Success Stories

Thanks to the cooperation between the Italian Trade Agency and Invitalia, the 'Invest in Italy' team has provided support to several foreign investors establishing their business in the country. 

Here are some of our main success stories where companies have benefited from our expertise and network in order to pursue their investment plans. 

achievement

 

MACROGEN

Macrogen expands its operations in Milano. 

Macrogen, mother company of Macrogen Europe B.V. is a South Korean precision medicine firm established in 1997. Today, the company is among the five main genome sequencing service providers in the world. 

By choosing Milano from a shortlist of several European locations, the company decided to bet on the growing demand for genomics services coming from Italian customers and Italy’s willingness to gain a leading position in this field. The new office and laboratory space where DNA sequencing service is conducted for Italy customers, is about to be inaugurated at the UniMi Foundation, the incubation and technology transfer center of the University of Milano.

GEMATEG

GemaTEG group, specialized in the development of thermoelectric systems for the recovery of waste heat from servers, following strong interest in its projects is redefining its development plans for the next two years. The aim is to strengthen the Perugia (Umbria) operational headquarter, with the recruitment of specialized resources and the increase of R&D partnerships with the main research centers at national level.

To facilitate the company’s objectives, the management has resolved to strengthen the Perugia operational headquarter, which demonstrates the willingness to reinforce and concentrate R&D activities in Italy where the Group recognizes a strong technical and specialist expertise. That is why it has been planned to increase the number of resources with different skills and knowledge in Perugia to triple the current number of employees over the next two years.

SENSORIA ITALIA

A new high-tech R&D entity, Sensoria Italia srl, opens for business in Italy. 

Sensoria Health Inc. is a US-based company whose vision is The Garment is the Computer®.

Sensoria established its legal entity in Bergamo, Lombardia, in spite of the challenges posed by the pandemic situation in November of 2020, visited in person the New Steel incubator offices in the Campania Region and is now planning to open its first R&D office in Europe in Naples.

Thanks to the Smart&Start Incentive program, Sensoria is planning to hire engineers from the local vibrant ecosystem and further accelerate the development of its SDK and technology platform and product pipeline.

Sensoria Heath’s Italian investment represents its first European R&D center with the mission of developing its product line of biometric-sensing smart garments and artificial intelligence-connected software. Sensoria is looking forward to working and partnering with the textile, clothing, and fashion ecosystem in Italy.

JAGUAR HEALTH

Jaguar Health, Inc. is a US-based company focused on developing and commercializing proprietary plant-based human gastrointestinal pharmaceuticals from plants harvested responsibly from rainforest areas.

On March 12th, 2021, Jaguar Health’s wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary, Napo Pharmaceuticals, established its own wholly-owned subsidiary, Napo EU, in Milan, Italy with the mission to expand access to crofelemer in Europe (excluding Russia) to address significant unmet gastrointestinal medical needs.

The “Invest In Italy” team that involves the Italian Trade Agency and its office in San Francisco, California, in collaboration with the local investment agency Milano & Partners, supported Jaguar Health and Napo Pharmaceuticals throughout the process of establishing Napo EU in Milan, and with regard to the anticipated merger of Napo EU and Dragon SPAC. Further support is being provided for location scouting, hiring, and engagement with the local financial community.

BAYER PROJECTS IN MILAN

The Bayer Group is in Italy under Bayer S.p.a. with its headquarter in Milan and a delegation in Rome. In 2018, Bayer invested € 11 mln in the production site of Garbagnate Milanese (MI) in the Industria 4.0 field. The Italian situation registered a turnover of € 1,029 mln in 2017, above 2,000 employees and 3 production sites with the most advanced systems in the world. The production potential is based on three industrial sites, with headquarters in Garbagnate Milanese, Segrate (MI) and Filago (BG). These industrial sites are international reference points for the most advanced productions capacities with the automation of processes, the use of cutting-edge technologies and constant innovation fueled by a policy of strong investments.

[Source: Booklet WMF 2019]

 

FASHION INVESTMENTS IN TUSCANY

In April 2018, Gucci (Kering Group) inaugurated the ArtLab centre in the area of the former Matec in Scandicci (FI), where 900 new employees will work at full capacity.

In July 2019, Chanel invested in the tannery “Samanta” in Ponte a Egola (PI), in the heart of the Santa Croce leather district, thus strengthening the upstream production chain.

[Source: Booklet WMF 2019]

SANOFI PROJECT IN BRINDISI

In 2017, the French multinational Sanofi, active in the pharma sector invested € 6 mln in its Brindisi plant, for the development of an industrial biotechnology project. This project aims to develop innovative technologies for the genetic improvement of the micro-organisms and of the processes of fermentation extraction and purification of active ingredients.

[Source: Booklet WMF 2019]

AVL AND FEV ADV. MECH. ENGINEERING INVESTS IN EMILIA ROMAGNA

AVL and FEV - two top world companies in the powertrain engineering - invested in Emilia-Romagna with the support of the Regional Law for the Promotion of Investments (L.R. 14/2014) collaborating with local stakeholders and companies.

In 2017, AVL Italia opened in Cavriago, Reggio Emilia, a specialized R&D centre to collaborate with the top companies of the regional motor valley, investing almost € 10 mln (with a regional incentive of € 3,3 mln) and creating 52 additional full-time jobs.

In 2019, the FEV Group – present in Emilia-Romagna with a branch in Sant’Agata Bolognese since 2014 – has opened the first private laboratory of a foreign company inside the University of Bologna – the “Green mobility research lab” – that will develop predictive algorithms in smart vehicles. In the same year, the company started another investment in the region focused on Advanced Driver Assistance System that is hiring 22 new employees (18 of which graduated) with an investment of € 2,4 mln (with a regional incentive of € 1 mln).

[Source: Booklet WMF 2019]

BOSCH METALWORKING INVESTMENT IN UDINE

Freud S.p.A. - part of the Bosch group – is the worldwide leader in the cutting tool industry. The new plant established in April 2018 in the Industrial Area of Udine (Z.I.U. – Zona Industriale Udinese) has been built in a year and a half (including six months for the site planning) and covers a 30,000 sqm lot, with about 4,000 sqm for the factory and the warehouse, whereas about 2,000 are dedicated to offices. In a first phase, more than 100 employees of the administration, commercial and R&D areas have been transferred in the new production site. Freud S.p.A. represents a success story, not only for the positive result and outcome obtained, but also because of the fruitful collaboration established between the Regional administration and the Industrial Area Consortium (COSEF - Consorzio per lo Sviluppo Industriale del Friuli Centrale).

[Source: Booklet WMF 2019]

AVIO AERO INVESTMENTS IN ITALY

The development of the Brindisi and Pomigliano D’Arco (Napoli) production sites; 2 R&D projects - divided between Piedmont, Campania and Apulia - and an increase of at least 100 new jobs.

These are the objectives of the new development contract presented by Avio Aero, a large company of the General Electric group, and approved by Invitalia, the National Development Agency.

The investment is expected to amount to € 77,8 mln, € 51 mln of which are for R&D activities and are the subject of a Development Agreement signed by the Mise and by the Piedmont, Campania, and Apulia Regions.

The maximum non-repayable grants, approved by Invitalia, amount to € 27,3 mln: € 22,5 mln granted by the Mise, € 1,8 mln by the Campania Region (MiSE-Region Framework Program Agreement), and € 3 mln by the Apulia Region. The Piedmont Region provides high-level training and research contracts for the employment inclusion of young people.

These investments, consistent with the National Industry 4.0 Plan, mainly focus on the development and industrialization of innovative products and processes, based on new technologies such as additive and advanced manufacturing, and industrial digitalization.

[Source: Invitalia website – August 7, 2019]

ALIMENTA AND ITS POWDERED MILK IN NUORO

Alimenta, a joint venture between the Chinese company Blue River Dairy (60%) and the Sardinian real estate group Cualbu (40%), signed a € 41 million worth Development Contract, € 12,2 of which granted by Invitalia and € 2,1 by the Sardinia Region. The development plan will lead to the creation of 29 new jobs, that will eventually increase up to 80. 

The Italian Trade Agency, as part of the 'Invest in Italy' project with Invitalia, has given its full availability to support the company in the implementation phase of the investment project which has been supported also by the Embassy of Italy in China. 

Alimenta will build a new factory in Sardinia, Borore (Nuoro), to produce powdered milk for children destined to the Chinese market. More than half of the investments are included among the innovations within the Industry 4.0 National Plan. The current production plant will thus be substituted since no more in line with the company’s growth plans and the quality standard of its products.Besides, it is noteworthy that the entire local supply chain will benefit from this investment, especially the Sardinian breeders and local producers as Alimenta purchases their serum.

[Source: Invitalia website, July 15, 2019]

KÄSSBOHRER ITALIA SRL IN THE VERONA FREIGHT VILLAGE

Kässbohrer, the leading manufacturer of semi-trailers in Europe, has inaugurated Kässbohrer Italia Srl during a ceremony at the Verona Freight Village Headquarters. Kässbohrer Italia is the newest member of the company’s European network, dedicated to providing qualified services for its customers and business partners, with its wide range of products.

This represents a strategic investment since the Verona Freight Village is classified as the first European Freight Village with over 16,000 trains moved in 2017.

[Source: Ferpress website, April 10, 2019]

HARD ROCK HOTEL TOURISM PROJECT IN PALERMO

A single large 5-star hotel will be developed in Campofelice di Roccella (Palermo) by redeveloping the two existing tourist complexes with a new hotel branded ‘Hard Rock Hotel’ (HRH).

This investment – realized by Royal Imera Srl, active in the tourism-hotel sector and controlled by Residencial Marina S.L., owned by the Spanish Palladium group – was made possible thanks to the Invitalia’s Development Contract incentive.

The development program, launched in May 2018, will end in December 2019 and, when fully operational, is expected to create 180 new jobs for a total investment of € 28,7 mln, € 7,1 mln of which granted through public subsidies.

[Source: Invitalia website – March 29, 2019]

HITACHI RAIL ITALY INVESTS IN ITALY

Invitalia has approved the development contract proposed by Hitachi Rail Italy, a large company in the railway sector, born in 2015 from the evolution of Ansaldo-Breda, and currently part of the Japanese Hitachi group. The total investment amounts to € 79,3 mln, € 26,1 mln of which granted by Invitalia.

In particular, € 49,7 mln are dedicated to the digital transformation of the plants in Pistoia, Naples and Reggio Calabria through interventions in line with the Industry 4.0 plan. This will make it possible to increase the production of high-speed trains, regional trains, trams and subways, destined to the main players of the Italian and foreign railway transport field.

The remaining € 29,6 mln will finance an R&D program that will be carried out together with 5 institutions: University of Florence, University of Cassino, University of Naples "Federico II", University of Salerno and CNR Institute of Industrial Technologies and Automation.

The entire project will imply the creation of 409 new jobs: 169 in Pistoia, 190 in Naples and 50 in Reggio Calabria.

[Source: Invitalia website – March 20, 2019]

ANSETT AVIATION TRAINING OPENS THE FIRST SIMULATOR IN MALPENSA

Ansett Aviation Training – the largest independent provider of training services with flight simulators at a global level – strengthens its European aviation training base at Malpensa, by creating the first flight simulator for the Bombardier CL-415 aircraft – better known as Canadair – the most used means for extinguishing fires.

Ansett’s investment was supported with € 17,4 mln by ITA – Italian Trade Agency, Promos-Invest in Lombardy and Invitalia. Ansett's global investment in Milan amounts to € 45 mln. The objective of the new flight simulator is to make it become a global point of reference in pilot training, for an aircraft whose incidents in the training phase statistically represent 50% of the total.

[Source: Invitalia website – January 28, 2019]

NESTLÉ FOOD INVESTMENT IN BENEVENTO

€ 50 mln, 150 new jobs, 350 pizzas per minute and 3 new production lines. These are the numbers of the investment project which, thanks to the development contract and a specific program agreement, Nestlè Italia has granted for the Buitoni plant in Benevento, where developing the international frozen pizza hub.

The project aims to expand the production capacity of the existing plant (acquired by Nestlè in 1993) and introduce new technologies that will allow the production of three new frozen pizza lines for the Italian market, but above all for the European market.

All thanks to a 4.0 factory, with temperature-controlled warehouses, reduced emissions, 5,200 sqm of photovoltaic system and 100% guaranteed waste recycling. Also, the Campania Region contribution amounted to € 11,2 mln.

[Source: Invitalia website – September 18, 2018]

EBARA INVESTS IN VICENZA

Ebara Pumps Europe SpA inaugurated its new plant in Gambellara, Vicenza, on April 12, 2018. The plant has a 54,000 sqm-wide area, 27,000 sqm of which for producing and 4,000 sqm dedicated to new offices.

The settlement of Ebara in the Vicenza province starts from the nineties, when the headquarters was settled in Brendola to take advantage of the local skills. Since then, the presence of Ebara in Europe has grown as well as its skills and collaboration with the territory.

[Source: Ebara website, April 18, 2018]