In the Italian entrepreneurial landscape, innovation remains a decisive factor for competitiveness and growth. Adapting quickly to new challenges, embracing emerging technologies, and rethinking business models have become essential requirements for companies aiming to stand out. The study conducted by Itir (Institute for Transformative Innovation Research), an interdepartmental center of the University of Pavia, analyzed over 7.5 million Italian companies with more than 100 employees, identifying those that demonstrated the greatest agility in facing digitalization, sustainability, and market transformation.
The research considered 2.4 billion online mentions and a sample of 26,809 employees, developing a Transformation Index to measure companies’ ability to innovate and adapt to change.
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The leading companies in transformation and innovation
According to the Itir report, Avio Aero stands out in the aeronautical sector for its advanced technological solutions, while Barilla and Ferrero continue to innovate within the food industry. Enel emerges as a key player in sustainability and renewable energy, demonstrating how utility companies can lead the ecological transition.
Other major names include Generali and Intesa Sanpaolo in financial services, Gucci in fashion, Lavazza in food & beverage, Poste Italiane in logistics, and TIM in telecommunications. The study also highlighted companies at the forefront of digital transformation, such as Banca Sella, Fastweb, and Telepass, while Edison, Iren, and Plenitude distinguished themselves for their commitment to environmental and social sustainability.
Innovation, sustainability and human capital
The prominence of utility companies in the ecological transition reflects their ability to lead complex change. Professor Stefano Denicolai, president of Itir, emphasizes how the combination of business, technology, and purpose is accelerating the transformation of large organizations, involving employees through upskilling and reskilling programs.
The analysis also revealed that, despite the presence of high-performing sectors such as pharmaceuticals, there remains significant room for growth in the adoption of innovative and sustainable strategies — highlighting concrete opportunities for the future of the Italian economy.
Mindhub Transformative Innovation: bridging universities and enterprises
Last October, the University of Pavia officially launched Mindhub Transformative Innovation, a platform designed to encourage collaboration between academia and industry. The platform brings together top managers and strategic partners such as Angelini Industries, beSharp, Risorse Spa, Poste Italiane, Planet Farms and G-Gravity, with the aim of creating value for businesses and, more broadly, for the entire Italian system.
Ernesto Ciorra, former Chief Innovability Officer at Enel, reminded that change is natural and necessary: innovation and sustainability are essential tools for business survival and growth. Embracing change with courage allows companies to transform into true agents of innovation, capable of influencing both the local landscape and the national economy.
