not only economic growth, but growth in other respects as well. Both Benefit Corporations and business networks achieve a common outcome, which can be identified as the creation of shared value that goes beyond mere profit. On the one hand, it should be noted that Benefit Corporations are organisations that operate with the aim of generating a positive impact on society and the environment, alongside financial profit. The shared value they create therefore benefits not only the enterprise but all stakeholders. On the other hand, the network contract is an innovative model of collaboration between businesses, introduced into Italian law in 2009, which allows member companies to carry out shared projects and objectives with a view to increasing their innovative capacity and competitiveness in the market, whilst each retains its independence, autonomy and specialisation. In effect, a ‘network’ is created comprising businesses operating towards a common goal which, whilst rooted in economic objectives, also has the effect of generating positive benefits for the sectors and regions in which they operate. Healthy, collaborative businesses, through their growth, bring benefits in many respects, starting with the economic sphere but also extending to social and environmental aspects.

Business networks effectively embrace a broad concept of sustainability: by improving process efficiency and driving innovation and competitiveness – even without having this explicitly stated as a written objective – they achieve results comparable to those of Benefit Corporations. Network contracts enable companies to scale up whilst preserving the legal and operational autonomy of the member firms. As highlighted in the annual report on business networks, “small businesses network to become big”: and larger companies can be more efficient, with greater productivity and investment capacity. Greater efficiency means lower consumption, particularly of energy, with a direct and positive impact on the environment. Network contracts also enable companies to better tackle markets, including international ones, encourage the sharing of skills and — as found by analysing the networks themselves — lead to positive economic results. This achievement, the goal of all businesses, generates a virtuous circle that involves workers and the local area in which the networked businesses operate.

In Italia, as of the first quarter of 2026, there were 5,754 Benefit Corporations (+19.55% compared with the previous year), employing 250,000 people and generating a production value of over €70 billion. Lombardy is the region with the highest number of such companies: they account for 30.85% of the total, followed by Lazio (12.3%) and Veneto (10.03%). Furthermore, as shown by the Benefit Corporation Observatory, at sectoral level, 27.09% of the total operate in professional, scientific and technical activities, 15.71% in telecommunications, IT programming and consultancy, and 11.38% in manufacturing.

According to the 2025 edition of the National Observatory on Business Networks, compiled by InfoCamere, RetImpresa and the Venice School of Management at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, in 2025 there were 10,361 active network contracts, an increase of 7.6% compared to 2024, involving around 53,000 businesses, up 5.2% year-on-year. Networked enterprises employed over 1.743 million people: while micro-enterprises, despite representing the numerical majority (50.8%), account for only 4.6% of total employment, whereas medium-to-large enterprises, despite making up less than 10%, employ over 80% of the workforce. The main objectives of the networks are primarily linked to competitiveness: increasing bargaining power (37.6%), sharing resources (27.5%), and participating in calls for tenders and contracts (25.8%). Geographically, networks are spread across all regions, with Lazio remaining the leader in terms of the number of networked enterprises (23%), followed by Lombardy, Veneto and Campania. Over 52% of the networks involved firms from the same province and around 70.8% consist of intra-regional groupings, although the share of inter-regional networks has grown (19.7%). Looking at the data by sector, almost half of the networked firms were concentrated in three sectors: agri-food (21.3%), construction (15.2%) and trade (11.4%).

To inform and train businesses and professionals – particularly accountants and notaries, who can act as ‘ambassadors’ for their clients – about the Benefit model, the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy, in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce system, has launched a programme of events across Italia. These events aim to improve understanding of the process of setting up and managing Benefit Corporations, illustrating the characteristics of these businesses from multiple perspectives, starting with the regulatory framework, legal aspects and statutory structure, without overlooking the business model and specific tax regulations. In particular, the process begins by listening, gathering the real needs of local businesses regarding the adoption of the Benefit model; and then moving on to – as mentioned – training and information initiatives for businesses and professionals to promote the benefit model, explaining its advantages, given that, despite steady growth since its introduction, its uptake remains limited. At the meeting organised at the headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce of Alessandria-Asti, entitled "Benefit Corporations: growth opportunities for businesses and the local area", participants had the opportunity to learn about an initiative that combines the Benefit model with business network contracts. Among the practical examples presented was that of A3i, a network of 'benefit' companies established through an agreement between Amapola and 3i Efficientamento Energetico. Amapola is a consultancy specialising in sustainability with a focus on communication, supporting organisations in developing sustainability pathways and projects shared with all stakeholders; 3iEE, on the other hand, specialises in solutions for optimising consumption, managing emissions and ensuring compliance with energy regulations. Together, they have created a network to offer comprehensive, multidisciplinary and operational ESG consultancy: two benefit corporations collaborating to help companies rise to the challenge of sustainability and translate it into concrete, verifiable results that can be leveraged in the marketplace.