The value of Made in Italy: innovation rooted in quality and creativity

At the heart of the Italy Innovation Forum 2025, the panel titled “Il Valore del Made in Italy: qualità, creatività e innovazione come driver di crescita” (The Value of Made in Italy: Quality, Creativity, and Innovation as Drivers of Growth) brought together a powerhouse of industrial leadership, creative strategy, and sustainable foresight. The discussion offered profound insights into how Italy’s manufacturing excellence continues to evolve in the face of global change.

A High-Caliber Panel of Visionaries

Moderated by Barbara Gasperini, journalist for La Repubblica, the panel included:

• Enrico Aureli – President, SCM Group S.p.A.; CEO, Aureli Group S.p.A.; and Vice President, Confindustria Macchine
• Gianni Caimi – President, Caimi Brevetti S.p.A.
• Simon Giuliani – Global Marketing Director, Candiani S.p.A.
• Giulio Pedrollo – Managing Director, Pedrollo Group S.p.A.

Each speaker brought unique industry perspectives ranging from mechanical engineering and automation to textile innovation and advanced water technologies all united by the shared values of quality, creativity, and innovation that define “Made in Italy.”

Simon Giuliani, who has been a driving force behind Candiani S.p.A.’s global sustainability strategy, emphasized the critical intersection of anticipation, communication, and legislation in today’s industrial innovation.

Giuliani reflected on how sustainable transformation isn’t just a trend but a strategic necessity, deeply connected with upcoming EU regulations. He stressed the importance of “anticipatory governance”, a proactive approach that enables companies to innovate within evolving legal and environmental frameworks, often through pilot programs or sandboxed experimentation.

Our future competitiveness depends on how well we can anticipate and align with upcoming legislation, communicate value clearly, and ensure innovation is actionable

Simon Giuliani – Global Marketing Director, Candiani S.p.A.

Industry Leaders on Tradition and Technology

Enrico Aureli, representing both SCM Group and Confindustria Macchine, emphasized the integration of automation and digital manufacturing to enhance Italy’s traditional mechanical craftsmanship. He spoke on how innovation must reinforce not replace the artisan heritage that has long defined Italian manufacturing.

Gianni Caimi, known for leading one of Italy’s most design-forward furniture companies, highlighted creativity as a differentiator. “Italian design thrives on cultural depth. Innovation gives us the tools to scale that creativity sustainably.”

Giulio Pedrollo, from one of Italy’s foremost engineering companies, brought the water-energy nexus into the spotlight, discussing how Pedrollo Group is adopting smart technologies to optimize energy efficiency in water treatment systems underscoring that sustainability is as much about efficiency and intelligence as it is about materials.