The so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution, mostly known as Industry 4.0, is characterised by the increasing and pervasive use of digital technology. This is not only within companies to produce goods or services, but also in the innumerable areas related to the civil society and the management of interpersonal relationships. One of the most ambitious challenges here is linked to enterprises‘ capacity to perceive the advantages of digital innovation set out in Plan Impresa 4.0. This is why PIDs, set up as entry points of the national Network Impresa 4.0, were given the general goal to promote the dissemination of knowledge and skills related to digitisation to MSMEs of all economic sectors.
Such integration between the real world and virtual technology was brought to an inevitable revolution in business models, for businesses, lifestyles and people. While there is a breaking of boundaries – be they geographical, sectoral or physical – there is also the chance of contact between regions and worlds that were separated and far from each other before now. Consequently, besides the enormous opportunities that can arise in terms of development, risks can also be generated in terms of protection and safety of people (and data). The 2017 Budget Law provided for the implementation of the National Plan Industria 4.0 (later renamed Plan Impresa 4.0 because it was intended for all companies of any sector and size), placing industrial policy at the centre of the government’s agenda again.
The Plan Impresa 4.0 covered all aspects of companies’ life cycle offering support in investments, digitisation of production processes, enhancement of workers’ productivity, capacity building, and development of new products and processes. The Plan Impresa 4.0 gave a real boost to the Italian manufacturing industry which started reinvesting in technology, research and training (+ 11% investments in innovation in 2018, as a result of the measures provided in the plan). In September 2018 the new government, while confirming the strategic lines of the plan, wanted it to better suit small and medium enterprises, also stressing the need for accompanying measures addressed to the training of entrepreneurs.
The general goal was achieved through the pursuit of specific objectives summarised as follows:
- Increase the awareness of all kinds of enterprises on opportunities and potential benefits from technological transformation. Also, on risks attaching to a failure to adapt their business models and production systems to innovations provided in the National Plan Impresa 4.0.
- Qualify/requalify the professions and skills of chambers’ staff to enable them to effectively support enterprises in their development towards change and the new production paradigm.
- Engage as broadly as possible the whole digitisation chain, (such as technology producers, vocational training institutes, research agencies/centres, institutions) so that interventions do not end solely in the acquisition of technology and tools, but also spur enterprises to cultural and production paradigm change.
Once enterprises understand the potential offered by innovation and digital approaches, they must also be able to act accordingly, by implementing all actions which are conducive to supporting the technology transfer. This could be investments, development of modern organisational and business models, and staff training to ensure qualified human resources that are properly prepared to meet new needs.
At the same time, the public administration (PA) will learn to cope with such a challenge and support the switchover to digitisation by providing services, learning and growth opportunities that boost research and innovation, mainly focusing on sustainable production models. The establishment of PIDs is an instance of good practice worth applying since it is based on the successful achievement of modernisation both in enterprises and in the public administration, which developed into an operational model reinforced by both players’ experience.
The PID project shaped a new kind of relationship with enterprises. They introduced a completely new service of national relevance and impact in support of the business digitisation process. Regarding the professional and economic resources allocated and the attention paid by the Italian government to digital innovation, PIDs activity is strategic not only for the Italian Chambers of Commerce but also for the country as a whole.