Artificial intelligence is reshaping economic models, production processes, and the very pace of innovation. In this context, Italy has a unique window of opportunity to position itself at the forefront of the European AI ecosystem, leveraging scientific expertise, advanced technological infrastructure, and a highly specialized industrial base.

CDP Venture Capital has defined a clear investment thesis to capture the most promising market opportunities and amplify the potential of artificial intelligence in Italy, with the goal of strengthening the country’s technological and industrial leadership. The strategy is structured around three key areas of focus:

Technological infrastructure: investments in hardware innovations aimed at strengthening the independence and competitiveness of the semiconductor industry, including AI-optimized chips, edge computing solutions, and high-performance computing technologies.

Core models and technologies: the development of small, lightweight, and adaptable models (SLMs) optimized for companies and industrial value chains, with applications ranging from new drug discovery and therapies to physical and industrial AI use cases.

Industrial applications: solutions that translate models into real-world use cases by automating repetitive tasks, increasing productivity, and enabling greater focus on higher value-added activities.

Building a national artificial intelligence ecosystem means moving from the role of a passive adopter of foreign technologies to that of a creator of proprietary innovation and expertise. It is a challenge that requires strategic vision, targeted investment, and structured collaboration among institutions, businesses, and the research community.

To learn more, read the CDP Venture Capital paper “Italy: the European Hub for Artificial Intelligence”