Made in Italy Innovation Forum: Scm Group at the Forefront of Research and Innovation

The largest Italian community dedicated to research and innovation gathered in Cernobbio from June 23 to 25, with Scm Group among the companies invited to contribute to the development of the manufacturing industry in the ecological and digital transition.

Industry 4.0 and 5.0, artificial intelligence, robotics, green technologies… These were just some of the new frontiers discussed at the Made in Italy Innovation Forum, held at Villa Erba and organized by MICS – Made in Italy Circolare e Sostenibile, an Extended Partnership funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) through the PNRR program. This ambitious project brings together 25 partners, including 13 companies operating across three strategic sectors of Italy’s industrial landscape: Furniture and Wood, Automation and Mechanics, and Apparel.

Digital transformation, eco-design, circular economy, and additive manufacturing are among the key topics addressed by the Partnership, which aims to foster a high-quality, low-impact, self-regenerative, and self-sufficient production and design ecosystem.
Scm Group is fully on board, bringing to the table its decades of technological expertise in the machinery industry to support a circular and sustainable future.

At Cernobbio, innovative projects were presented, and meaningful dialogue was held with MICS partners, public institutions, trade associations, and leading figures from the research community on the future of Made in Italy. Keynote speeches, in-depth sessions, and round tables enriched the three-day event. One of the highlights was the afternoon session on June 24, which focused on the value of Made in Italy in terms of quality, creativity, and innovation. Among the panelists was Enrico Aureli, President of Scm Group, as well as CEO of Aetna Group, President of Acimall, and Vice President of the Italian Federation of Capital Goods Manufacturers (Federmacchine).

Drawing on the Group’s strategies and best practices in innovation, cross-fertilization, and services — as well as his long-standing involvement in industrial associations — Enrico Aureli explored several strategic factors for Italian capital goods manufacturers. He emphasized their central role in the global manufacturing landscape and the importance of working as a system to address today’s macroeconomic challenges, such as those posed by U.S. tariffs.

Aureli also highlighted how innovation can reshape not only the businesses he leads but the entire Italian production system. He shared bold examples of “contamination” between different technological sectors — such as wood processing, automotive, and packaging — underscoring the vital role of institutions in fostering these synergies.

The companies and associations committed to defending and promoting Made in Italy can truly lead the change — and the MICS event in Cernobbio made that abundantly clear, thanks to the many voices of its key players.