Business · Economy · 7 hrs ago
Assolombarda chief urges Milan to become a hub for industrial AI
At Assolombarda’s annual meeting in Milan, its president, Alvise Biffi, urged businesses and policymakers to make industrial growth a priority.
Assolombarda represents more than 7,000 companies across Milan, Monza-Brianza, Pavia and Lodi.
Biffi said higher productivity is key to creating broader prosperity, including better wages.
He pointed to artificial intelligence as a way to improve efficiency, while saying its use in developing products and services remains limited.
Assolombarda’s ForgIA project involves 20 companies and 60 use cases to help firms share data securely and develop applications together.
Biffi’s main proposal is to make the area a leading centre for “Physical AI,” which combines digital technology with machinery and production.
He also called for industrial policies, including tax incentives that cover cloud software services.
The stated goal is for Italy to help design, industrialise and produce Physical AI in Europe.
Assolombarda president Alvise Biffi urged Milan and its surrounding area to become an international hub for industrial artificial intelligence.
He proposed building a “Factory of Artificial Intelligence” to develop and produce Physical AI, which connects digital technology with the physical world.
Biffi said raising productivity is central to industrial policy and to creating broader prosperity, including through higher wages.
AI is used by 49% of Assolombarda member companies, up from 20% in 2024, but its use in developing new products and services remains limited.
Assolombarda’s ForgIA project involves 20 companies and 60 use cases to support secure data sharing and collaborative applications.
- Who
- Alvise Biffi, president of Assolombarda, addressed the association’s annual assembly.
- What
- He urged Milan and its surrounding area to become a hub for industrial AI and called for a “Factory of Artificial Intelligence.
- When
- At Assolombarda’s annual assembly; the article was published on 12 October 2026.
- Where
- Milan, in the Assolombarda area covering Milan, Monza-Brianza, Pavia and Lodi.
- Why
- Biffi said AI could accelerate productivity and help support industrial growth.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The real challenge for Europe is bringing it into the real economy: for Italy it represents an unmissable opportunity.
When technology has to become movement, precision and production, algorithms are not enough: industry is needed, we are needed.
This must become the central industrial policy issue of our time.
AI was used by 20% of Assolombarda member companies.
At its annual assembly in Milan, Biffi urged the area to become an international reference point for Physical AI.
- Member companies
- More than 7,000
- AI use among members
- 49%, up from 20% in 2024
- ForgIA project
- 20 companies and 60 use cases
- Assolombarda area
- Milan, Monza-Brianza, Pavia and Lodi
- Industrial policy proposal
- Include cloud software services in the hyper-amortisation measure
Sources
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