The Italian AI market is growing rapidly, but small and medium enterprises are struggling to adapt, prompting the launch of the ForgIA project to enhance productivity through AI.
Italy's artificial intelligence market is experiencing significant growth, with projections indicating a 50% increase by 2024, reaching 1.8 billion euros. Despite this promising outlook, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face considerable challenges in leveraging AI technology effectively. Alvise Biffi, president of Assolombarda, emphasized this issue at the recent AI Forum, where he introduced the ForgIA project, a collaborative initiative with the Leonardo Committee aimed at supporting SMEs in navigating the transformative potential of AI.
The ForgIA initiative is designed to help businesses understand and implement AI as a strategic tool, rather than merely a support resource. Biffi highlighted that enhancing productivity in Italy's micro, small, and medium-sized industrial enterprises by just 10% through AI could generate approximately 2.4 billion euros in added value, equating to a 0.8 point increase in GDP. This illustrates the profound economic impact AI adoption could have, especially for SMEs which comprise a vast segment of Italy's economy.
Furthermore, Matteo Zoppas, vice president of the Leonardo Committee and director of the Ice Agency, urged businesses to embrace these technological advancements to avoid falling behind in a rapidly evolving market. The ForgIA project signifies a crucial step forward in providing the necessary tools and support for SMEs to harness AI effectively, thus fostering innovation and economic growth across Italy.
