Lombardy's new strategy to attract investment

(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - The Lombardy Region is launching a new strategy for attracting investment, under the direction of Economic Development Councillor Guido Guidesi, with the aim of becoming one of the main European platforms for industrial competitiveness, innovation and technological development. With the new strategy, a paradigm shift is marked: from a reactive approach to a proactive industrial policy, oriented both towards attracting greater flows and quality investments, capable of generating innovation, strengthening supply chains and creating skilled employment. This vision now enters a fully operational phase with the 2026 Plan, with which Lombardy aims to make a leap in scale: from national leader to European player, strengthening its ability to attract capital, skills and strategic industrial projects.

With over 23% of the national GDP and more than a quarter of Italia's exports, Lombardy is the country's leading region for attracting foreign investments. From 2021 to 2025 it attracted 448 projects out of a total of 1,158 in Italia, maintaining a share of between 35% and 45% over the last five years. A constant growth in foreign direct investment of 85-90 per year, which translates into +35% compared to the previous five-year period (source: fDi Markets, Financial Times). In particular, in the 2020-2025 period, Regione Lombardia thanks to the 'Invest in Lombardy' project, in collaboration with 'Milano & Partners', has supported over 1,400 foreign companies interested in investing in the territory. Of these, in 2025 alone, 34 have already started or announced investment projects, with an estimated impact of EUR 2.8 billion in capital expenditure and 6,200 new jobs. There are currently 428 projects under active management, concentrated in the highest value-added sectors, mainly in manufacturing (semiconductors, Industry 4.0), Life Sciences (biotechnology, pharmaceuticals), Clean Tech (circular economy, clean energy) IT/ICT.

"The numbers confirm our leading position in Italy in terms of attracting foreign investments; however, we cannot stop at the national record, we can and must improve," said Councillor Guidesi. "This is the goal of the new investment attraction strategy in which we highlight a more leading and active role of the Lombardy Region in order to seize opportunities for new investments by presenting ourselves with complete ecosystems: from research, to suppliers, to skills. We try to play the game of attraction in a more difficult and more competitive league; we raise the level, we try to improve; we want to be an international destination and a European hub,' Guidesi added. "The strategy for attracting investment to Lombardy enters an operational phase with the 2026 Plan, structured on seven pillars that cover the entire investment cycle, from 'lead generation' to 'aftercare services'. The international approach is reinforced by promotional activities and roadshows in the main foreign markets, with 'value propositions' focused on high value-added sectors, supported by specialist know-how and global data analysis. Business intelligence' makes it possible to intercept qualified investors and effectively accompany them on their path to establishment. Aftercare is considered strategic for enhancing the value of already established companies and fostering their growth,' said Promos Italia General Manager Giovanni Rossi. 'We are here to demonstrate that when institutions work together, things can be done, can be done quickly and efficiently, and jobs can be created. Invitalia is the national agency for the attraction of investments and business development, so it manages a whole package of incentives for companies, supports public investments, and within its mandate it also has a special relationship to cultivate with the regions, and Lombardy is the first with which we have signed a cooperation agreement that has two themes in particular the attraction of investments from abroad - and today we are also here in the presence of three companies that have been accompanied by Invitalia to invest in Lombardy - and the other topic on which we focus with the Region is the development of new innovative companies, technology transfer and university spin-offs," said Bernardo Mattarella, CEO of Invitalia.

Lombardy's new strategy is developed along three fundamental lines: investment quality, enhancement of territorial ecosystems and administrative simplification, with the aim of making settlement paths faster, more effective and more predictable. In detail, as far as the quality of investments is concerned, Lombardy aims to strengthen its attractiveness in high value-added sectors: ICT, life sciences, electronics, aerospace, chemistry, advanced agrifood and innovative services, with a focus on research, development and management functions. In relation to the enhancement of territorial ecosystems: the territory is read as an integrated system of supply chains, skills and production specialisations. This context also includes the 'Innovation and Development Zones' (Zis), designed to strengthen highly specialised poles, and the 'Simplified Logistics Zone' (Zls) of Cremona and Mantua, aimed at making production and logistics facilities more competitive. In addition, still on the subject of enhancing specific skills, the Lombardy Region has also activated, among other initiatives, one called 'Talents - Knowledge Transfer', to support the entry of PhDs and highly qualified professionals into Lombardy's small and medium-sized enterprises. Finally, with regard to the simplification and speed of processes, the strengthening of the 'one-stop-shop' model and the enhancement of accompanying services aim to reduce authorisation times and make the investment process smoother.

In this framework, 'Invest in Lombardy' will be strengthened as a single point of access for international investors: an integrated model that accompanies companies throughout the investment cycle, from initial assessment to settlement and post-investment services, helping to reduce complexity and increase the effectiveness of public action.