Italy’s mid-sized enterprises—defined as companies with fewer than 250 employees and annual revenues under €50 million—are proving to be some of Europe’s strongest industrial performers. With 3,650 firms primarily concentrated in core “Made in Italy” sectors like fashion, design, and food, this segment represents the most competitive side of Italian manufacturing.

Over the last decade (2014–2023), these companies have shown remarkable resilience and growth. Labor productivity rose by 31.3%, sales increased by 54.9%, and employment expanded by 24.2%. Their performance has kept pace with larger mid-sized Italian firms and even outpaced the biggest industrial groups. In Europe, they outperform their French and German counterparts in both revenue and job creation, and they rank second only to Spain overall.