Sardinian companies are betting little on product and production process innovation. In fact, only 40.1% of the island's companies have invested in activities to create new goods and services or change production methods. The gap towards more virtuous companies, therefore, limits Sardinian companies in productivity, slows down demand, places them in an insufficient competitive position and makes them less resilient. The picture of the situation is outlined by the data from the analysis of the Confartigianato Imprese Sardegna Research Office, based on Istat data, relating to "Innovation of the production system". In detail, 30.9% of small companies have introduced at least one product innovation, while process innovation is more widespread, detected in 50.2% of cases.

The Island occupies the fourth-last place in the national ranking, opened by the Marche with 59% of companies that have carried out innovative product and process activities, followed by Piedmont with 58.3% and Liguria with 54.8%. In last place is Molise with 34.2% against the national average of 50.9%. The insufficient propensity for renewal of Sardinian production companies is also certified by the residual quantity of patents filed with the Chambers of Commerce. In 2023, only 7 were registered while in the previous year 12 were filed, with a decrease of -43.26%. In general, in Italy these registrations have grown from 4,773 in 2022 to 4,780 in 2023, with a percentage increase of 0.13%, or + 6 filings.

"Despite the great strides made by companies in recent years - comments Giacomo Meloni, President of Confartigianato Imprese Sardegna - we realize how important it is to support production activities in their daily commitment to innovate, renew and research and make the entire island economic system increasingly efficient, even with respect to sudden changes, as we are seeing these days, and to which we will have to get used to".

Furthermore, according to Confartigianato studies, a high propensity for innovation by companies generates several positive effects on the economy. Process innovation determines more efficient production methods and an increase in productivity. The introduction of new products and services stimulates and expands demand, both domestically and on international markets. Companies that innovate differentiate their product range and improve their competitive position, and changes in production processes can generate new employment opportunities, especially in highly qualified segments. Innovative companies are more attractive to investors, activating a flow of capital that can stimulate growth processes and further innovation. New products and innovative processes in the healthcare, digital technology and transport sectors lead to improvements in the quality of life of citizens, reducing the costs of families and businesses. Innovation-oriented companies carry out more sustainable interventions and practices. Innovation can drive the creation of new production chains, encouraging greater diversification of the offer, more oriented towards innovative products, and reducing dependence on more traditional sectors. On the drivers of new entrepreneurship, see our analysis on Spirito artigiano. An innovation-oriented business system adapts more quickly to market changes and is more resilient in recessionary cyclical phases. Furthermore, the research and innovation activity of businesses determines an increase in the intrinsic quality of Made in Italy products, a phenomenon characterized by better design, higher quality of raw materials and the introduction of new features.

Still speaking of innovation, as Confartigianato Sardegna points out, there is a widespread conciliation between innovation and environmental protection . 37.9% of small businesses that have innovated have undertaken low environmental impact actions. In 33.8% of small businesses, the implementation of innovations has translated into positive environmental effects in the production phase and in 27.1% into benefits obtained in the consumption and use of goods and services phase. The most frequent interventions have concerned lower energy consumption and the reduction of CO2 emissions. This is followed by the replacement of traditional materials with less polluting or dangerous materials, the reduction of air, water, noise and soil pollution, recycling of materials and waste, recycling of water and end-of-life products. The commitment to protecting biodiversity is more limited.

(Online Union)

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