Incentives, Pnrr and assignments drive construction

The boost of tax incentives and the NRP make construction, engineering and integrated design companies fly. 18% of the protagonists of Growth Leaders 2025, the ranking compiled by Il Sole 24 Ore and Statista, are included in the 'construction and engineering' macro sector, joined by other companies in the 'professional services' category. The tail end, in terms of economic success, remains pure architecture, largely incorporated within design services or driven by companies themselves through integrated contracts. Space is also given to research and innovation as told by the Ricehouse story: an innovative SME developing innovative products and services related to the exploitation of rice processing by-products. Energy requalification and green transition of real estate are the prevailing areas.

And again, there are those who have taken the field for reconstruction in fragile areas, such as Newark, which took off in Abruzzo in 2009 and has formed alliances with other companies in complementary sectors. Those who climb the rankings offer turnkey services from design to construction: the general contractors, such as Alpha or Manelli, and others who hold together services related to construction and energy, and who have managed to distinguish themselves in a market that in recent years has demanded performance and speed, often to the detriment of smaller and less structured realities. According to data from the National Council of Engineers, freelancers won 36.9 per cent of the tenders in the period from May to August 2024, but only 7.7 per cent of the amounts. The majority of the latter was awarded by companies with 68.2% and 44.2% of the tenders respectively.