It was remarked from the outset of this National Interest roundtable that the health and life sciences industry is crucial to the Italian production system due to the simultaneous existence of a number of particular factors, namely: the global nature of markets and the supranational character of competition; the potentially strategic role of public actors, owing to their ability to influence supply and stimulate investment; and the highly specialized nature of the professional skills involved. It is pivotal, however, that the research capabilities of both institutions and researchers be capable of being accurately assessed.
While it was acknowledged that the health sector overall is traditionally associated with wasted resources, it is also in point of fact a source of opportunity and a potential driving force for related spheres of economic activity. In this regard, it was felt that the EU should act as a catalyst for the innovation systems of its member states, yet of the world’s top ten innovative regions, seven are located in the United States and only three in Europe.
Turning their focus on Italy, the participants highlighted critical issues stemming from several factors, including: the tendency to conduct non-collaborative forms of research linked exclusively to individual institutions; the indiscriminate and piecemeal allocation of already scarce funding; a university system that is not competitive, especially in the field of practical training for highly technical professions; and poor policy in the areas of national strategic planning and the provision of incentives for those most worthy. In this regard, the participants pointed to the lack of a national research strategy that is both uniform and not tied to the many existing agencies. Also viewed as necessary were efforts to modernize and strengthen regulation on “technology transfer”, so as to provide significant incentives for genuine innovators.
It was stressed that faced with a shrinking domestic market, firms have great difficulty in undertaking the investment in research and development needed to innovate without direct or indirect assistance and support from the state.
Also emphasized was the need to invest in so-called enabling technologies, the lack of which is one of the main constraints on the development of the sector in certain regions.
In order to prevent financial resources for research being thinly spread, it was suggested that in addition to formulating a coherent national strategy, it is important to reach a sufficient critical mass in the sciences, which can only be achieved by expanding and strengthening networking between different groups.
For change to be truly possible, a shift in research culture was seen as imperative throughout the education and training system (both at university and lower levels), with a view to creating conditions conducive to attracting top professionals from abroad. The participants underlined that the ultimate aim should be to facilitate the free-flowing and fruitful circulation of ideas and talent at an international level.
Finally, it was felt that government support should first and foremost involve the clearing of public service debts, the introduction of incentive schemes for start-ups, and the provision of export assistance for Italian firms operating within the sector. Chief among the measures deemed desirable were labor market reforms aimed at increasing employment flexibility (in a sector that is essentially project-driven), the reintroduction of a tax credit, and greater resort to public-private partnerships.