Italy Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in italy, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
Select Country Guide
Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
Last published date:

Overview

The Italian ICT market has experienced significant growth and innovation in recent years. It plays a crucial role in driving economic growth, productivity, and innovation across industries. While estimates of the value of the market vary from $70 billion to over $100 billion, experts agree that it will continue to grow. This growth and increasing demand for ICT products and services can be attributed in part to digitalization efforts in both the public and private sector. U.S. companies are among the leading providers, and they have a strong presence in Italy in all segments of the ICT market, including hardware, software, and services. The big players not only sell their products and services, but also invest heavily in research and development and support educational and training programs in Italy.

The government recognizes the importance of the ICT sector and, as part of its digital-transformation efforts, has been actively investing to foster innovation and drive overall digitalization. Italy also promotes public-private partnerships to encourage collaboration and leverage private-sector expertise and resources. The NRRP and the Digital Italy Plan include funds for investments in ICT infrastructure and connectivity to accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies and improve the country’s digital capabilities. These investments present opportunities for businesses to collaborate with the government, access funding support, and contribute to Italy’s digital transformation.

Opportunities

The ICT sector presents a promising landscape for businesses and investors. With a growing market size and favorable government initiatives, there are ample opportunities for ICT companies to thrive. Entering the market requires a good understanding of regulations and business practices. Building strong partnerships and sometimes localizing products and services can be key factors in seizing opportunities. Staying abreast of key trends and leveraging emerging technologies is important for long-term success in the evolving Italian ICT market.

Digital transformation: The government has been actively promoting digital transformation across sectors, creating opportunities for companies to offer innovative solutions in cloud computing, data centers, management, and analytics.

Internet of Things (IoT): The adoption of IoT technologies is on the rise, particularly in sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, and transportation. This trend presents significant opportunities for companies to provide IoT planforms, sensors, and analytic solutions.

Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI is gaining traction in Italy, with applications across various industries, including finance, advanced manufacturing, utilities, healthcare, and retail. However, there is still much untapped potential for this technology to support business activities. There is a growing demand for AI-powered solutions, including virtual assistants, chatbots, predictive analytics, and automation tools. 

E-commerce: Italy has seen a significant increase in e-commerce activities and a shift towards digital payments. This presents opportunities for companies to develop secure payment gateways, mobile applications, and e-commerce platforms.

Telecommunications: Italy is among the largest telecom markets in Europe, with rapidly growing demand for faster, seamless connectivity. Increasing adoption of mobile broadband services is increasing investments in high-speed networks, offering opportunities for network and equipment vendors. Continuing market consolidation will further intensify competition and unlock new revenue streams for technology companies.

Resources

AGID: Agency for Digital Italy

Anitec-Assinform: Italian ICT industry association, member of Confindustria

Assintel: National trade association of ICT companies

Asstel: Italian telecommunications industry association, member of Confindustria

U.S. Commercial Service Italy:

Elisa Martucci, Commercial Specialist

U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. Embassy Rome

Tel: +39 06 4674 2252

Email: elisa.martucci@trade.gov

×

Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

Privacy

The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

Privacy Program | Information Quality Guidelines | Accessibility